Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-06
CLUB HOUSES.

From the London Magazine
Club houses are by no means a new Invention;
Syet the improvements on The old plan, which
was Itself an Improvement upon the former col
fee house, IS sufficiently interesting and Suits
cien,iy unknown to the people in general, 10
render some account Of their adv dntaSe: not
superfaous. The modern club is tavern and
wsroom where the members are both guests
and landlord. The capital Is derived from a
sun paid by each member on entrance, and
,he general annual expenses, such as house rent,
servants, Sc. are def,ay2h o. IN anpua! sub
sctip,iou. The society elects a committee ter
itsexecu,;on and government, and meets at 81 /
!. A iu1sraa-,c for legislative measures. The com
ml'tee appoint steward to manage its affairs,
anG ssststats ssv tseeet.,rH.s- 81 meetings, and
transact the business Of CORES 2ondence. The
domestic servants are placed under the irume.
diaie direction of the steward; but above all, in
the choice of cook the discretion Of the cons
mittee is mos, especially exertrd A house be-
ing thus established here the society is at home
:he rooms are thrown open FOR their various ac-
commoda,icn. In the apartments Tor eating
members may breakfast, lunch, dine and sup,
as they list, bill OF fare great variety is pre-
pared; and the gourmand has nothing mere TO
do than TO study its con.entS, s write the names
of the dishes he desires on j bill prepared for
the purpose; 10 mention whether he orders din
ner for himself alone or in company with o.
Tiers; and al what time he chooses to dine, whe
Their immediately or at some subsequent hour.
AT the close Of his dinner, this bill or demand
is presento.s 70 him will the prices annexed, &
promp, payment is The law u is mistaken
notion 10 suppose that lhesg clubs are expensive.
On he contrary, since there IS no landlord 10
look for prof, on his capital, a membrr prncures
every thing, whether food or wine, at the cost
price; and as the convenience OF members is
of course considered when they iegislaring
foI themselves, food, both solid and liquid, is to
be had in almost any portion, however small,
for the jusi fraction Of the price of The whole.
Wine is OF course bottled in quarts, piuts and
even half puts, and may be had at some ins,i-
tutions even in glasses; il is not needless to OBJ
serve, moreover, that there is no necessity eth
or Of shion or regulation 10 drink il al all. At
an inn a bottle OF wine must he ordered for the
"good OF the house." that the waiter may not
despise you ard he surly; that, in short, the
CUES; may BIZ tolerably accommodated in other
matters: although, perhaps, the wine itself
(wretched stuff generally at inns) is his abhor
'rencc-thoush ne may never drink any thing
but water, and may send The decane r away un-
touched-the tax mus, be paid. Besides thi,
entertainment for the grnsstr Senses the more
refined appeites arc considered. In some clubs,
the "tra,sller's" Tor inst ance, library is pro-
vidcd; and at most of them, even the most un-
intellectual library of reference is supplied
Here all me periodical Of The day are laid up
on the tables both those of Great Britain and
Of the Continent: together with the newspapers
metropolitan and provinoial and in sumo in
stances, the political journals of Paris. This
part of the house may be considered the general
resort Of gossippers and qniJnunos; and here
or in other more councillors place, materials
for writing, paper, lights, Sc. are found. Draw
ing rooms, one OF more, are next to be men,
tioned-here the members ,ake their tea or o.
Their ease; and where cards are played-,his is
the scene OF operation. A billiard room is an
agreeable addition to the acc ON aaoda,ion Of the
socety's hoase, and several IF the inferior de.
partments are always devoted TO serve as a dres
sing room. IL is clear that bachelor wants
nothing beyond this but bed; If he CHOOSE S to
live in this sort Of public privacy he may; aud
should he be only sojourner in town, the con.
ven,ence Of resort of this kind where!a he may
make his appoin uents, receive and write his
levers, see society, taxi his dinner, speUd his
rveuing, If not otherwise engaged, over the