Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
News of tho Litarati.

Mr.. Edgar Saltus. whose books or
"The Anatomy of Negation," The
Truth About Tristan Val1cll" and other
works in the pessimistic manner, have
given him no little notoriety, and who
has been shocking the critics by an ex-
ceedingly frank novel recently out, is
young man OF comfortable revenues
and high social connection native
and resident of this city. He is "a good
looking, joyial, generous fellow, who
commands social attention, and who
knows the art Of social popularity and
appreciation as does the art literary.
just why he chooses the pessimistic
role it is not easy 10 see; except that
the typical modern pessimist is always
an exceptionally well fed, well TODD
person, with whose condition optimism
is a fact and for whose amusement
pessimism is "A fancy. His latest book,
however, "A Transaction in Hearts"
which the editor Of the magazine in
which il appeared apologized for on ac-
count OF its "franSness," is tale of tho
Amelie Riyes school, or stepping
point or two in advance of that, which
sends you continually 10 the dictionary.
Mr.. Saltus is 20 be met with at the
Authors Club frequently, and is always
In the centre of witty and high spirit
ed group, which, if it were not so,
would soon become SO by his presence
and influence.
The Authors Club, OF which | may
speak at some future time. has lately
had its field somewhat divided by the
new Fellowcraft Club, of which Mr.. X.
w. Glider is the president. This club
goes somewhat beyond the Authors
Club in admitting members from var
iOus congenial professions, the former
conditions for membership upon the
fact that the applicant is either the
author Of a book OF literary quality
not directory or an almauac-or full
filling an editorial or literary function
that is akin 10 such authorship.
Speaking of Mr.. Glider reminds me
to say that he has left his coy studio
home on Fifteenth street, which he oc-
but hardly more delightful residence.
The studio residence was originally
comfort, Mr.. and Mrs. Glider trans
formed it into a thing of grace and
beauty. You rang the bell at the first
gate which stood in front of tolera-
bly, spacious city yard, when it would
promptly open and, after crossing it
and looking through simple and I'M
pretentious wooden porch you found
yourself on his Friday evening recita-
tions in the presence OF authors,
writer's and artists of ability in the
Century and elsewhere. The studio
house is now occupied by Mr.. elders
mother-in-law, Mrs. Charles De May,
the author and literary critic on one of
our most prominent morning journals.
Among the authors i'm Wall street, Of
which there are many besides Mr. Sted-
man, a prominent name is that Of Mr..
Starr II. Nichols. Mr. Nichols is the
author of somewhat remarkable book
titled Monte Rosa; or, the Epic of an
Alp" 1t is poem entirely in blank
verse, most picturesque and lofty in eX-
preston and has passed through two
editions. Mr. Nichols is man of
means, who has an office in Wall street,
and easy access to the best society. He
is one Of the best takers on any topic
that | ever met, and collects once n
week a number Of prominent and able
speakers, in an informal reception, who
deliver themselves Of speeches on sub
jects similar TO those discussed at the
Nineteenth Century Club, club which
Mr.. Nichols himself often addresses.
MIR. \. is soon TO give lectures in New
York and Brooklyn on Evolution"
Money" and one or two other sub
jects.
The recently published portrait OF
Olive Schreiner (Ralph from, the au-
thor of that remarkable book, The
Story OF an African Farm" reveals the
pretty face of girl apparently not
twenty-four years Of age, which is no
small surprise. 1t seems. from her
own account OF herself. that she has
seen little Of life away from the lonely
barren station on which she was born
in Africa.
Mr.. ID. Davis, who came here from
Chicago to manage the business de-
partment OF the american Magazine,
has just transferred his services from
that periodical to the Cosmopolitan.