Publisher's Synopsis
From the INTRODUCTION.
In the month of July, 1899, the undersigned, being a visitor at Southampton, Long Island, N. Y., suggested a somewhat novel form of literary entertainment in our summer communities. It was the offer of a prize for the best answer to the question "What is Charm?"
This contest recalled the open competition of the mediaeval Troubadours of which perhaps the Academie des Jeux-Floraux of Toulouse in the south of France was the outcome, and which was afterwards perpetuated by the liberal endowment of the renowned Clemence Isaure.
There is, however, this difference, that the competition of the Jeux-Floraux was open and personal, while this one was to be in writing and anonymous, the answers being all under "noms de plume."
The Southampton community was informed of the undersigned's intention by means of printed circulars (copies of which appear on the next page) posted in the Public Library, club houses and other appropriate semi-public places. It will be seen that competitors were induced to enter the lists under "noms de plume," being assured that the names of the unsuccessful would remain unknown, unless they subsequently consented to their publication.
From the first appearance of the circular to the final meeting of the Committee a little more than a week elapsed, a time limit having been fixed, and sixty-nine communications were received, prose and verse being about equally represented.
On the afternoon of July 25th, at 4 o'clock, by invitation of Mr. Samuel L. Parrish an informal tea was given at the Art Museum of Southampton, upon which occasion there were assembled about two hundred guests in whose presence were read the communications of the successful competitors, and then for the first time the sealed envelopes containing the names of the authors were opened, unknown up to that time even to the Committee itself. With the exception of the contributions that were publicly read, twelve in number, all the envelopes containing the names of the competitors were destroyed unopened.
The prize, a pin in the form of an enameled laurel leaf, bearing on its face the word "Charm" in brilliants, was awarded to Mrs. J. Metcalfe Thomas (nee Louisa Carroll Jackson).
A special prize, previously unannounced, was presented, also by the undersigned, to Dr. H. Holbrook Curtis for the best prose definition of Personal Charm. There were in addition four other contributions receiving honorable mention which appear in this volume after the two prize winners.
The merit of six other answers induced the Committee to read them also and announce the names of the authors.
The other contributions appearing in this little book have been selected from among the remaining fifty-seven not read by the Committee.
Upon the occasion of the awarding of the prizes announcement was made that it was the undersigned's intention to have printed in book form, for private circulation, a number of the communications (in addition to the twelve read by the Committee), unless by August 1st any of the competitors should object to such use of his or her contribution.
A list of the selected pieces was later posted and the authors were invited to send their names to be published with their "noms de plume," with the statement that otherwise the pseudonym would alone appear. This little volume is the result.
PETER MARIE, 6 East 37th Street, New York."