The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-06
THE WRITER'S OF THE WEST.
Opening Session Yesterday Of the Sec
Ond Convention of Literary People.
President ThompsOn's Suggestions to Ambi-
tiOuS Young Authors-The Waste Basket
the True Cradle of Literary Art.

The second convention Of the American Asso-
citation of Writers began its sessions, yesterday
Afternoon, at Plymouth Church. The president.
Maurice Thompson. upon taking the chair and
calling the convention to order, fifty FIVE or sixty
persons being present. made a brief address.
He said he had noted with genuine pleasure the
kindly attitude of the press; that the editors
have mostly kept their faces straight az possible
and have poked only the minimum of fun at
them. 1--WE must frankly admit" he said, ''that
a meeting os literary folk for the purpose of
forming close corporation is, in fact pretty
good joke, and we ought to be thankful that go
little has been said about the fine frenzy of our
eyes and the cerulean tinge of our hose.
The greatest indiscretion committed by any
of lis is in having been born in the West or
South, and, of course, this indiscreton has
tinged the pages of our character. When we
come to think about it, we do occupy doubtful
ground, and we must be careful what airs we
put on. If there is real merit "a us we shall
live; if we are barren, we shall die Mere hard
work cannot win; if it could, all lard workers
could be fine workmen. No true artist ever for
gets that the world gives lasting fame only to
may. success is largeness and weight. and failure
is littleness and levity Whenever / hear a
writer cursing the editors l know at
f6s tna ao,S am Of ie to ns ifuEo
keen-eyed editors reject your literature
the chances are great that your writing is worth
less, and that you had better take up some other
calling. If you should try tailoring dress
making, and your clothes wouldn't fit, you'd go
at something else wouldn't you2 Well. why
stick at making misflt poetry and sovenly prose2
No greater harm could be done a callcw writer
than for some overland friend to hurry him into
print The frosts of disappointment make the
soil of the mind mellow aud fertile. A rejected
manuscript is a spur to genius, and the waste
basket is the true cradle of literary art. A news
paper that pays for your verses. if such news
paper exists. should be put in the hands of a re,
ceiver, for poetry that Is made for the sake of
money is not poetry. Make your verses and
send them to the magazines. If they are worth
money your check will come; if not,
they will come back to you safe and sound
The fact is that, so great is the struggle for new
and original work, the danger is that too much
will be accepted
81 should like to know in what feature the lit
erary market differs from the wheat market
Supply and demand rule. Quality controls the
price. Who that goes to this market and fails
to sell his wares must blame himself. and who
that hates me for saying all this is the very per-
son who has no call to the authors career. /
feel that speak from the only safe point of view,
when | say that merit will sell throughout
every day and every season, and that what
will not sell has very little merit.
But there is another point of view. Art. and
especially literary art, has higher reward than
mere money-it is its own exceeding great re-
ward-and hope that it is this finer and sweeter
consideration which most strongly draws US to-
ward it. If we have the love Of art always con-
scientiousy in view, we shall certainly achieve
the limit of abilities. be the result small
great. The point and essence of it all may be
formulated thus Sincerity in criticising our
selves is our only safeguard; ignorance of our
selves is our chief danger. Perfect respect for
the decision of the ma jority is the beginning of
wisdom and wisdom is the cornerstone of sue
cess. / cannot sit down without calling your
attention to The Chamber Over the Gate, by
. Mrs. Bates A leading Boston critic. the re-
viewer OF the Literary World, speaks most
highly of this novel. written by an unknown In
dianapols writer, and published by obscure pub
fishers. This notable critique of Indiana
book by such critic clinches my argument, and
shows that merit will win"
The report of the committee on constitution
and bylaws was heard and the report adopted.
The reading Of contributions was then taken
up. Mrs. NJ l.. Andrews, of Connersville, read
brief poem, "a Summer Morn" Judge d. d.
Banta of Franklin read a sketch, my Neigh
bors in the Weeds" his neighbors being the ami
mails and birds that inhabit the great northern
woods DR.. Tiy land T. Brown. of indianapolis,
who yesterday entered upon his eightieth year,
read 'lhe Urge or loSclna, an ola MAMA
chief whom he saw in 1910.
Mre. L. May Wheeler read two poetical con-
tributions one. The Pioneers by Mrs. l.. A.
Alderman. of Marietta. o., and the other. The
Dead Know Not Anything" by Mrs. Rose E.
Angel, of Cincinnati. The afternoon session
then closed.
IL the evening reception was hold in Ply
mouth Church lecture-room. The reception
committee consisted of Mrs Ida A. Harper of
Terre Haute; Mrs NJ. l.. Andrews. of Conners-
will la lTPe ola ity nd NO0 nndi
Foaike. Jonathan ". Gordon and r. l.. Dawson
There was no programme, the evening being de-
voted wholly to conversation and making &C
ouaintance with each other Among those pres
ent we're Mr.. and Mrs. D. y. Banta, Franklin;
Mrs. Aun Oldfeld Wigs, Chicago: Miss Ella
Giles, Madison, Wis; Dr. III. NJ. Smith,
Miss Alice E. Smith, Mrs. Al
len g'indolph, of Vincennes; Mrs. B. F.
Miss Peattie, A. II. Hartman, A. H. Davis,
Chicago Mrs. Ella Nave Danville; Dr. j. N
Taylor. Charlottesville: Mrs. e. T. Charles and
Miss Charles, Washington, d. c.: DR.. j. N
Miss IIildre,h, Wheeling " Va; Herman
Rave, Jeffrrsonvile; Sarah T. Bolton, Miss
Nelly Stackhouse, Mrs. Sarah F. Wells. Mrs
Ada f.ecklider Mrs. Nj. Y. Bates, Mrs. Harriet
Newell Lodge Mr. and Mrs. Sewall. Mrs. Irwin
Robbins, Miss Estela Case Miss Mathers. Mrs.
t. May Wheeler, j. +. Lecklider, Meredith
Nicholson, Oscar Sears, w. w. III. McCurdy,
Leon Bailey, ". w. Woollen. Richard Low Daw
eou.
A morning and afternoon session will be held
to-day, and in the evening entertainment, lit
erary and musical, will be given. The follow
ing is the programme of the entertainment
Organ Voluntary. Prof. Robert A. Newland
Irish Dialect Rectaton-''My Nora
Mrs L. S. l.. Thompson
POEM" Reroofng Ny Cottage" Sarah T. Bolton
Waltz song. with ccrnet obigato
Mrs. Leon Bailey and Mr.. J. b. Cameron.
POem-"AIy Guest james Newton Matthews
Remarks Observation-Disclosures. Bill Nye
Soprano Solo" Dreams. Mrs. John G. New
Dialect recitation james Whitcomb Riley
Pcem-'"fhe Last Tournament"
Truth and Error--a Dreamy
". Dewitt Wallace.
Violin Solo--Seected. .--.-------.M Mr. NJ II. Spades
Story Mary Hartwell Catherwood
Diaect-"The Sassafras Man" Richard Lew Dawson