The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-27
WESTERN WRITERS MEET
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT WORK
ON NEXT PROGRAMME.
Several Persons Well Known
Throughout the state Present-Ac-
tor Clement Now n Member.

The Western Association of Writers is
branching out. 1t is not combining itself to
a membership of writer's, but is taking in
people from the other arts. At the meeting
of literary men and women in Parlor "A,
at the Denison Hotel, yesterday afternoon,
Clay Clement, actor. was made a mem
Der of the Western Association of Writers.
The meeting was held by the executive
committee of the association, and the pur-
pose was TO arrange a programme for the
annual meeting and to fix a time and place
for holding the meeting. A half dozen or
more people who write and sing were pres
ent. Among them was w. w. Pfrimmer,
president of the association. who writes
so pleasantly of that region commonly
known as the Kankakee swamps." Mr..
Pfrimmer is Familiarity known as the poet
of the Kankakee." Mrs. E. S. l.. Thomp-
son, of Muncie who writes verses, and
who comes from a distinguished old South
ern family, was also there. Another per-
son present was Miss Minette Taylor, of
Greencastle whose fame as linguist has
gone abroad 1t is said of Miss Taylor that
she speaks iuently many different lam
guages, and she is now engaged in writ
ing a series of articles for Venezuelan
government, it seems. is DESTROYS of re-
organizing and Miss Taylor is writing
of the American form of government tip
ping off, few facts for the Venezuelans
She is known as one of the brightest
women of the State Miss Esther Griffin
White, a newspaper writer of ability from
Richmond, was present. She has writ
ten some stories that are meritorious.
One of them was called "A Com
mon Enough Thing" and was published in
the Sunday Journal some time ago. Near
Miss White sat Mrs. Davis, of Farmland.
who is a musician of note, and not far
away was j. c. Culmer, of Spencer, who
finds time to write between trains He has
done a number of sonnets and enjoys the
distinction of having had his work COM
plimented by John Arlington Symonds,
/ the English critic. Ben S. Parker. of New
Castle, whose poems have endeared him
to the hearts of Indianians. and Will Cum
back, of Greensburg. author and lecturer,
were also there. Among the local people
present were Amos Butler, of the Board of
State Charities. who writes of birds, and
Mrs. May Worthin Dunn, pretty, dark
eyed woman, who is particularly clever in
writing negro dialect She also writes
verses, her latest effort being an ode enti-
tied Thanksgiving Thoughts" Fan Boyd
Heiney, of Huntington, author of In Jest
| or Earnest" was at the meeting. and an
other well-known member present was
| George s. COttman, of lrVington, who
writes sketches from nature and who is au-
| thOrity on early Indiana history.
! sketches from nature and who is authority
on early Indiana history.
The committee arranged TO hold the sum
mer meeting of the association the week
/ beginning June 23 either at Winona or Wa
| vase. The committee will select of
/ these places and report at another meet
ing to be held March l, at the DenisOn.
/ Some of the members think the meeting
/ should not be held at Winona this year,
/ since this place is usually selected. The
\ programme was not completed account
! of the absence of j. w. Carr. chairman of
! the executive committee. 1t was decided,
/ however to have a critical paper on poetry
! by Miss Minette Taylor. to be followed by
/ the reading of six original poems by MEM
I bers. The programme will also include the
| pI esident's annual address and the reading
/ of poems by young writer's who have here
/ tofOre remained in the background. A criti-
! cal paper on prose writing will also be sub
mitted to be followed by the reading of
/ Prose sketches and there will also be a
! paper on humorous writing, followed by
! humorous sketches. The association will in
/ wife two prominent literary men not mem
| bers of the association to be present One
will be from the State and the other from
! outside. Edward Eggleston has expressed a
Reed has promised to attend. Booth Tark-
! ington has said he will be present IL he
/ does not go abroad. We'll have George
| AIDE there if | have to put a rope around
/ him and drag him." said President Pfrim-
mer. The following committee APP
pointed to complete the programme: w. w
| Pfrimmer, Miss Mlnette Taylor Miss
Esther White. Prof. j. w Carr and George
! 8. Cottman.