New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-24
STATE OF LITERATCRE IN CHICAGO
EUGENE FIELDS MoURNFUL REPORT
From The Chicago News. @

EUGENE FIELDS MoURNFUL REPORT.
From The Chicago News.
The authors and poets in this part of the country
nightly stirred up over what j. termed me apathy
OF the Worlds Fair MANAGERS with reference TO literary
matJrs II has been deemed advisable not TO make
puDhc scandal OF the matter since III that event tie
literature annex depaI tment of the Worlds FAIR
might prove failure for If authors and poets IN otner
parts OF the the world ind out that the Worlds talr
DOES not intend promote their interests, why, nat
uraly enough, they, IN turn, Will ignore and he away
our leading savants agree that Worlds Fair in
Chicago without literary exhibit would be wretch
exhibition indeed and IL Is to the credit OF TIE ways
and committee that early last summer IL adopted
unanimously resolution 10 devote 10000 cubic leet
OF space in the Midway Palsdnce LOT the erection OF
stalls In which is proposed to exhibit the poets ana a
thors all cmes But the agitation OF this topic has
Meanwhile literature has langushed IN the midst OF
us. The literary output this last month hasn't been
more than 80 per Ont OF what IL was III January ol
last year wien Lyman J. Gage had charge OF tue 20
lumban Exposition. There is SO little demand for Al
literature that epic poets are actually starving 10 oean
on the West side. Ii was only yesterday that we
learned that Prof. Dcer the nard of Blue Island ay.
had both his ears frozen while en- route down town,
not having the wherewihal TO pay tn streetcar fare
From every part OF Cook County come reports OF pr
walton and suffering among our enormous nteiatuIe
producing class. In fact, an epidemic 50 MS " De
scourginS those gifted but unfortunate people.
This awful condition has aroused certain OF our most
prudent citizens 10 a det rminauon 10 ameloIae the
sufierings Of this inspired class and MT Franklin IL;
Head one of the most distinguished Of our aoIe ana
enterprising townsmen, has III sngulary noble spirt
OF reform addressed the following letter to tie most Ia
"'V %Nr. Franklin MacVeagh-SIy Dear Sir have been
considerably paned Of late 10 note that you are not
svaiIing yours Of all the advantages which come to
YOU as member OF the committee Of the literary con.
gesses of the Worlds Fair auxiliary some OF .he
libraries, comparative plnoloey comparative liter
allure. literary Egyptoogy, Assyran tablet nhraries'
eI1Iy arts ana methods and tie Ike. -
AZ the hrst m.etns q the cSm n1,s Dr. iG,s o.
was present 10 outline the work Of the committee.
After stating in general Way that the oolect Oh inc
Ali departmens of literature and science In Chicago
during the Worlds Fair and TO afford the visiting null
notables he launched out into eloquent grafton Of
thirty mn|1es duration a f eSaue" at s
eloquence is all OF II that nave beeAr ape 70 recall
find upon that the &c, other members sr
similar state OF generously bewderng uncertainty.
have simply general impression that Mr. Bonney re-
fe7red occasionally to the brotherhood of man and the
solidarity OF all creation:
"since that meeting the committee has mad TWO or
three other meetings, and up to this time has ap-
pointed sul,y subcommittee or, aIher te calrInch
Of such committeesapoole on history tld; On n6ra-
ies; John Barton Payne on phclosy r. r.. bIo Ma
on bellies ettres. and think one or TWO more nave
Of literary immortality. OF his committee wish you
not be great and be classified substantially follows
~. To formulate set % rules by carefully follow
ing which any author can secure to himself literary
Immortality. -
'.2. TO devise recipe the FLOWING Of which will
enable any author 20 escape said Immortality
%. To send, through the bureau OF publicity and pro
motion and the Clover Club to all the authors IN the
wSs Above In se Or and to each Of SUCH
authors to produce for the Worlds Fair congress one
under the second Of the above headings.
"A. TO require each author 10 furnish to our COM
miee as early as January l. los coeS % m i've
the committee when necessary TO come fully under the
rules which Bic we na iEnge and audiences where
and TO whom each author may read the books he has
/" trust that this communication and it, SUGGESTION.
conveyed to you in all respect and seriousness may
receive your early and favorable sS1iaeIa G 5o"
We learn from Mr. Macveaeh that he has not Yet
returned an official ia answer S to @ W Sens rssy
for the spring trade 10 bother about literary side issues
Sa @ S We hS T Ia Mr. lea fhs
that he was not Wholly en- ppo Th the ne great BULK
son RG snbseu"nty by talk we had WITH the
of the South Side sons Of Homer this learned and
ian pfaa pr Y N ea
ntterateuIs and scholars. Last summer when Mrs.
Mr.. Macveagh's store ard importuncd Mr. Macveagh
to lei her have dried Goldfish and can Of preserved
iished immortal Lines suggested by Viewing sunset
In Goose Island" that unfeelhig turned the hose
to Ia. prominent members of the leading Dante clubs
and Browning socio los have the temporary loan of
To nane short Of long tale it was too evident from
the authenticate ed reports we heard on every hand that
literary elements in the midst Of US.
on the other hand, our learned societies fairly wor
predestined to lead them out OF their troubles into the
land overlooking with milk and honey. In
tlle list Of immOrtak no name stands higher
or hazes more brilliantly than that Of Bonney
excepting only and always the names Of Homer Dante
and Browning There Is already talk OF erecting a
statue OF this eminent man In Jackson Park, making
that spot mecca for the hungry, heartbroken and
footsere poets. prosers and savants OF the future
Tie statue will surely be set up II local htterateurs
hustle around and raise The required amount OF money
on the outside.
The motto of this numerous intellectual and enter
prlsing cess bctOkens an unfalling Determination
sB or B..-wtich without any Official Information
the subject. we take to signify Bonney or Bust
Copies OF Mr.. Heads letter have been circulated
far and wide BY the Benevolent and Protective Order
Of Literary Ameorators; and unbolnded enthusiasm
has been provoked by that distinguished gentlemans
vaorous effort In behalf OF the waningest Of all our
Industries grateful the hteratenrs and savans
for this service that Mr.. Head has within the last
DAYS been elected honorary member Of no fewer
than twenty eight Browning circles sixtysiX Homer
clubs eighty two Dante clubs and 213 local literary
societies in nearly every instance too, he has been
assured that upon paying $40 into the treasury Of
EACH he will be privileged 10 enjoy all the prero2atves
ana advantages OF active membershp-an honor seldom
conferred upon layman. and still loss frequently
accepted.