.

46

Baltimore, however, has had some German authors, even
known in Europe, of more or less literary merits. Their
amateur literary efforts consisting of contributions to the
newspapers, essays and private or public lectures upon sub-
jects of their respective branches, are often meritorious but
seldom of more than local reputation. It is also necessary
here to state that several German periodicals from abroad,
some published in this, others in the old country, have a large
circulation in this city; among the former there are the New
York Belletristische Journal and the German Illustrated
News, among the latter the Gartenlaube, the most popular.
The subject of literature, in the strict sense of the word,
ought to be closed now in our limited treatise, but as libra-
ries, printing establishments and book stores are intimately
connected with this subject, although they properly belong
among the social, industrial andcommercial institutions, it will
not be out of place to say that there exist here three German
printing establishments, four book stores and seven libraries,
owned by clubs and associations, and two public subscription
libraries, all of which together contain about 10,000 works,
mostly of German classics and Belles Lettres. This, of course,
does not include church, school and private libraries.

ARTS.

The Americans, not only in Baltimore, but in all cities,
grant, to the German element a high position as to their
enthusiasm, their taste and their perseverance in the cultiva-
tion of the fine arts, especially the Music, and this position is
well deserved. There is hardly an orchestra, choir, string or
brass band, glee club or musical association in this city, of
which there are not Germans conspicuous and often promin-
ent members. There can scarcely a musical instrument be
mentioned which is not associated with the name of one or
more German artists. There are more than 1,000 vocalists
in about 12 different societies, 2 orchestras, 4 brass bands,
one association for the cultivation of classical music, and
many smaller musical circles specifically composed of Ger-
mans, and some of them are artists of great merit. Private
and public concerts, musical entertainments and festivals are
frequent in.all seasons of the year. The old German masters
are, of course, highest in the favor of our musical world, but
there are also some original compositions quite popular, and
Vgeneral progress in taste and execution is visible, so that at
this moment already Baltimore can boast that two of her lady
artists are earning laurels in Europe, the one, Miss Busk, as
a famous concert soprano, the other, Miss Tedesca Smith, as
an exquisite violinist. Next to Music is the Dramatic Art,
now highly cultivated by our Germans. What cannot be
be said of cities with twice as large a German population
we may state of Baltimore, namely, it has sustained