The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-03
The Immortal Fifty Fiff ty
The American Academy Of
Arts and Letters Are to
Fill Three Vacancies

~
OF Americas men Of art and letters
gathered here tonight for a two
day celebration Of the american
Academy of Arts and Letters. dur
ing which three more illustrious
] figures Will be elevated TO the rank:
Of the Immortal Fifty
The three to be selected Will take
the seats left vacant by John Bur
roughs. Abbott Henderson Thayer
and Barrett Wendell. who have
died since the last annual meeting
Of the Academy.
The selections will be made to-
morrow by the remaining 47 mem
bers Of the Academy, from a list
Of nominees picked because OF
! their eminence in poetry and the
drama, fiction and history, paint
ing and sculpture, architecture and
music, from the go members OF
the National Institute Of Arts and
Letters.
On Saturday, Marshal Foch Will
re!eSate to the background fon the
only time during his stay in Amer
ica the role of soldier. and will ap~
pear in the robes Of the French
Acadcmician to lay the cornerstone
Of the American Academy'S new
home. Distinguished authors, ayt-
lists and statesmen Of two Henlis-
pheres are expected to attend this
aceremony.
Professor Brander Matthews of
Columbia University, Chancellor OF
the American Academy. has told o.;
the Acadcmy's beginnings with
Howells, Twain, Stednlan ard
others as a nucleus.
about 90 years ago" said Pro.
fessor Mathews, the Social Science
Association increased its numbers
and then designated one hundred
Of its nleinbers--poets and prose
/ writer's. painters and sculptors.
I architects and composers-to found
I Nationa! Institute OF Arts and
Letters. Slowly this institute en-
larged its membership to $50; and
then it chose some of its members.
Howells, Stedman. Mark Twain and
John Hay, LaFarge and st. Gaud-
ems. and Edward MacdoweE, AID
laid upon them the duty Of estab-
fishing an American Academy Of
Arts and Letters to consist Of so OF
the leaders in poetry and the dra-
ma, fiction and history painting
and sculpture, architecture and mu-
sic
"When this Academy was thus
organized it elected Howells as itS
president and then William Milli-
gan Sloane as its Chancellor. At
ter the death of Howells last year
he was succeeded in the presidency
by Mr. Sloane. No one is eligible
to the Academy who]is not a mem
ber of the Institute. No member
Of either the Institute Or the Aca1-
any had voted for himself; they
have all been elected by their fell
low craftsmen in the several arts.
1.-The purpose Of tha Academy is
to bring together the leaders in the
allied arts, to enable them TO kno"
one another more intimately, and
to encourage them to take such ac-
ton FOR the advancement Of their
several arts as may seem TO them
wise. To this end both the lnsti-
tute and the Academy have recelv-
ed national charters from the con-
gress Of the United States. Elec-
ton to the Institute is an encour-
agement to the younger artists and
men of letters: and election to the
Academy is an ampler recognition
for the more mature men whose
early promise has been followed by
! performance. The Institute awards
it's gold medal every year to a lead
er in one Of the arts; and the Acad.
e,ny has also it's medal, which has
as yet been awarded only once.