The Black Cat was an American fiction magazine launched in 1895 by Herman Umbstaetter. It published only short stories, and was known for originality and for promoting new writers. It was quickly successful, aided by the popularity of "The Mysterious Card", by Cleveland Moffett, which appeared in an early issue, selling out two print runs. Two of its best-known contributors were Jack London, whose 1899 story "A Thousand Deaths" sold just as he was about to give up attempting to become a writer, and Henry Miller, whose first published works were several short fiction critiques published in 1919. The magazine's ownership changed in 1912 and 1919 as its circulation declined, and it initially ceased publication in 1920. It was revived in 1922 by William Kane, but in early 1923, with estimated circulation down to only 15,000, it ceased publication for good. The magazine's icon, a black cat that appeared on almost every cover (example pictured), was drawn by the founder's wife, Nelly Umbstaetter.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Cat_%28US_magazine%29
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1723:
Johann Sebastian Bach directed the first performance of his cantata Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz in Leipzig. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erforsche_mich,_Gott,_und_erfahre_mein_Herz,_BWV_136
1863:
American Civil War: Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African-American military units in the Union Army, spearheaded an assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/54th_Massachusetts_Infantry_Regiment
1949:
Francisco Javier Arana, the chief of the Guatemalan armed forces, was killed in a shootout with supporters of President Juan José Arévalo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Javier_Arana
2019:
An arson attack at the studio of Kyoto Animation in Japan led to the deaths of 36 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Animation_arson_attack
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
tag team: 1. (professional wrestling) A group of wrestlers who work together as a team. Only one is in the ring at any given time, and they change places by "tagging" each other with a gesture like a high five. 2. (by extension) Two or more people acting alternately to accomplish some task. [...] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tag_team
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
What passed for society was a loud, giddy whirl of thieves and pretentious hustlers, a dull sideshow full of quacks and clowns and philistines with gimp mentalities. --Hunter S. Thompson https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson