The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-14

Two suppeTs lat monthly recepEions)... 34S
Where does the money come from to
pay these expenses From the admis-
sion fees, w hich vary in different Clubs
from $50 to $3.50; from the semi-annual
dues, $25 to S75 per capita; and from
members whenever a reckless manage
ment brings the clubs mora deeply
than usual into debt. American care
lessness is strikingly shown in the way
that the large incomes OF the clubs are
sQuandered, without protest or inquiry
on the part of the members. In one
club of good repute, but not among the
wealthieat the steward is allowed a
salary and perquisites amounting to
81, 600 per month In another, dissat-
isfacIion being, for wonder, expressed
at the levying of an assessment made
necessary by increasing debt, the
treasurer was allowed 10 resign from a
of his actually quitting the office, and
no inquiry was made into his accounts.
The gentlemen of the club would not
annoy themselves TO lind out where
their money had gone, but the club
went under soon afterward, and Its
effects were knocked down at auction.
Let us learn some other ways IN
which money is spent at the club. We
cross a marble-tiIed floor toa hand
some dining hall. Knots ofgentlemen
are ENJOYING comfortable meal. There
is Ledger, Jr., dining, by invitation,
with old Invoice, who. eats at the club
for the present because his last hired
cook Is a failure, and Mrs. /. won't adj
nit it vet. In the corner, near the
window, sits one of our first military
men, who has dined at the club for the
last ten years. Opposite to him sits a
little hairy faced lawyer, who has not
been known to speak to any one in the
club since he Joined it, eighteen months
ago. at the next table you see TWO
cronies, until lately haunters of the
club. house at all hours. But one of
them, a brilliant man'of Wall street, is
about to be married, He does not seem
to mind it much. His friend Is young
physician, a tall elegant fellow, con-
firmed bachelor, with a little of the
are going to cut the club, my boy, after
the fatal day." says he. ''Must do 1t,
Mat" answers Wall street; my An
gelica says the club isn't the thing"
And their talk flows of and sparkles
from his text. anl g.
But we must leave them and run up
stairs, If we would learn more of "what
the men do at the club" Below we
have seen them reading, lounging and
dining. The cooking and attendance
are generally good, and the general
| comfort OF meal superior to that of a
restaurant. Meals are furnished at
/ restaurant prices by the steward.
/ The second story-foou1 are devoted
/ TO the next great function OF the club
conversation. Here gentlemen meetto
discuss business, marriages, politics,
amuaements and philosophy. Many q
| valuable business acquaintance is
| made in the clubhouse. What pro-
| jects are not planned in the cushioned
corners of the conversation room
| q Rn FnEi6nH nv The
| members t.over the drinks DO A dry
| talk"fs a rare thing In clubhouse,
Once month, however, It is customary
for each club to give a supper to which
members are permitted to invite their
male friends. This is always an ele-
CANT affair. The dining saloon Is
opened at 10 O'Clock; rich table Is
ready: and the great punch bowls are
drained many times. Then follows
musical entertainment. Performances
upon the piano, by fine players, songs
and comic stories are gtyens amid the
most jovial applause. Many a. man
Yields to these conYiVial influences
though he may haYe been an ascetiC
during the rest Of the month"; and
wives, alas sometimes complain that
their liege lords come home quite
"crooked" from that 8horfid monthly
meetinE,n and have some little DIM
Guilty at the door with the latoh-key.
Drinking, them must DE EecosnlLsu
as one of the functIons,of club life
/ But the clubs of New York are char
4 tered for various essential purposes as
art or politics. The "Union League
and the "Manhattan" clubs are re
IspectIvely Republican and Democratic
The Century" is literary club. II
began with one. hundred members
whence its name; but soon became 81
/ popular that its membership ran up e
six hundred. The 9Jockey Club
stands at the other extreme of civlliZR
tion,and accommodates gentlemen whI
love horses better than books. 1s hai
an elegant house near the Fordhan
! race ground, twelve miles out OF town
The "TfaVelIeFs' CIubn brings together
the wandering intellects of number o
gentlemen who have been all over thI
world. They have pleasant rooms II
the Fifth avenue. The Union Is tn
: iultra-fashionabI club. The Eeleeticii
J the Goldfish arfstocrats' club. The Athe'
ineum was-untl terday-Rd delight
q ful club, devoted as specially to art
No club had better material, none
81 pIeasanter house, But bad manage
ment ruined 1t. Iayikh expenditure
l,dishonest employees kleasnes8f fol
i flowing prosperity yEere too much 70
y it. and peremptory sale of its effects
q ON Monday laatI closed the career o
the most popular and brilliant Aths
. | f1ITIh