The Washington times., 1902-01-15
LITERARY AND
ART CENTRE.
Plan to Make the Capital
a Rendezvous.
THE PRESIDENT ASKED TO AID.
America without n Gathering Place
for Those Famous in the Higher
Walks of Human EndcavOr-SOme-
thing Similar to French Academic
to BE Established.

A movement to establish in Washington
a national headquarters for an interna-
| tional rendezvous of literature, travel,
and art has been brought to the atten-
| tion of President Roosevelt and Senator
| Henry Cabot Lodge. So conspicuous at
the Presidents New Year reception was
the absence of any special coterie of lit
| terateurs. artists, and world travellers
| among. the hosts who attended that per-
sonal communication was addressed to
| the President on the subject. of which the
following is part:
Does it not seem to you that. at this
dawn of the worlds greatest century and
| under your own splendid regime, when so
much is being furthered to enhance the
glory of our nation by you, pre-eminently
distinguished as both a historian and
creator of original literature, the Ma
tional Capital should be made distin-
guished for the origination OF an interna-
tional rendezvous for litterateurs, world
travellers, and noted artists-a high ecole,
so to speak, similar to the French Acade
mie OF the forty immortals' and the Sa-
Ion OF Art of the oil painters, admission
into either OF which places the stamp of
high merit forever on the brow of the lit
terateur,. worlds greatest artist, world
traveller, and explorer"
Timely Enterprise.
1t has seemed fitting to those interested
in this movement that the cram marking
period of the twentieth century in Amer
lea. which means so much in the enlight-
eminent of the world, should launch ma
tional organization which shall focalize
American literary and artistic aspirations
somewhat as suggested in the letter to
President Roosevelt.
The plan originated with A. Stewart APP
pleton. the Boston litterateur. Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge. OF Massachusetts, who
Is so distinguished in the field of iitera-
ture, travel. and art. said in the library
OF his Massachusetts Avenue home:
Il do not think our country need be In
any way initiative of another in this enter
prise. The American people can be entire
ly original and should be. Organizations
in Berlin and in Russia, patterned after
the French Academic. did not meet with
eminent success. The Academic In Paris
bears the favor Of antiquity. Such an in
stitution in America should bear the stamp
of popular endorsement and growth. A
king could create such an institution in
another country. but we have no kings in
America. Our institutions are begotten OF
the people,
President as Member.
When asked if President Roosevelt
would be eligible to membership in such
an organization. Senator Lodge replied:
Most assuredly President Roosevelt's
eminent performances in the field Of liter
ature alone entitle him to distinguished
consideration in such galaxy, to say
| nothing of his achievements in manifold
other fields OF endeayor."
Mr.. Appleton said to the writer:
American is producing a literature
wholly typical of itself, and unlike that
OF any other country. An American
academy of literature, travel and arts
could, with advantage to itself and to the
youth of America. become shibboleth for
literary and artistic genius, as well as for
the genius OF travel-developrnent scien-
tifc investigation and invention. Our
country's resources afford the highest op-
portunities for originality in every walk
OF life. Even the publications issued for
great railroad and industrial enterprises
assume tHe tone Oh nlgn ofuer OIL literary
and illustrative art to meet the advanced
literary tastes of our times. But what
We lack is rendezvous, or national focal
point. as an endorsement for acknowl-
edged merit along these lines"
Suggested as Founders.
1t has been suggested that among those
who shall be charter members of such a
National Academy of Arts and Letters
as Senator Lodge has aptly styled it-are
such acknowledged Iitterateurs as Edward
Everett Hale, Mark Twain. Julian Haw-
thorne. W. D. Howells. Gen. Lew Wallace,
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, President Roose-
yelt. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Sec
retary John Hay. Edwin Markham, Joel
Chandler Harris, Thomas Nelson Page
Frank L. Stanton. Opie Reed, John Vance
Cheney. William Bogert Hunter, Rev
Newell Dwight Hills: such noted artists,
sculptors and promoters of art and ltera-
ture Bierstadt, Eastman Johnson, ST.
Gaudens, ]. Pierpont Morgan, James j.
Hill, George w. Vanderbilt, Frank A.
Nunsey; such noted promoters OF travel
as Clement A. Griscom, Henry N. Flag
Ter. A. J. Cassatt, Horace G. Burt, Ma
thaniel Thayer and Senator Chauncey NJ
Depew. H.C. G..