The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-08

The Lopdon correspondent of the Boston
advertiser whites under date of May +, as fol-
lOws:--
This week the West End Clubs are holding
their annual meetings " is curious to note
the interest which people who are eminent iu
the world take in the inner life of their Club.
One of the most impas STONED speeches / ever
heard John Bright deliver was iii support of
technical mode OF registering vote at his
Club. | have seen legislators of renown hur-
rying from library to smoking room, from
smOkipg-room to dining-rOom, canvassing
with eager voice and excited looks tor a
friend who had been proposed as one of the
Committee. The acquisitions to the latter
body are often OF a frivolous kind, yet they are
indited with all the form OF an address TO the
Crown.
One paper l remember, which lay on the
library table for signatures Tor six weeks,
memorializ1d the committee 10 allow the
doors of the library TO be pushed open, instead
OF being pulled open was imploret TO sign
it by one of the men of the time, and |
assented gravely, as though IL was not to be
hastily done. What stories a committee man
could reveal At one time | could not under
stand the ambition of some OF my fellow
clubmen to get on the committees now begin
TO suspect II Is a love OF scandal and of deli
cate inquiries. A tremendous diSp ate, which
almost ended IN the disruption Of p Club Of the
first rank, occurred lately through the com.
plant of a member, that another member,
while drinking his wine after dinner, had
thrust up his feet ON chair the Commit
tee became a jury, and witnesses We're eX-
amined pro and con. The verdict was, not
guilty but the prosecutors were so n1iguant
that they have since taken the revenge of
black balling fuTiouoly a gentleman who was
known to be friend of the incautiOus diner.
The frivolous charges against the fOOtmen; the
absurd suggestions about the internal arrange
meDts-these things are nuts and wine TO
some people, while to others they are a horror.
A place on the Library Committee l do not
despise, but on the other | would hardly serve
for any bounty" they could offer.
Mr.. Cyrus Field, by the way, has been
elected a member of the Reform Club. |
should say he Is a clubahle man, for he is
chatty and good tempered; but he must avoid
those tender family condolences which have
escaped him On certain public occasions. a
great deal may be excused in a man who
speaks under the circumstances amidst which
Mr.. Field has stood, and at such times people
will listen in silence TO an attrotOnate epistle
from home, or 10 an assurance as To the sub
stance of his nightly prayers; but this "gush-
ing' strain is fatal in quiet times, among the
sc0Gers of club They detect even the
slightest peculiarity OF dress or habit, and are
ruthless as to torwardness or obrusiye senti-
ments,
Inc Atheuepm ClUhy WblGn Is the most eN-
elusive perhaps Ia Europe, aud which contains
among It's members all the srstOGraoy of in
tellect aud culture is always ready when
practicable, to forward the aims of distin-
guished authors or sayans of another country.
The splendid libraries of the Atheneum aud
the Reform Clubs are of much service in this
way. If am not mistaken, Dr. J. G.. Palfrey,
when preparing the materials for his admirable
"Hist0ry of New Englaud''-a work which i
IN aH lErt ba n
and which is to bo fouud in almost every
valuable collection Of books-found the libra
res have named of considerable assistance
in his researches. The Atheueum Club paid
DR. PaItey, think, the compliment of al
mission to its privileges, Those who are uu
familiar with the Club system in England
will hardly see the significant testimony thi,
apparently slight sign of respect really bear.
to the reputation Of the scholar to whom i
NJ lALes.