The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-27

erary Society Proper In New York Es-
,.ts Mainly In tho ImaglnatIon-Ha Rank
Outsiders Are Apt TO Dominate the Clubs
Especial corrcspondcncc.l
Nrw YoRX. April 2. References are 50
frequent in the newspapers aud periodicals 70
New York Literary Society always PRINT
ri with capital letters-that The outsider
might be led 20 believe that literary society
NJ such really exists in the metropolis in
London the artists and writers form a distinct
''ses." as self conferred a. NcAllister's -Four
Hundred. and almost o. exclusive. In Bos-
ton there Is genuine litci~ Try society. But IN
New York the effort to form such c0tories
has met with small success. IL Is not that
New York is lacking in clever literary men
and women, but they DO not seem 70 HOOK
with their kind, either in drawing rooms or
IN clubs
The Authors club is only moderate sue
ce<s. aud the Fcllowcraft Is far from strong,
while the Lotus long ago lost its distinctive
" literary and artistic character by admit
ting merchants, bankers and brokers, AMI the
Press club Is kept IN constant state OF fer
ment by the presence Of politicians who want
20 use its membership and newspaper men
who are willing to be used.
II would seem that literary society Is not
vet strong enough 70 stand alone IL needs
the dollars Of the merchant aud banker TO
foot 10, bills, and. on The other hand, the mer-
chant and banker exhibit remarkable anX-
iety 10 associate with literary people have
sometimes fanciol that 10 comes from desire
- play the MWccnas act and pose a. patrons
Of literature on an economical basis. How
ever This may be-, it is "a fact that in literary
clubs aud literary society, so called genuine
literary people are conspicuous by their ADJ
sence.
Persistent efforts have been made by ladies'
more or less closely connected with literary
work 10 organize salons after the style Oh
Mime. &c Stael or Nine. Adam. Literary
men have tried % popularize a series OF
evenings such as are given by members OF
the French academy and by some Of the
leading literary lights Of London. However
well these attempts have started out the re-
suits have almost always been the same.
First the amateur litegarian or business man
with literary tendencies found his way IN.
and he was followed boy motley crew Of
writers Of unpublished poems, painters OF un-
exhibned-and, for the most part, unsal"nie
pictures. clocutionisfs, male and female,
and queer. long haired people who delighted
In "isms" Of all sorts Then, with marked
unanimity, the real literary people stayed
away.
There are two or three exceptions to this
rule. For over twenty years the late Mary
S. Booth. editor Of Harpers Bazaar, held Sat-
uriay evening receptions, which were as de-
lichtfal as they were informal There was,
10 be sure. "a fair sprinkling Of those outside
the guild but the tone was decidedly literary
and artistic. Miss Booth herself, one Of the
most cultured Of women and gracious Of host
e,>es. could be as chilly as an iceberg when
occasion required. and If one Of the queer
set managed 10 gain admission TO her draw
ing room be or she was courteously but firm
ly frozen out. Tho best known writers, art
lists and musicians found congenial compan-
ionship 40 Miss Booths Saturday evenings,
and the Younger workers found stimulus and
inspiration in association with the leaders Of
the profession. Mrs Jennie June" Croly
kept open house on Sunday evenings andwas
almost always surrounded by brilliant com
pany.