The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-09
XIX. CENTURY CLUB.
An Interesting Institution of Lit
erary New York.
THE PEOPLE WHO MEET THERE

The Character OF SAuO
Men and Women of Ideas.
Special to TIE TIMES.
New York, Jan. THE art rooms at D
East Twenty-third street are very famlIlar u
all picture-lovers, but they have taken on
a new character this season by having oeen
selected for the meetings of the Nineteenth
Century Club. Exactly what the Nineteenth
Century Club is few outside the organization
seem to know. yet no club or society mas ever
existed that has occasioned so much specuia-
ton or individual desire and heart-ournlng'
Come with me to the club-rooms, for the
meetings are no longer held in Mr.. Palmer's
elegant parlors, and we will see what the
Nineteenth Century Club is like.
1t is easy to see at the start that it is not an
exclusively male club. The social air is too
well defined. There is too much refinement;
Just the touch of formality necessary TO save
from undue familiarity, and that subtle
charm of odor from delicate perfumes ana
flowers which would indicate to blind man
the presence of cultivated women. Crossing
the first gallery we ascend the red carpeted
stairs which lead to the upper floor. Al the
top of these, and at the entrance to the west
gallery, which is filled with seats facing
platform, members and guests are received by
a committee of ladies, first OF whom Is MIS-.
Curtlandt Palmer, whose willingness to sacri-
flee Tor time the quiet of her beautiful home
made the club possible, and whose grace and
courtesy as hostess, aided by the constant
presence and cooperation of ladies whose
names are a social power, preserve It's charac-
ter intact.
Wesoon find ourselves seated in the long gal
lery among 400 or 500 other waiting and eN-
pectant persons of both sexes: They are not
all fashionable or even wealthy people by
any means, but they arc largely representa-
tive, and they generally include visitors oil
distinction from abroad, vino may happen 10
he in New York at the time. Mr.. FcllX
Noscheles, the English artist and godson OF
Mendelssohn, with his beautiful and charm
ing wife. have been frequent guests since pro
fossionai engagements have kept them III
New York city during the past two winters.
Mr.. Edgar Fawcett and of late Mr.. and Mrs.
Moncure Conway are also prominent figures
but hush, here comes the president.
Mr.. PALMER's PICTURE.
The inspiration of this modern and truly
remarkable club, for inspiration it was, be-
longs entirely to the founder and president
since its start, Mr.. Cortlandt Palmer. Apart
from this, however, and previous to its in
ception, he was principally known as man
of extremely radical tendencies. though the
inheritor of 81 ,OOo, 900 and good old name.
subject and the speaker of the evening. in the
earnest, easy, natural manner habitual with
him, one sees a slight. blonde man, with
brown hair parted IN the middle, reddish
brown mustache and blue-gray eyes, whose
somewhat limited vision is aided by glasses.
Ii seems almost a misfortune that he has
never known the necessity for earning money,
for his ability both as writer and speaker
would have won him distinction III almost
any field in which it might have been eXerted.
As it is. he has been foster father to many
beautiful but forlcrn hopes and enterprises,
born ahead of their time and therefore cut on
before coming to maturity.
In many ways the previous life and environ
ment of Mr.. Palmer seem to have curiously
prepared him for this work, into which he
has thrown himself with such zeal, OF build
ing an organization upon broad basis and
of the unique character OF the Nineteenth
Century Club.
When, therefore he gathered few of his
friends together and announced as platform
for the future club Willingness to try all
things and hold to those that proved good"
it was received with reclamation.
1t was the finest sight in the world to see
such men as the Rev DIR. Rylance, theRabbi
Gottheil, Professor Adler, L. B. Wakeman,
other reyerends and Unitarian to make the
circle complete, all differing in brilliant and
caustic antitheses all agreeing in the great
fundamental principle of ultimate unity.
The President is not quite happy, not
strictly on his native heath, except when ne
has an old-school Presbyterian, hardshell
Baptist, Congregational Methodist, an ag-
noStic, materialist, theosophist, posi-
twist and disciple of the ethical school all
engaged in discussing some knotty psychic
logic problem, and agreeing at lastto disagree.
1t is not likely that converts are ever made
to any form of faith at the Nineteenth Cen
fury Club, hut what school it is for the en-
rsaft Inaf
ties and the development of the different
sides or standpoiuts from which question
may be considered, while its work mirrors the
brightest side of our intellectual life
ME-. GOODWIN.
\ prominent figure at the Nineteenth Cen
fury Club and one of the gentlemen most in
timateIy associated with Mr.. Palmer in its
inception and early work is Mr.. Parke God
VIM the veteran editor so long connected
with the E,eaiag Post, and one of the last re
manning of that famous band who par
ticipated in the dream of Fourier, and be-
lieving that heaven could be reached by 4
single bound endeayored to realize their
earthly Paradise at Brook Farm Almost all
the Brook Farm experimentalists became IA
nous afterwards, and, with few exceptions,
they did not belle the dreams of their youth,
although they had discovered their imprac-
ticability.
Mr. Parlle Goodwin, bearing the same some
what unusual name, and known for his early
advocacy of socalistic ideas, is often con-
founded with the husband of Mary Wolston-
craft, but the families are totally distinct, and
not known as having any connections what
ever. Mr.. William T. Goodwin. the English
author, was born i'll Cambridgeshire, England,
and died in London in 1886. He never came
to this country. Mr.. Parke Goodwin was born
in Paterson, \. j., in 1916. He was educated
at Princeton, studied law, but perhaps owing
to his marriage with the daughtero of Mr.. VIM.
Cullen Bryant, drifted into journalism and
became first editorial contributor, afterwards
managing editor of the EceRiag Post. Mr..
Goodwin has always been man of ideas, in
terested and laboring for social, political and
religious enlargement.
Mr.. Goodwin is now nearly 70-his
massive head is covered with a name of
snow-white hair, but he is seemingly as eneT-
getic in work and as active in every cause
that appeals to his sympathies as ever. Such
labor movements as tend to the elevation Of
the workingman, the opening or building up
of schools and colleges for women, laying the
foundation of national school of music and
American opera, work for the Bartholdi
fiInd-all these ana coguate enterprises find
willing and efficient helper in Mr., Goodwin,
who believes in man as part of the mind of
God. and in the infinite possibilities of
thought and affection, by which he is distin-
guished.
Mr. CARNEGIE.
One of the vice presidents of the Nineteenth
Century Club and one Of the interesting and
remarkable men of this century is Mr.. An
drew Carnegie, Scotchman by birth, the
town of Dumferline having had the honor TO
be his place of nativity, but iarge-hearted
lover of his kind, a genuine man in every