The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-07
[Special CorrespOndence.l

Especial Correspondence.l
NEW YORK. April 21.-References are 50
frequent in the newspapers and periodicals to
| New York Literary Society"-always print
ed with capital letters-that the outsider
might be led to believe that literary society
/ as such-really exists in the metropolis. In
| London the artists and writers form distinct
set as self conferred as McAllister's -Four
! Hundred" and almost as exclusive. In BoS-
| ton there is genuine literary society. But in
| New York the effort to form such coteries
has met with small success 1t is not that
New York is lacking in clever literary men
and women, but they do not seem to flock
with their kind, either in drawing rooms or
in clubs.
The Authors club is only moderate sue
cess, and the FelIowcraft is far from strong,
! while the Lotus long ago lost its distinctive
/ ly literary and artistic character by admit
/ ting merchants, bankers and brokers, and the
/ Press club is kept in constant state Of fer
ment by the presence Of politicians who want
| to use its membership and newspaper men
who are willing to be used.
| 1t would seem that literary society is not
yet strong enough TO stand alone. 1t needs
the dollars Of the merchant and banker to
foot its bills, and, ON the other hand, the mer-
chant and banker exhibit remarkable anx-
iety to associate with literary people. l have
sometimes fancied that it comes from desire
to play the Maecenas act and pose as patrons
OF literature on an economical basis How
ever this may be, it is a fact that in literary
clubs and literary society, so called, genuine
literary people are conspicuous by their alb
sence.
Persistent efforts have been made by ladies
more or less closely connected with literary
work to organize salons after the style OF
Nine. &c Stael or Nine. Adam. Literary
men have tried to 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 librarian or business man
with literary tendencies found his way in.
and he was followed by motley crew of
writers of unpublished poems painters of un-
exhibited-and, for the most part, unstable
pictures, elocutionists, 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
urGay evening receptions, which were as de-
lightful as they were Informal. There was,
to be sure, fair sprinkling of those outside
the guild, but the tone wasdecidedly literary
and artistic. Miss Booth herself, one of the
most cultured of women and gracious of host
esses, could be as chilly as an iceberg when
occasion required, and If one of the queer"
Set managed to gain admission to her draw
ing room be or she was courteously but firm
" frozen out. The best known writer's, art
lists and musicians found congeniaI compan-
ionship at Miss Booths Saturday evenings,
and the younger workers found stimulus and
inspiraties in association with the leaders Of
the profession. Mrs. Jennie June" Croly
kept open house on Sunday evenings, and was
almost always surrounded by brilliant COM
paDy.