Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-04
THE EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
CLUB LIFE IN WASHINGTON The winding |
up of the affairs of the Metropolitan Club Of
tbis city, which viii probably be completed at
q meeting OF its members tonight, may be re-
garded as pretty conclusiveiy establishing the |
fact, that his feature Of life in all the larger
cities OF the world, cannot flourish in Wash.
inston Earlier and earnest attempts have |
been m ade to epgraft the Institution on the So
cial system of the capital, but they were fu- |
tile, and we believe, Shorter lived and less |
promising than the one Immediately under |
notice. What wrought their dissolution we can
not tell; but in this instance the destroying ele
ment seemed TO be simply nonuser on the par
of those entitled to its privileges.
Organized In 1868, time when, in addition
to the large male population always
here, the city was thronged with
officers, military, naval and civil, and
with men OF means, culture and leisure. occu-
pying no Official position, it was thought that
it would supply q want which many believed
existed, II it really did not; ana oil the means
suggested by the experience ana observation
Of us founders were adopted to insure its sue
Gees large eligibly located and well adapt
ed house as taken, and elegantly, though not
extravegantly furnished. The cuisine was first
cl6SS. the IntellcCIu6i WdntS were pIOVlQSu lOT,
billiard tables and other proper means for
passing time pleasantly were introduced; the
rules to gaming were unexcephonable
as those Of any club, and well enforced, and
the expense was reasonable 10 the whole
economy Of the establishment. Nor was there
any deficiency as to either quality or quantity
in membership. The list was large enough,
aud included the very best Of all good ele
ments of our population, permanent and tenn
poraTy, with a fair representation from o.her
cities. Neither was The management to blame
True it may be, that perfect satisfaction was
not always afforded in every Individual case,
nor is it possible in othe- clubs, and, ON the
whole, we believe, it is admitted there was no
inherent or redical defect in this respect.
In fact all the ordinary conditions requisite
to a long and success full career seemed to be
combined IN the organization; yet, In spite OF
them all, aud Notwithstanding occasional
brilliant soIrees, which tended to populariZe
and strengthen it, 1t languished from the be-
ginning. Compared with like establishments
in other cities, Its fine parlors and cosy loung-
ing rooms were unoccupied and desolate; its
periodicals and papers were unread; IT'S cards
were unused and Its chessmen unmarshalied;
Tvs billiard balls swung in undisturbed sleep in
silken hammocks, and its cues stood still and
stark sentinels over solitude ana dreariness
savory dishes; gave back no sound of popping
corks and merry shouts of laughter. and It's
somnolent servitors, bued with the funereaI
spirit of the place
stood mOtionltss like silence listening
To silence"
Absenteeism did the work-slowly but sure
:-Stagnation, Decay, DeatE. The sharp
quick cry of the auctoneer, and the nervous
Que of the bargain hunter broke for little
n n 10 NJ ~
The hammer fell, and all was silence again.
deep, profound and lasting. Its effects in 9th.
or hands, the Metropolitan Club is a thing OF
the past.
However others may account for the fatality
attending clu lbs in Washin gton, it is very clear
to that the lies In the fact that theyare
NOT needed. And this fact Is q signi fcent one,
| in view of the opinions so commonly express ssed
by smart letter writer's and disappointed as-
piran's In regard TO social life at the capital
| 1t tells, louder than words can express, that
there is underlying society here good, healthy
| domestic home loving su ubstratum, which finds
| II ne enjoyment in the home ci. Gle. and is not
| dependent 10 any extent upon the facilities for
| recreation afforded by elub-houses and their
| conseners, which. after ALL have come to typify
| cnIy the extravaganza aud folly and idleness
| Of city life. The existing condition Of things
| In this respect, though apparently unfavor-
able at first thought, may therefore be truly re-
| garded as creditable and desirable.
| DIpoMATIe NOTES Members of the Foreign
Legation here look upon the Italian troubles
| as likely to lead TO more serious results than
| have already appeared. II IL declared that the
| course of Victor Emanuel Is one of doub.s q
dealing, and that he is secretly aiding 4aribal.
| di in violation Of the stipulatons of the treaty
| of Sept. 1884, regarding the Roman Capital It
| is not improbable that Napoleon will even call
on the King OF Italy for an explanation. The
| reiterated cable kilograms that Prussia will
interfere in the difficulties to preserve the peace
Of Europe, are entirely misconceived in the
transmission or the translation Of them into
print II true, the absurdity at once appears
Of Prussia's attempting TO preserve the peace
of Europe.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR The
report of General Grant as Secretary of War
has been received at the Government Printing
Once, and the work OF putting it in type com.
menced. The reports OF Secretary Welles and
Secretary Browning will be ready this week,
and sent to the office. The report OF the Secre.
tary of the Treasury will be the last one sen,
in, as it is necessary to keep the same entirely
secret until transmitted to Congress.
| DECLINES TO INTERFRRE.-ltis is understood
| that the appIIc6tlOns maze from GeOrRI6 dnO
virginia to the Pre-. ident for q modihca alton Of
certain orders &C General Pope and Genera
Schofield relative to the late elections in those
States, have all been reused by the Exec
| utiye, on the ground that the law gives MIN
no power to modify or annul the orders o.
| District Commanders. .
| THE MESSAGE AND EINANCEe.-The Pres
| ident is taking deep interest in the impor
tant question OF national finances, and 1t i.
| probable that he will devote NO inconsiderablt
portion Of the annual message to his views OF
| that subject.
| THR IMPRACHMENT TKsTIMoNY.-The work
| of printing the impeachment testimony has
| been nearly completed at the Government
| Printing Once, and by the time Congress
| meets the entire work will be. ready for ths
| committee. A few printers are now employed
in putting 1t in type, the work being conducted
with great secrecy.
NuMBKR OF CoLoRED CHIL DR. EN- IN SCHOOLS
We are authorized to stare tn at the annual 70
port OF General Howard, as published In tn
| newspapers, is incorrect, inasmuch as the sses