New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-18
A DINNER ON PARNASSUS.
GATHERING OF 1.-THE ATLANTIC" CON
TRIDUTORS.

N.
THAT FoLLOwED-THE EDITOR MAKES fh"
MODEST REMARKS, AND MARK TWAIN wANl' w
BE INVITED To CALL AGAIN.
lFROM AN ocC AsIoNAL CORRESPONDENT OPP TIE rRtBUSE
BOsrON, Dec. ID have just come from tne
dinner given by the publishers OF The Atlantic Mon"'y
10 it's principal contributors In the words o one VI TIC
most illuetrious Of them,
Tie lights are ont, and gone all the guests
That thronging came win I1crrii1nt ana Jc>'T'
n WIS happy thought of some member If the firm o.
H. o. Houghon Co. TO celebrate tho issue OF the hfS'
number Of the thirty-Hfth volume BY dinner az i''
kei's. IL revivcs the peasanest memories OF ah"e'
LONG gone by aud OF coterie Of men OF genus VINO n"
for years held the public attention. when ihe Au''''
OF tie Breakfast Table began TO Ivy the foundation Oh
the success OF The Atlantic It's fret number he gave
his readers dissertation on Mutual Admiration eoc'e
tica and created impression tat there was one te
existing IN Boston. In the same number TIC c"''oi
spoke Of subs antal dinners that were eaten WIN 'o
appetite by the Eminent Hands engaged TIC
new magazine. Still later nc Autocrat mentioned tneso
dinners little temperance lecture that he dch'eIo"
III june 1853 when after declaration OF his prlnclpes
he said: There companies OF men OF genus in'o
which sometimes co. where the atmosphere VI lniei
lcct and sentiment is SO much moro stimulating ,h'n
alcohol that II thought fit to take wnc it would DC 10
keep INC sober" IL IL matter OF history that ME-
Lowell was nominated editor OF The Atlantic at dinner
at Parkers over which Mr.. Phillips Of the firm OF fh
~
fellow, Quincy. Holmes. Motley, and Others were pres
emit 1t 10 also recorded that at about the pubisatioh
day Of the number for January 1885, the principal con-
ribuors Gncuding Mr. Emcrso) dined together at the
once famous "Porter's Tavern" IN Cambridge, and mad
o specially good time.
The knowledge Of these gatherings gave the world tue
notion that the magazine the organ OF bril-
liant corporation OF OF genius living IN Boston
and Cambridge II lent 1t a peculiar charm Tor al
readers interested In the productions Of these men, but
il also caused feeling akin to envy on the part OF less
successful writer's There is no dolot that Inc ApHhc
has brOadened its sympaties as IT has Increased s
years-and its subscription list Thc dinner OF to-day IS
evidence OF this for though the first contributors arc
still among the brightest intellectual lights II boasts
many new shine in its galaxy that were then an
heard Of Among the guests invited tonight were
Howells Lowell LongfeliOw, C. Il. Crinc.i, Arthur Gil
man, John Fskc, T. s. Perry. Henry james j.. L. H.
Alrca George Nichols. Charles Eot Norton, AMI Il 10
crt Dale owen OF Cambridge Francis Pirkindn, DF.
Holmes James r. Fields, Jimes T.. O'sood, lie Rev
VIM. NJ. Baker, Edward Atkinson, WIN. F. Apthcfp, Hi-
win F. Whippc. and +. II. Underwood of Boston:
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Fripk B. Sanbprn or Con-
cord; Samuel l.. Clemens OF Hartford james T. Tow
bridge Of Arlington; Prot Geo. W. Greene OF Pro'i-
deuce; WIN. Cullen Bryant. Albert G.. Brown, Jr., ana
L. g. Nadal of The ~ Y ErcHiHg POST; f. mund arenco
stednan Clarence Cook, John Hay and Biyard Taylor
of TIE TRIBUNE r. II. S,oddard. John g. Whittier ihcs
Wentworth Hlggnson. AMI Col. Geo Il. Waring "f New
port; George Cary EEgleston. Prof VIM H. Dimmock Of
Quincy the Hon. avid a. Wells Hiram Iieh. Clarence
KING and J imcs Freeman Clarke.
These gentlemen did not all fad themselves able to be
present. In declining his invitation. Mr. Emerson
wroe "I hand you my Hearty thanks for yonr lnd In
yiiatiou dine with IN friends uI me iUG ttc HpHfJ
the l5th iustdn, aud regret iha my diainnce .om
the cIty very rarely permits me to accept an Invitation
for the You Shalt please f0rIy" nv anSccc
Meantime / have 10 send you my kndc-t in4n,s that
you persisted 10 send Lie mat welcome J'lIn AZ
though | have long since ceased 10 have ANY clam ~
one of lts contributors. | tic that dare not
promise you of ring bn snail please myself wilh
"a good hope IN ihdt direction"
Mr. Bryant wrote from Roslyn that though unable to
be present. awaited himself OF the occasion to ex-
press his wish that the banquet a gave az mach pleas
ure TO the guests the pages Of the magazine to his
readers"
T. mund Clarence Stcdman wrote mo more interest
ing festival could be devised. NJ magazine ~ more
firmly held love and honor b. American authors ana
readers than the of when you have assumed con
troll nor any other show more famous record OF
contributors; and wish that some Rlacli'c nShit
group historic picture the forms OF those VINO WIZ
gather ut yOur feast. Should Won follow csthuatl
custom and place seats those als" whom the ih!.
est herald mas bcckJned from lie trodg wlth,hs oi
Win tic hearty allegiance winch we all to me
Monthly. and hand OF oiothcrhnod to as cdl"', au 81
OF the Ola Guard 10 the youngest aspiring recruit IT,
main, &C."
Mr. Osgood the former publisher accepted his invita-
ton and said: 81 written good deal for me maya
zne al not strictly III the hcnse ot cOn'ipaoi
Col. Higginson wrote from Newport: d" have sueh
pleasant recoectOns OF The Atlantic dinners III Tue
early days OF tho mag zine tnat shou certainly come
hut for an unfortunate leciur,ng engagcnon MAZE
some weeks since, winch hAeS me 1T washington" ''""'
that evening"" -
r. WAS much to be regretted that Mr.. James T.
Fields WAS also prevented from attending by similar
appointment
Afr Robert Dale Owen wrote: 81 much regret that
an important previou. enlargement W DEPRIVE itn ie
,lsn d
10 The Atlantic at the dinner 10 which you
kindly invite me. IN bGs'Hn on .ne l uo, nave BEEN
great satisfaction To meet many OF my cOaDorefs who
fortune TO make but also because there few words
which should have been glad to say on silch an occa
Sion. CHIEFLY these: During a year two past have
Fad fre,nt opportunities to hear expressions touch
ing your magazine. The general verdict, 30 ar as w,
observation goes, with scarcely exception Is that.
always stood, 1t has been more credtaDy con.
duc.e nor won more cordial approval, ra aw sav
on behalf OF all It's contributors that III 80 far "a any VI
have oeen IN aiding :" nra. , nppu
honor. may add. AS 10 Its recent hunters. nat .n1
has ust 6ecn brought to q concluslou, universally
spoken OF one Of the best novels an AMERICAN na'
produced"
The dinner itself was OF Parkes best ana aIter
IL had been properly discussed. the Hon. H. o. Hougn'
ton. the senior partner Of the publishing firm, called
upon many of the gentlemen present for speeches Mr.
Houehton occupied one end Of the table. Mr.. Howels
the other. and the sides were DIR. Holmes T. r.
whipple, tho Rev. Geo. NJ. Baker, G. r. Crancn' froi'
Geo. w. Greene, W. p. Atkinson f. b. Sanborn Prof. w.
r. Dimnock, James Freeman Clarke. Geo. Cary Eggies-
ton, w. T.. c. LOngfellow, Geo. p. 1athrop W. f.
Apthorpe. Mark Twain T. b. Aldrich Henry James. III
f. NJ Underw God. J. r. Osgood, ]. I. Trowbrdge l. D.
Perry, Charles Farchild, and Arthur Gilman.
Dr. Holmes was first called upon. and made one OF bis
most brilliant speeches. concluding with poem WHICH
he does not at present give to the press. Lie gave
pleasant "reminiscences OF the beginning OF the magazine
OF the early dinners Parker and Ut Porters Tavern
at Cambridge. and eloquent tributes to the memory oi
those who have fallen out by the way ME-
Underwood, who assistant editor under MI Lowen
AT the first also told Of the days. and especially
liz with which Mrs Stowe