SEPTEMBER 20 ISSUE ANSWERS: Currently there seems to be a lot of interest in the reading habits of young people. This has often been a concern of some individuals. The photo above is No.189 Fame and Fortune Weekly published May 14, 1909. These were called dime novels although this edition was only 5 cents. The only illustration in this novel was on the front cover. It included 26 pages of fine print in two columns, about 800 words per page=28,800 words in total. This is equal to a typical children’s novel of today. These dime novels were published as early as the Civil War, which probably gave soldiers in camps something to do while waiting for the next battle. The illustration on the front gives the idea of a comic book with a series of pictures and dialogue. This dime novel was basically text. Illustrated stories could be found in medieval tapestries and stained glass windows. The Yellow Kid was the first newspaper comic strip in the late 19th Century. That’s what we think of when we say comic books. When Frank Tousey published this series of dime novels, he had a goal of teaching a character lesson to his readers. Each story is about a young boy showing how with hard work, honesty, and pluck, a boy could overcome any obstacle he might encounter. Most likely he would become wealthy. When I read the first couple of pages of this dime novel, A Young Lumber King, I was impressed with the vocabulary and the message of the author. When you visit the Romeo Library you will see many Graphic Novels for loan. They are very popular now. R. Beringer, Romeo Historical Society staff