Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-08
THE LITERARY SOCIETY.
A ketch OF One OF the Prom,uemt Ov.
CARNATIONS Of Washinxton.

| the army and navy, in Congress- and in connec,
| ton with the many different educational insti.
tutions. There is no city in which are congre.
gated together so many brilliant m en- and wo
men in every department of literature. in art
and science, and in music, as in the
national capital, and the influence OF
their high attachments extends through
every class of society. 1t was to be expected,
therefore, that these men and women would
gather together and form associations in which,
at stated periods, they could meet and exchange
ideas discuss theories and derive mutual bene-
At from the interchange of thought and express
sion. The number of societies of this character
that have been formed here and have had a Ion
ger or shorter period of existence is very large
but among them all none has enjoyed a higher
reputation, not only for the distinguished
the unusual excellence of papers presented at
its meetings, the wide range of the subjects dis
cussed, and the extensive research developed in
those discussions, than
THE LITERARY SOCIETY,
which is now in the second decade Of its inter-
esting and prosperous career The formation of
this society is due to the active efforts of few
ladies' and gentlemen of high literary taste and
ability, as will be readily perceived from the
Alvord, Miss Olive Risley seward, Miss Esme.
ralda Boyle, Mrs. Jean NJ. Davenport Lander,
Miss Sara Carr Upton, Mrs. Rosa Paige. Col.
Rebecca Clyde Boyle, Judge G. D. Drake. Mr..
Bailey, Signor Antonio Barii, Prof Samuel
Tyler, Mr.. James Q. Howard, Colonel Edward
III. Cummins, Prof. Chas. w. Hoffman and Mr..
The initial meeting was held at the residence
Of Miss Boyle, the poetess, January 9th. 1873.
Boyle, Prof. Tyler and Prof. Hoffman, and to
their energy is largely attributable the bring
an association for literary and intellectual in
tercOurSe
Though the society was then formally brought
into existence. it was done in the most iutorma al
manner. and 1t determined that the bond
Of union should be as slight Us possible. There
was no regular constitution, but only few
these rules, it was understood, could be amended
or changed ut any time. 1t was decided that
the number of members should be limited to
thirty, with no distinction of sex: that
meetings should be held on alternate
Tuesday evenings, and that the exer-
cises were to consist of the reading of original
papers or TRANSACTIONS by members, and in
formal discussions on familiar literary topics,
in which the expressions of opinion were oral
were no art exhibits at first, and music was
only given when the presence OF some skilled per-
former gave unusual opportunity for its display.
The whole business of the society, which, by
the way. had not been given a name was COM
mitted to an executive committee OF three, con-
sisting OF Miss E. Boyle, Miss Seward and Miss
Upton, and some one of the gentlemen MEM
bers was designated each evening to preside.
THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING
for literary purposes was held one week after
the organization at the residence of Miss Sc
ward, the principal production being poem
by Esmeralda Boyle, which was read by Chief
Justice Drake. During its first season the meet
ings ofthe society were held alternately at Miss
Boyle's and Miss Stewards with one exception,
when the members met at the residence OF Miss
McBlair There was 10 publicity given to the
new society or its meetings, and, in fact. its
members bound themselves to an effort to keep
its existence and transactions out of the public
printS-SO far as possible.
It's second season commenced in October
1874 and during this winter Mrs. Dahlgren,
the widow OF Admiral Dah,gren. was elected to
membership. With characteristic energy Mrs
Dahlgren entered heartily into the promotion
of the objects of the society, and the meetings
were held alternately at her house and al Miss
Boyles. During this season the subject of a more
formal union began to be agitated, and in the
latter part OF February, 1875, constitution
was drawn up by Col. Nicolay, which, however,
was not adopted. although the rule of a temper
AIRY chairman was abandoned and DIR. yelling
was chosen president and Col. NicOlay vice
president
THE FIRST REGULAR OFFICERS.
At the first meeting of the next season, in No
vember, 1873, at the residence of Mrs. Dahl
gren, the constitution was formally adopted and
signed, in pursuance OF the provisions Of which
the following executive committee was Sc
lected: Mrs. Dahlgren, Miss BOYLE, Mrs. r.
Hoffman. This committee chose the following
officers Of the society: Prof Theodore Gill, pres
i aeS. Dr. j. M: Toner vice president j. 9.
creased from thirty to forty, and it was ar
ranged that twenty-five of that number should
be'literary members ten artist members, and
five musical members, the art exhibits and the
music of the two latter classes to be especial
features of the exercises: The day of meeting
From that time forward the society enjoyed
unintsrrupted prosperity. Its membership
was always hiied with the most desirable liter
tons were not wanting for admission to every
class whenever vacancy should occur. The
meetings were brilliant In character and the
quests invited to listen to the literary and
musical exercises and to examine the art eX-
hibits submitted comprised the most promi-
nent persons in official and social life. Perhaps
some of
THE MOST ATTRACTIVE GATHERINGS
have taken place at the residence of Mrs. Dahl
gren, whose hospitality is unbounded, and
whose rare powers as a hostess are unsurpassed.
Had it not been for domestic a1flictions at diff
ferent periods, 1t is possible that the home
of the society would have been fixed at her nos
pitable mansion; but her bereavements COM
PEELED it to 60 elsewhere and afforded other
members the welcome opportunity of playing
the part OF host to the society and its friends.
Those who have thus entertained their fellow
Gem. James a. CARRIED Mrs. Long, Mrs Chan,
man Coleman, Dr. Gill, DIR. Toner, Gen. Albert
Niger, Mrs Lincoln, the wife of DIR. Lincoln;
Chas. Nordhotf, DR.. c. c. Cox, Gen. Alvord, Miss
Irish, Chief Justice Drake, Prof. Chas. w. Hoff.
man, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Lander. Mr.. S. H. Kauf:
mann, Justice Miller, DR.. Gallaudet, Mrs. Olaf
lin, Mr.. KEENAN,, Mr.. NJ. F. Morris Col Rock
we'll, Mr.. r. Spofford, Mr.. Alex Graham Bell
Mrs. Francis Hodgson Burnett, Senator Haw
ley, Mrs. Jno. Jay Knox, Justice Matthews and
Mr. r.. F. Andrews.
From the time of the commencement of regu-
lar elections of officers the secretary's minutes
have contained correct accounts OF the meet
in.s, and the executive committee has also kept
\ separate record of its proceedings, showing
every thing that pertains to the business man.
agement of the association.
THE OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY
since 1875 have been as follows: Season of
lS76-'7-Presdent, Chief Justice Drake; vice
president, DR.. Elliot Coues; secretary, Prot. c..
w. Hoffman; executive committee Mrs Dahl
gren, Mrs. Long, Mrs. Chapman Coleman, DIR.
Gill and DIR. Toner. 1S77-'S-President, Chief
Justice Drake; vice president, Prof c. w. Hofi-
man; secretary, Mrs. Long; executive commit
Gill and Coues. 1s7s--9-President, CHIEF Jus
tice Drake; vice president, Mrs. Dahlgren; sec
s Miss Johnston. n brs Toner coues and
Gill and Prot. Hoffman. IS79-SO-Presi-
dent, Gen. James A. Garfield; vice president,
Prof. {. w. Hoffman; secretary, Dr. Elliot Coues;
executive committee, DR.. Toner, Miss John
ston, Col. Clarke, Mrs. Lander and Prof. Hoff-
man. 1SS0-'s1-President, Gen. Garfield, vice
executive committee, same as the preceding
year. 1SS1-'S2-President, DIR. Gallaudet; vice
president, Col. Mailery; secretary, Mr..
Dwight; executive committe, Mrs. Lam
der, Miss Johnston, Mr.. Dwight, DR..
Toner and Mr.. s. Il. Kauffmann. 1888
'S4-President, Col. Mallery; vice president,
MI. spoiiord; secretary Mr.. George kennan;
ston, DR.. Gallaudet and Mr. Kaufman. 1884.
..proctHanf Eav VII