The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-08
AN EXPENSIVE BOOK.
ROSSlTER JOHNSON PREPARING A
DECIDEDLY UNIQUE VOLUME.
1t VIII BE Written by Members of the
Authors Club, and Each Copy VIII Cost
One Hundred Dollars-SomcthingA About
the Contributors.
Especial correspondence.


Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Dec. 6-Mr. Rossitcr John
son, who is secretary of the Authors club,
of New York, is preparing one of the most
expensive books which have been offered for
sale in n long time. 1t is to cost not less
than 800, and the price may be raised after
the first 100 copies have been sold. 1t will
he when published the most exclusively
circulated book recently printed, except
ing perhaps that one prepared 10y DR. Sew
ard Webb which gives some statement of
the growth and history of the Sons of the
Revolution society Only 25l copies of this
book are to he published, and every article
in every copy is to be signed in pen and ink
by the author.
In addition to this unique feature, the
original manuscripts of all the articles
printed in the book are now being inlad
and will be bound into two or more large
volumes, which are to be sold in one lot at
auction to the highest bidder.
or course this interesting and unusual
book is published more for the benefit of
the Authors club than to gain any popular
recognition. The price itself is prohibitive,
although there is little doubt that every
copy will he taken, some by rds members
of the club and some by bibliophles.
But if the public is not likely to see the
book it will he interesting to know who
some of the contributors are. Every one
of them is n member of this clinic and
wholly unconventional club, the chief
qualification for membership of which is
that the candidate must have written a
book. Henry NJ. Alden, the editor of
llarper's Magazine, and who has himself
gained fame through his book, God in
His World" contributes a sketch entitled
"Flammenta Moenia Mundi" Professor
Boyesen has written u narrative poem en-
titled The Kings Bastard" Alexander
Black, who wrote the charming narration,
'rhe Story of Ohio" has u humorous
story entitled 1.-The Lost Pun" Will
Carleton has Il ballad entitled The Ghost
of Sable Island" and Andrew Carnegie
who is qualified for admission to the Mil
lionaircs' club and who as an author is a
member of the Authors club, will have a
study from Burns, Il poet of whom he is
very fond.
Mark Twain, who when in New York
city loves 20 go to the Authors club and
smoke his pipe and drink his forum of
half AMI half, has contributed n skit upon
The Baneful Effects of Ridicule." Mon
cure Conway has written IL pleasant sketch,
while Edward Eggleston, who is most ut
home when he is with his fellow authors
ut this club, has writtena Virginia story en-
titled "ln Defense of the Dead" Henry r.
Elliott, who wrote 1.-The Bassett Claim"
which suggested Mr.. Cranes very success
full play, The Senator" has sketch called
after Business Hours" Arthur Sher-
burne Hardy, whose novel, but Yet a
Woman" was one of the most pronounced
successes of fiction in recent years, has
sent Il poem called Duality" John Hay
has also n poem in this collection entitled
| "Euthanasia."
| One of the most interesting papers is con-
| tributed by the foremost of American play
wrights, Bronson Howard, who tells of
"History in n Play" George Parsons
Lathrop, the son-in-law of Nathaniel Huw-
thorne and one of the best pipe smokers Of
the club, has II delightful short story called
| Elsewhere" and Professor Brander Mat
thews, who has been writing some excel
lent stories of late. has humorous essay
entitled The TRANSMISSION of Indiges-
| ton"
Bill Nye has contributed what many of
the members regard as his funniest sketch
Ii is called "Thc Lex Loci of the Hired
| Girl" Theodore Roosevelt who is gain
ing almost rs much fame as n writer of
! sketches of adventure in the far west us he
has earned rs Il politician and public man.
has contributed an exciting story called
"A Shot ut Bull Elk" Edmund Clar-
ence Stcdman has written n meditative
poem which is called Fin de Steele" and
Frank Stockton has delightful sketch
entitled 'Pomona's Club" Charles bud
ley Warner has characteristic essay on
Literature in n Dress Suit" and sketches
have been promised by Felix Adler Will
liam ID. liowells, Seth Low and Richard
Henry Stoddard This list is not n com
plete one by any means.
There Will be more than 100 stories
sketches, essays and poems, all of them
written by men who have gained fame
| greater or less as writer's. 1t is noticeable
that the name of no woman author appears
i'll the list, hut this is due entirely to the
fact that the Authors club does not re-
celve as members women, no matter how
brilliant they may be with their pens The
entertainments which prevail Mt the Au-
thors' club, while they are wholesome and
delightful, are not of the sort which women
would find congcnial, or where their pres
| ence would be welcomed. The members
| OF the club smoke pipes-many of them
| clay pipes-and If they drink anything ut
all they exchange condolences and tell of
their dreams over mugs of ale or beer
1t has been said that something of jcal-
ousy is apt to characterize the relations of
authors with one another, and that n
writer who has gained fame above his fell
| ~" . 10 " common target Tor shafts OF envy,
but If any such feeling exists in the Au-
thors' club of New York it is most skill
fully concealed. Al the formal gatherings
ana when the members meet informally in
the clubroom there is Il hearty comrade-
| ship and personal interest in each others
| welfare which makes the atmosphere of
the place delightful.
| Not all the members of the club have
| contributed to this remarkable book, but
| every one was asked to contribute, al
| though some We're obliged to decline for
entirely satisfactory reasons.