New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-16
A WESTERN VIEW OF THE "CLUB."


from he Editorial Co,re,pondence IF The Sasdusy Rege
On Broadway Is room occupying the whole tourth
story OF large building where gather the professors
and the disciples of the " Free Lovers" These per
sons abIogae the marriage laws, and deny their bind
ing force. They propose as the only true marriage
that persons Of both sexes shall come together from
"afinities is they will live together as man
aud wife when their spiritual lures assure them they
arc fitted for one another and shall only live together
70 long their natures are harmonious when this
harmony ceases, the parties arc at liberty to choose
oher associations, and bed and board with other OF
The opposite sex if they please. This is the sum aud
substance Of the whole institution regard as we
may, and its fruits may be easily guessed
We entered the room at g O'Clock. AT one end
of the large saloon was an ante-chamber, carpeted
nicely and fitted up with sofas, tables, &c. COM
pany of men and women-incudiog several persons
whose names would not look we'll in print, but who
ought 10 be known neyertheless-were gathered
around table, reciting French to Professor Batch
elor the mewhat noted French socialist and cosd-
tutor of Albert Brisbane and stephen Pearl AT drews.
After short time the lessons were over, when COM
menced the usual hlarity Of The evening. The at
ten6 became constantly ereater-cbiedy OF young
men and women. The exercises consisting Of prom
ena6ing-the men clespDg he women around the
waist, and talking apart III low tones. Ihis was IN
earne 81 of the assimilation of soul beautifully
set forth by these impractical absactoniss; and Il
was also in earnest of such sin this pen canno. re-
cord without a sense of humiliation for poor perversc
human nature. ,
The promenading and reasoning together" goes
on for while when music strikes up and the floor IS
filled with daucars. ALL then, looks well enough to
the careless observer; but LET watchful eye be kept
and see the pressing Of hands that is going on, the
oeripg of eyes the encircng of waists by the gen.
tlemens arms and there is little room for doubt OF
the character Of The "afiinity which would bring
souls tremendously together" We looked on in
utter astonishmen and could but turn in ndigna ion
TO the apostles of such gross deception, to protest
against its enormity.
In LADY present we found willing COMMUNICATE
and facts enoue were given to authorize the inter
position of the strong hand Of the law to break up the
gatherings. Young won en- beautiful and accomplished,
were pointed out to us as having given themselves
up TO the embraces Of certain young men, for whom
thew had an affinity while the whole brotherhood
looked on approvingy and seemed to regard it as en-
tirly proper! Ons beautiful French gil, present,
looked worn and exhausted il was todus BY our lacy
informant that six weeks ago Mademoisele was as
blooming and lovable creature as ever graced any
parlor-that she had become 80 thoroughly indoctn-
mated with the FIee-Love principles as TO become a
truthful dis ciple-and, a consequent, she had be-
come the mistress of four or five of the spiritual
"mpded," and was now but wreck OF what was
lure woman a few weeks since! This, we were AS
sured was but one Of many instances; and yet the
"Club" was rapidly Increasing, drawing within II
many people Of intelligence and virtue who thus
blindly sold themselves TO the devil in the pursuit OF
an abstraction which is but npuriy itself in its re-
dution to practice.