An eminent dramatist is selected for chairman and holds the post for three months.
His election generally follows close upon a splendid failure.

Some of the world-famous ones have enjoyed this honor.

Dumas, Jr., Zola and Offenbach have all filled the chair and presided at the monthly dinner.
These dinners are given on the last Friday of the month, and are said to be extraordinarily hilarious.
"I do believe God wanted a grand poem of that man," said George Macdonald of Milton, "and so blinded him that he might be able to write it." "Returned with thanks" has made many an author.

Failure often leads a man to success by arousing his latent energy, by firing a dormant purpose, by awakening powers which were sleeping.

Men of mettle turn disappointments into helps as the oyster turns into pearls the sand which annoys it.
"Let the adverse breath of criticism be to you only what the blast of the storm wind is to the eagle,--a force against him that lifts him higher." "I do not see," says Emerson, "how any man can afford, for the sake of his nerves and his nap, to spare any action in which he can partake.