The Progress., 1893-01-14

Especial CORE. yondencel
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-Mr Rossiter John
son who is secretary of the Authors club
Of New York, is preparing one of the mos;
oxnensve books which have been offered fol
sale in a long time. It is to cost not less
than 500 aud the price may be raised after
the first 100 copies have been sold Il will
3 bs when published the most exclusively
circulated book recently printed, except
INC perhaps that one prepared by DIR. Sew
ard Webb. which gives some statement OF
the growth and history of the Sons of the
Revolution society. Only 2Jl copies Of this
hook are to be 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
nrinted in the book are now being inlaid
and will be bound into two or more large
volumes. which are to be sold in one lot at
auction to the highest bidder
OF course this interesting and unusual
hook is published more for the benefit oi
the Authors club than to gain any popular
recognition. The price itself is prohibitive
although there is little doubt that every
CODY will be taken, some by rich member,
of the club and some by bibliophiles.
But If the public is not likely to see the
book it will be interesting to know who
some Of the contributors are. Every ont
Of them is a member Of this clinic and
wholly unconventional club, the chief
qualification for membership of which Is
that the candidate must have written =
book. Henry II. Alden, the editor Of
Harper's Magazine, and who has himself
gained fame through his book, God in
His World,' contributes "A sketch entitled
"Flammentia Moenia Mupdi." Professor
Boyesen has written narrative poem en-
titled The Kings Bastard" Alexander
Black. who wrote the charming narration.
"The Story of Ohio" has n humorous
story entitled The Lost Pun" Will
Carleton has a ballad entitled The Ghost
of Sable Island" and Andrew Carnegie.
who is qualified for admission to the Mil
lionaires' club, and who rs an author is a
i member Of the Authors club, will have q
study from Burns. n poet Of whom he i.
very fond
Marx Twain, who when in New York
city loves TO go to the Authors club and
smoke his pipe and drink his jorum OF
half and half, has contributed a skit upon
"The Baneful Effects of Ridicule." Mon
cure Conway has written a pleasant sketch
while Edward Eggleston, who is most at
home when he is with his fellow author
at this club, has written Virginia story en-
titled "In Defense of the Dead" Henry Il
Elliott. who wrote THE Bassett Claim,
which suggested Mr.. Cranes very success
= ful play, 'The Senator" has a sketch calleC
after Business Hours" Arthur Sher
burne Hardy, whose novel, But Yet 4
.f . ha
successes Of fiction in recent years, ha'
sent poem called Duality" John Hay
has also poem in this collection entitleC
"Euthauasia."
One Of the most interesting papers is con
tributed by the foremost of American play
wrights. Bronson Howard, who tells o
History in a Play" George Parson
Lathrop, the son-in-law Of Nathaniel Haw
thorne and one of the best pipe smokers o
the club, has delightful short story caller
"Elsewhere," and Professor Brander Mat
thews, who has been writing some excel
lent stories of late, has humorous essa.
entitled THE TRANSMISSION of lndiges
ton"
Bill Nye has contributed what many o
the members regard as his funniest sketch
It is called "The Lex Loci of the Hiret
Girl" Theodore Roosevelt, who is gain
ing almost as much fame as a writer o
sketches of adventure in the far west as b
has earned rs politician and public man
has contributed an exciting story callct
"a Shot at a Bull Elk" Edmund Clai
ence Stedman has written II meditativ
poem which is called Fin de Steele" an
Frank Stockton has a delightful sketc
entitled "Pomona's Club" Charles Dud
ley Warner has a characteristic essay o.
"Literature in Dress Suit" and sketche
have been promised by Felix Adler Wi
liam ID. Howells, Seth Low and Richar
Henry Stoddard. This list is not con
plete one by any means.
There will be more than 100 stories
sketches, essays and poems, all OF ther
written by men who have gained lam
greater or less as writer's. 1t is oticeabl
that the name OF no woman author appear
In the list, but this is due entirely 20 th
fact that the Authors club does rlot r.
eeive as members women, no matter ho'
brilliant they may be with their pens. III
entertainments which prevail at the Al
thors' club, while they are wholesome an
delightful, are not Of the sort which Womt
would find congenial. or where their pre-
ence would be welcomed. The member
Of the club smoke pipes-many OF theI
clay ppes-and if they drink anything
al they exchange condolences and tell
their dreams over mugs of ale or beer.
1t has been said that something OF Jea
ousy is apt To characterize the relations
authors with one another, and that
writer who has gained fame above his fe
lows is a common target for shafts of eny.
but IL any such feeling exists in the Al
thors club Of New ork it most ski
fully concealed. Al the formal gatherlnl
and when the members meet informally
the clubroom there is hearty conrad
ship and personal terest in each otner
welfare which ma the atmosphere
the place delightfl
Not all the NJ ers Of the CLUB nav
contributed to = remarkable book, b,
every on, wa lskod to contribute, a
though some Sere obliged to decline 4
entirely satisfactory reasons.
+. J. EDWARDS.
X|.|I{ rs.~ n.tSraal,ss TayaS.