Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-29
THE AUTHORS CLUB.
Some of Its Members Favor an American

Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, May 22.-The Authors club
of New York city is probably the only So
cial organization in the country where
the chief qualification for admission is the
writing of a book All writer's of books
are not admitted to the club, but every
person who is member must have writ
ten book or furnished literary work
which would be regarded as equivalent to
the writing of book. This distinction
has made some occasion for criticism, es-
pecially in view Of the fact that recently it
was announced that very successful writ
either by himself or through his friends to
withdraw his -name from the list of pro-
posed members.
With the exception Of Frank Stockton
perhaps, there is no member of the Authors
club who has written any book compare
bic in popularity or general sale with some
of Mr.. Gunter's Yet as the publishers
would not accept his manuscript when he
offered the story of Mr.. Barnes Of New
York, " SO the Authors club has declined
to receive him into membership not on ac-
count of any personal objection to him,
but because it is claimed that his writings
are not real literature.
By that same standard there are several
men now writing who would be regarded
as ineligible, because, although the stories
they have written have obtained great sale,
yet by the estimate of the club the litera-
ry quality in them is not sufficient to JUS
tify recognition by literary men. Proba-
bly, the most successful of all recent au-
thors, young man who writes over a
nom de plume, and whose books have
reached, according to the publishers, a sale
of very near 1, ZOO, 900 copies, would be re-
jectcd if he were proposed.
A few years after the organization of
the Authors club there came to New York
number of authors from other cities.
Joe jefferson, who had written a charm
ing autobiography, was by virtue of that
book. admitted to membership, and Will
liam d. Howells who had removed from
Boston to New York, taking an apartment
which overlooked Central park, was also
pleased to join the club Arthur S. Har-
dy, because of his two novels and his po-
ems and not because he had become mag
azine editor in New York, became mem
Der. John Kendrick Bangs, whom many
regard as the rising humorist of the day,
even though he was defeated candidate for
mayor of the city of Yonkers, joined the
club, and John Burrows, William H. Nc
Elroy and Richard Henry Stoddard, the
poet, were also named among the new
members. These accessions, while they
did not lessen the charming informality
of the clubs meetings. gave the associa-
ton greater influence and prominence
than had at first been thought likely.
Therefore at the annual meeting of the
club, which was held recently, there was
some informal discussion among the mem
bers as to the project of General Lew Wal
lace, himself u member, and others re
specting tho creation by congress of an as
ISOLATION resembling in many respects the
French Ac-lcmy. General Wallace be-
lieves that the time has come when in the
United States there should be some formal
recognition of the mel of great intcllectu-
al achicvemcnt-at least in literary, dra-
matte and scientific fields of energy 1t is
his notion that if by act of congress an
American academy, called by whatever
name seems best, could be created with
power to elect successors to members who
have left vacancies by reason of death or
resignation, then there would be splendid
stimulus to intellectual effort.
If this should be done, some of the orig
inal members of that association would
undoubtedly como from tho membership
of the Authors club. Mr.. Howells would
probably be chosen. General Wallace and
very likely Edward Clarence Stedman,
probably Richard Henry Stoddard. There
fore it seemed that it would be well to take
DC opinion of the club as whole respect
ing the feasibility of this project of GEN
eral Wallace. 1t may be said that while
no formal action has been take by the club
on tho matter, the opinions gathered at
the annual meeting indicate that at the
proper time this influential association will
be found giving hearty support before
congress to General Wallace's plan.
e T. EDwARDS