The San Francisco call., 1904-07-05

MEN analMAaEERS-lN
THE FGREz zheWORLD

DO lar bureaus VI tllt AHCCull Nlbb
have been opened in Paris, Berlin and
Prague. The American membership is
not yet sufficiently large to justify the
opening OF a depot in New York, but
such an event seems not far off. AT
present the interests of the Lyceum
are being looked after directly by Mrs.
Florence Allen Degan Of New York.
Some time ago the idea of the club was
submitted by Miss Smedley to promi-
nent American women, and among
those who have consented to act on
the American provisional committee
are Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett,
Mrs Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Miss
jeanette L. Glider, Mrs. Burton Har-
rison and Mrs. Denison. president of the
General Federation OF WOmen's Clubs.
Probably the thing that American
women will ask about the Lyceum
Club. however. is in what way it is TO
be Of service to its members the world
over. who may never get to London to
be put up at the clubhouse in Picca-
Oily. The best way to answer the ques-
ton is to describe the information bu-
reau." which is the most interesting
thing about the new club and that
which makes it entirely different from
any similar institution the world over
So far as the literary members of the
Lyeeum Club are concerned, this bu-
reau VIII 90 the work of a gigantic
agency in Placing their work. To be-
gin with, complete register will be
kept OF the names and. addresses of
editors and publishers throughout the
world, together with particulars of the
class of work each accepts and as to
rates and times of payment. The stand
ing Of literary agents everywhere will
be ascertained and recorded, too. But
ii is as a clearing house" for the work
of writer's that this bureau will be of
the greatest service. With its aid. the
feminine writer of almost any sort of
story. article. or what not. can have
it published-provided il has salable
qualities-practically the world over.
Supposing. for instance. an American
member of the club writes story and
sends a copy of her manuscript TO the
London headquarters. Once its quality
is established. it win only be a question
of in how many markets it can be sold.
One of the chief members of the staff
in each Continental depot of the Ly
ceum Club viii be a translator, who
also knows thoroughly the literary field
in her country. and to these folk copies
of American and English stories, arti-
cles, etc, Will be sent for translation
and sale. In this way it is believed
/ that the production of, say, an Amer
/ lean writer, can be disposed of, not on
ly in her own country and in Great
/ Britain, but in good many European
| States, not to mention the English col
Onies. where depots of the Lyceum Club
also are in process of establishments.
/ Payment for such stories or articles
viii be collected by the representatives
of the Lyceum Club and sent to the
London headquarters TO be forwarded
to the author.
There is not space to enumerate the
details of all the functions that this
unique bureau of information will un-
dertake, but they may be indicated
rapidly With the assistance Of the of
/ ficials of the British Museum and the
! London Office of Records. a complete
! list IS being made Of archivists and
! professional researchers all over the
/ world ard il is the intention to get in
/ touch with each of them in order that
| researches may be undertaken on be-
/ half OF the scientific and university
members of the Lyceum Club, so that
/ in the fullness of time, as Miss Smed-
! ley EXPRESSED II TO me the other day.
1T viii be nearly as easy to make
references by proxy in the libraries of
| Salamanca. Seville or St. Petersburg
/ as in ones own study"
| Women painters who belong to the
Lyceum Club will be supplied with de-
tailed information as to the standing
of different exhibitions throughout the
artistic world, the times during which
sales at each. The club will handle
members pictures in almost the same
way as il will handle their manu-
scripts; for instance, a painting by an
American member could be sent to the
! club. which would keep it going from
exhibition to exhibition both in this
country and on the Continent until
sold. Similar arrangements viii be
made for disposing of the work of
7 black and white artists. And, so far
as the feminine composers who be-
come members of the club are con-
cerned their work will be offered to
musical publishers, and concerts will
! be arranged to introduce 1t. To all
these services members OF the Lyce-
UNI Club will become entitled after
| the payment of their subscription,
which. at the startout, IS SO for Eng
lish and s. for American and other
foreign members. The only charges
which the club will make to members
served through this information bu-
reau will be for out of pocket ex-
penses.
OF the LSeeum-as club-littie
has been said i'm this article, as 1 fam
cy that the most interesting points
about il have been covered in the tel
egraphic dispatches. American women
workers who go abroad may be inter-
ested 10 hear, however. that the Ly-
ceum contains fifty bedrooms which
viii be at the disposal of its foreign
members when in London at prices
which cannot be touched in the me-
/ trOpolis in point of reasonableness.
The catering at the Lyceum will be
another of its features. Foreign mem
bers who wish it will also be given
! letters of introduction to assist them
TO put in their time to the best ad-
vantage, and they will be welcomed
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