The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-01
WESTERN LITERARY PEOPLE.
Yesterdays Gathering of Many Well
~KnoWn Writers of Prose and Poetry.
IA Practical and BnsinessIike Body of Fanci-
full People Who Effect Permanent Or
ganizatiOn for Annual Meetings


new things, but the most novel and fanciful IN
dertaking. as some supposed was to be the con-
yention of Western authors to be held IN this
city Whom these writer's, however, to the num-
Der Of sixty-fve or more, did meet yesterday
morning, at IL o'clock the assemblage. instead
of being food for laughter, as some persons
thought, and even went so far as TO say 1t would
be, proved very practical, business-like body
In the assembled audience was score or more
of persons with envable regulations as writer's,
and whose outpourings have graced the pages OF
volume and magazine, as we'll as the
brighter, but perhaps mora evanescent,
Eolumn of the newspaper Among these
may be mentioned Maurice Thompson, who. in
prose and verse, is known all over the land;
James Whitcomb Riley. ''the Hoosier Poet, y
who, having conquered all hearts here, his
Leonainie has gone abroad to be rehabitated In
the soft verbal drapery Of the Italian Hon.
Clarence A. Buskrk, who has contributed a
number of beautiful poems; Dr. Il. w. Taylor,
whose Wabash lyrics are triumphs in Hoosier
dialect; Jonathan W. Gordon, who has given
many examples, not only of nice discrimina-
ton and hearty appreciation of the poetic
effusions of Others but shown that
he, too, possesses the true poetic
temperament in high degree. Judge d. D.
Banta Of Franklin, and his wife. Mrs NJ. E.
Banta, have both written much and well. The
Judge wrote, a few years ago, famous series
of articles under the title Of ''Chasseur," in
which he showed an intimate knowledge of
woodcraft and deep love of nature. Mrs. Ida
NJ. Harper, of Terre Haute, is ready, and,
She contributes to three different papers of her
city, the Express, Mail and Fireman's Magazine
Mrs. Il. S. l.. Thompson and w. II. Needham, Of
Winchester, have each contributed to the litera-
~ papers of the State a number of merltorious
poems and prose sketches. Mrs. NJ. L. An
drews of Conuersville, has written many ad-
mirable things. not the least clever of which
have been her recent contributions in dialect in
which che shows how easy it is to do Uncle Re
mus" and even to improve upon him. Mrs Ma
ry Hartwell Catherwood, formerly of this city
now of Hoopestou, H., is recognized as sue
cessful writer for magazines, and has given to
the world two three volumes of
merit Among the ladies were also Mrs
Julia Carter Aldrich. of Wauseon, o., who has
written q number of beautiful POEMS among
Thorn one called Yosemite. that has attracted
wide attention, and Miss Mamie Paden of Gin
einuati, young lady who in 1879, schoolgirl
graduate fourteen or fifteen years old, wrote a
poem on s'Longfellow7 which was widely copied
1t was warmly commended by the poet Whit
tier. Ben s. Parker, of Knightstown, who is in
attendance, has written some of the best lines of
any American poet-true to nature and to po-
etc fancy. There many others who might
be named, and the gathering is indeed notable
one.
The convention was called to order by r ich-
Rrd Lew Dawson. of Terre Haute, who, with Mrs.
M. L. Andrews. of Connersville, and j. c. Ochil-
tree, of this city, was mainly instrumental in
forwarding this organization of Western au-
thors. Mr.. Dawson, in a brief talk, explained
that DR.. j. N. Matthew'S of Illinois, had first
proposed convention of the poets of Indiana
and Illinois, afterwards suggesting that invita-
tions to attend be extended to imaginative writ
ers of prose as we'll as of verse. Embodying
this idea circular had been issued TO all per-
sons of the literary profession connected with
Western literature whose names could be OBJ
tanned. The results of this circular, in the way
IF attendance and by written responses, had
greatly exceeded the expectations of those who
had set the project on foot There
were nearly seventyfive persons present
aud over one hundred contributonsin prose and
verse The speaker said that the success of the
movement will mark an event In American let
ters. Not the least of the benefits resulting
from an association of the kind proposed will be
the formation of permanent and profitable ac-
auaintance among authors, and the discussion Of
questions of Importance in literature and art
Among the questions that might be profitably
discussed, he suggested, Methods of Compost
ticnr "Orgnal Themes "Plans of Co-opera-
tive Publication" prices for Literary Work. y
Literature as Means of Support The Flu
lure of Literature in America "A Literary
Center" What Is Geniusq" what Is Poetrvg'
''The Greatest American POEM" 1.-THE Greatest
American Novel," Dialect, with Especial Refer
Pnce to the Hooser,7 shakespeare and Bacon"
and many others
Hon. Will Cumback, of Greensburg, was, on
motion, made temporary chairman, and Mrs NJ
t. Andrews secretary pro tenn.
Mai j. w Gordon moved that committee of
1--WE on organization be appointed. The chair
named as that committee Mrs NJ. L. Andrews
Connersville; Mrs. l.. May Wheeler IDdianapo-
lis; Mrs Ida N. Harper, Terre Haute; r. E.
Pretlow. Dublin, and r. L. Dawson, Terre Haute.
The following were appointed committee on
enrolment: Clarence A. Buskirk, Princeton; J.
A. Maynard, j. G. Ochiltree, j. w Gordon,
and Charles Dennis, Indianapolis; r. l. Dawson,
Terre Haute; Mrs. NJ. l.. Andrews, Connersville.
The committee on enrolment reported the
following persons in attendance: Mrs. Juliet Car
ter Aldrich, Wauseon, o.; Miss Mamie S. Pa
den, Miss Jennie Paden. Cincinnati. o.; Mrs.
Laura c. Arnold. Columbus; Mrs. NJ. E.
Banta, Franklin; Mrs. NJ. E. Card
will, New Albany; Mrs =. S. L. Thompson and
Mrs Jennie Miller, Winchester; Mrs. Louise v
Boyd. Dublin; Miss Jennie s. Judson, Paris.
ILL., Mrs. Emily Thornton Charles. Washington.
y. c.; Mrs. Mary A. Leavitt Mount Vernon,
Ind; Mrs. Ida A. Harper, Terre Haute; Mrs
Ella nj Nave. Danyiile; Mrs. j. c. Briggs,
Sullivan; Clarence a. Buskirk Princeton: Gus c.
Matthews, Chicago: Will Cumback Greensburg;
r. e. Pretlow Dublin George B. Cardwill, New
Albany; j. II. Ashabranner New Albany; Cal
vim Goss, Franklin; A. F. Bridges, Brazil; W.
P. Needham. Winchester Maurice Thompson
Charlottesville; Benjamin S. Parker, knights,
town; n. j. Clodfelter, Charlottesville; Hubbard
Dr. Smith, Vincennes George L. Gray Corners
vile; Allan H. Bottsford Greenfield Freeman
q. Miller Wednesdays Mrs. Rose Bailey, Mrs.
Harriet n. Lodge. Mrs. Ada Lecklider, Mrs.
Sarah Purcell, Mrs NJ G. Brown, Mrs. L. May
Wheeler Miss Ida M. Davis James Whitcomb
Riley. Jonathan W. Gordon. j. B. Maynard,
e. n. Todd. j. G. Ochiltree, Charles
Dennis, J. w. Tindall, S. H. Thomas
81. w. Carr Amos J. Walker. Ben LYMAN
w. w Fl. AIcCurdy, John T. Mahorney
F. J. McAvoy, S. S. Newell Mrs NJ L.
Moody. MISS Nelly Stackhouse, Indianapolis;
Richard Lew Dawson, Terre Haute; D. d.
Banta, Franklin; w. c. Cooper, Cleves. o.; n