Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-08

and the society are suggestive of newly acquired wealth. But neither Mir. Howells nor any other American writer of distinc- tion would consent to be lionized.
 Mark Twain, to whose career perhaps writers are very greatly indebted for the change in view regarding their vocation, is in receipt of so many invitations that were he to attempt to accept even the half of them he would be obliged to be present at two or three dinners every evening in the week. Nor is he invited as q curiosity, a lion, a sensation, but as man of affairs who has achieved distinction and won for tune in vocation which more than any other, excepting politics and the stage, brings a man who is successful into public notice.
 Mir. Bronson Howard, the playwright, has conquered society, although he cares but little for it.. He is a nomadic sort of person, believing that he receives the best inspirations for his work while upon the wing. But when he is in New York he re- ceives the courtesies which are the lot of an able merchant or tinancier from another country or city who is visiting New York.
 Thomas Nelson Page was the companion of men of affairs, being received with the courtesy and distinction which would have been accorded to him had he been a success ful banker or railway president, and Charles Dudley Warner finds the doors of many homes in New York within which the cul- ture is delightful open to him, and he is received as a companion and an equal.
 But perhaps the most distinguished social honors have been those bestowed upon Hen " Irving since he has been in New York playing an engagement at one of the thea ters. It is not possible to entertain MT. Irving at dinner excepting upon Sunday, so that the courteses extended to him have either been in the form of breakfasts, be- ginning at 12 o'clock and frequently lasting through the afternoon, or at suppers, usual ly beginning at midnight and lasting ire quently until dawn comes. At these enter tainments many of the ablest and some of the most distinguished men of affairs in New York have been found. MT. Irving is recognized not only as very great actor, but a most felicitous writer and speaker, and it is delight to hear him respond to a toast, for his speech is full of wit, humor, and characterized by some of the personal peculiarities which distinguish his acting.
 Mir. Irving sat with notable company at supper at the house of exCongressman John $. Wise, who few years ago removed from Richmond to New York to practice law. There were gathered about the board three or four distinguished lawyers, two capitalists worth together perhaps Sl0,0O0,- UUU, UuS pTSSlucul Ol - ulOA LSdSuC SluD and score of influential men of affairs, and MT. Irving was at his happiest on that night. Only two nights later he supped at the Union League club with General Hor ace Porter, ex-Mayor William R. Grace, General Thomas L. James, Frederick Tap pan, chairman of the New York clearing house committee, and it was said that the aggregate wealth represented at that table was not far from $50, ,000, ,000
 Only a night or two after MT. Irving was entertained at the Lotos club, sitting with a great company of men prominent in af- fairs until dawn streaked the sky, and the number of entertainments of that sort at which he has been the guest is almost equal to the number of days that he has been in the city.
 A dozen years ago such distinction would have been impossible for man of letters, the only one who was ever accorded such social honors of American birth being MT. Irving, and of foreign birth Charles Dick ems. The honors that await successful writers are no longer merely fame and pc cuniary reward, but the association with men who have done great things in the world of affairs. E. J. EDWARDS