The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-20

tory Is soon written. In few years. at most, tney
all seem to have met with similar fate They
died for lack OF patronage and support. Consider
ing that Washington Is in many respects cosmopoh-
tan-that 1t is the nations political centre, the
theatre where men OF the world, OF every
profession and station In life assemble and where,
perhaps, the various phases OF social HE, hgh
and low, are as well represented as In any other
city OF the United States t seems strange that there
should be no clubs and club houses. This Is doubt
less attributable TO the fact that that portion OF the
population which could afford to support such
luxury Is migratory. They can hardly be said to
live here. They here for two, four or SIX years.
and then they are gone They are only on visit,
boarding, staying. Previous to the war there were
two clubs here. There has been only since, and
that expired recently. The Southern men were more
given TO club house life perhaps than the Northerners
They are more social In their dispositions and, as
general thing, more liberal with their purses. Men
from the Northern States PROBABLY relish their glass
OF wine as keenly as their brethren OF the South;
but The former are so eager In their pursuit OF
money that they have time only to gulp IL down,
while the latter like SIT and SIP IL at their leisure.
nave said there were two clubs here before the
war. Only one OF these-the Washington Club-is
deserving OF notice. Ii was the only club that ever
amounted TO anything, or lived more than a year or
two. In many respects 1t was, perhaps the most
remarkable club that has existed III TINS country.
IL carried on ITS roll OF membership the names OF
men distinguished III civil, military and naval lie,
judges Of the Supreme Court, members OF Congress,
officers OF tne army aud navy members OF the dlpo-
matte CORPS authors and artists, met around It's
festive board and mingled Ill It's cornwall scenes.
Many OF those who were Its shining lights are gone
to ''that undiscovered country, from whose bourn
no traveller returns.u others are scattered here
and there, and only few remain near the scene OF
their Jolly days The club was organized on the 2st
OF June, 1852.
fuckers name Is the only one which has since ng-
ured extensively IN pubic affairs Colonel George
Z. Washington, man OF some local celebrity mere,
and descendant OF 1.-THE Ialher of his country
It's Arst president Alter giving one or TWO other
places trial the club nnally settled down IN the
house recently occupied bY william H. seward, on
Lafayette square, the Executive Mansion
Judging from the rules and regulations, the wash
ington CLUB must have been unusually moral-a
most religious. ''The club rooms be positively
closed at twelve O'CLOCK on saturday nights. and no
rooms 70 be opened on sunday, excepting the read
ing room and restaurant; the reading room 10 De
closed at twelve O'Clock A. NJ, says The twenty-sey
enth rule. There were but two billiard tables aud In
order to accommodate all hands and give each men,
Der his turn 1t was enacted that ''But one game or
billiards OF loo snail be played by the same parties,
should other gentlemen oe waiting TO play" A
bride was put upon the gambling propensiJes OF
the nembers by a rule which ordered that Upon no
game to be played IN the club shall more than nve
dollars be bet provided that this rule snail not pre-.
vent betting on the points at whist TO the amount OF
dollar on each point III addition TO the i've dol
lar bet.n
An important adjunctof every well organized club
is a steward. The members OF the Washington Club
were what Rip Van Winkle would call 'Joly fel-
dinner and a fine glass OF champagne as they were
shrewd political managers and astute diplomats
ssvef WSes was 81 the ard that
was the committee charged with the duty
OF employing steward. The minutes OF
The cub state 1.-THE gentlemen charged with procpr.
ing suitable steward for the club reported tls
name OF James Wormey; and IRON the representa-.
% 9a of Snd ms Se SHOULD T Sos
acceptable, to continue plIQ as such.n W0rmley
proved o6tn 'eompelsnShd accepaple linked his
until .:nn short time before 1t broke up. He Is
Sill In the catering business, and tells some marvel
lous OF the number OF teal ducks and canvas
backs Us well as oysters, terrapins ioosters ano
other delicacies which were consumed In day 10y
the members OF the Washington Club. lhey had
good appetltes, those fellows and always
Whiskey seems to have been the princi-
pal drink at the club. though, of course,
there were champagne and other Wines OF mixed
drinks the favorite seems to have been 'Juleps, "
Which were INDUCED IN to great extent Probably
this may be accounted for on the ground that a
majority OF the members from the South, many
OF them from Virgna.where the 'julep" has always
| been held In high favor.
| lam not certain as to the number or members in
the club, but there were several hundred. Among
them were Associate Justice Wayne, of the Supreme
Court; Edward Everett Reverdy Johnson Hamilton
| Fish, John J. Crltenden. Sir John T. Crampton the
| British Mnlster stephen A. Douglas, s. f. Dupont,
| then commander IN the navy; Lieutenant Cen
| Barton Key, Robert Ould, Beverly Tucker. General
| ]. n. Almopte, the Mexican Minister; Judah
| L. Benjamin, CndrIeS Wilkes ltnen COMMANDER III
the navy) Jefferson Davis, Valdemar Bodsco. OF the
Russian legation; John B. Floyd, the Chevalier j.
| G. Hulsemann, Charge d'Aflares Of AUSTRIA Jesse
ID. Bright, w. w. C0rcoran, General w. y Harvey,
| NJ Lie Compt de Sartiges the French Minister; ".
w. Seaton, OF the National Lltetligencer; colonel j.
B. Magruder, and long array OF Senator'S members
Of the House. and army and navy officers. OF course
all the LEGAL celebrities, such Mayor Berrett
Riggs, the banker, and several lawyers were
| members, There was tacit understanding that
politics should not be discussed in the Club bat this
was Seldom Observed It was club Of politicians.
over their wine they discussed public men and public
measures planned political campaigns and rejoced
at party victories. The b9st OF feeling to haye
prevailed and during period OF nearly eight years
no disturbance ever occurred. During the Fremont
and Buchanan campaign couple OF members Of the
club discussing the chances of the candidates
mont should be elected he Would not hold office
under him. The other, who was q Northern man
replied that he wouldn't ask yth1ng better than to
stand on the Long Bridge, over the Potomac and
take dollar from every Virgnian who came across
seeking office under Fremont, In he should be
elected.
As the war approached the Washington Club be-
gan TO show signs OF dissolution. Many members
resigned; others did not pay their dues. Wormley,
the steward, left and his successor not as con-
list OF delinquents who did not pay their dues no.
tice the names OF Beverly Tucker, Judah Z. BenJa-
min, John b. Floyd and Jefferson Davis, and ALWAYS
at the head with the largest sums set opposite them
Probably these men were so busy toYars the last In
plotting treason that they had no time to attend to
anything else.
After the war the Metropolitan Club was organ
lied, but II never amounted to anything Wnile 1t
existed 1t met at the corner OF Fifteenth and
streets Several prominent men and some wealthy
thing like the position OF the old Washington CluO