The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-25
A CONVENTION OF AUTHORS.
Western Writers Who Will Be Present with
Contributions at the Meeting Next Week.

A convention of Western authors and writer's,
of more or less distinction, will be held rext
Wednesday and Thursday, June 80 and July /,
at Plymouth Church, in this city. Night ses-
sions will be held, the last evening to be.set
apart for special entertainment, which will be
duly announced. Over fifty Indiana writer's have
promised to attend, with contributions besides a
number of well-known authors from neighbor-
ing States. Among those who have sent
hearty responses to the invitations issued are
such prominent literary characters as Hon. Will
Cumback, Benjamin s. Parker Maurice Thomp-
son, Jonathan W. Gordon, Col. Thomas Went
worth Higginson, of Boston, Judge Biddle Mrs.
Lew Wallace, Mrs. E. S. L. Thompson, Miss
Mary Fl. Krout, Mrs. Rose Bailey, Mrs. Ida NJ
Harper, Miss Mnnetta T. Taylor, Mrs Amy E.
Dunn. Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and Mrs.
Mary A. Leavtt. The following extracts from
few of the letters received by the acting secre-
tary of the convention, will speak their own ap-
proval
Miss Minnetta T. Taylor-"I fully appreciate
the objects of the association and shall be glad
to attend" Miss Taylor will contribute poem.
Mrs. Ida NJ Harper-'I am in favor Of the
convention, and am in full sympathy with its OBJ
jects. | shall be pleased to contribute short
SKETCH"
Hon. Will Cumback--"Your circular received
fully appreciate the objects of the same. I
will attend the convention. do not know what
will contribute but will have something"
Ella Wheeler Wilcox-'I regret that it will
be impossible for me to attend your proposed
convention in June The idea is an excellent
one, and trust it will be a successful meeting"
Amy E. Dunn-"I will certainly endeavor to
be present" She will contribute aasketch.
Mary A. Leavitt-'I think the objects of this
proposed gathering most laudable and the whole
idea delightful. Will contribute poem if any
thing"
Thomas Wentworth Higgnson-s would give
me great pleasure to accept the invitation if it
were in my power. Nothing is more interesting
to writers who live in the older States of the
Union than the steady increase of literary taste
and achievement in the newer States. In
section vast as ours, it ia not desirable that
there should be a literary center; for the spread
of knowledge and intellectual training is our
mission, and this must proceed from as many
points as possible"
Mrs. Julia Carter Aldrch, author of "Yo,
semite"-"As a native born Buckeye, shall be
glad to meet the Hoosers, Suckers, Hawkeyes
etc, and will avail myself of this opportunity"
E. r. Champin, editor of Table Talk, in Bos-
ton Literary World will contribute a poem.
Ada Langworthy Collier, author of "Lilith."
writes: IF it be possible, will be present with
Taylor, of Charlottesville, will contribute a
poem, entitled Comrades" Among those who
have promised to be present and read poems are
Mrs Emily Thornton Charles, J. V. Matthews,
E. c. Kennedy, Mrs Banta, w. P. Needham,
Frank Mayfeld, Ida May Davis, LouseV. Boyd,
Miss NJ S. Paden and Mrs Z. S. L. Thompson.
Sketches will be read by Mary H. Catherwood.
Bailey. Col. j. B. Maynard will read paper on
Associations"