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CONNECTIONS
Each signature may be linked to the others by up to 53 thematic connections. Some are common to many signatures; others highlight unusual, yet notable, associations and interests. Friendships are not represented because so many signers were friends. Go to "The Bohemians" to view and interact with all 53 connections.
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THE DOOR
This tag marks individuals with significant ties to the sea. While this may seem like an unusual common interest to be held by bookstore visitors, it is one of the distinctive characteristics of Frank Shay and his friends. Shay's brother-in-law was a sea captain, and Shay enjoyed joining him shipboard when possible. Seafarers represented on the door reflect a range of maritime posts from arctic explorers (Stefansson), captains (Bone), ship's doctors (Walker), and engineers (McFee) to those who served in the U. S. Navy (Smith). For some, seafaring was a relatively short-lived occupation. William Rose Benét, for example, served only briefly as a ship's clerk after graduating from Yale. For others, it was a lifelong pursuit: David William Bone spent over 55 years at sea, writing for much of that time. Christopher Morley likely played a key role in drawing so many seafarers to Frank Shay's store. Morley had a great passion for ships and for a short time even invested in one of his own: a square-rigger named the Tusitala which ran pleasure cruises out of New York. He also was an important advocate of Joseph Conrad's work in the United States, and some of his passion for Conrad--and that of his friends--was rooted in his many writings about the sea.
