The New York herald., 1870-11-08

0f costume are discussed by these descendants of
the Puritans with the easy confidence CT Brummell
ar D'Orsay. Randdge's last thing In coats is con.
trasted with Pooe's latest triumph IN pan;aloons
and notes are eagerly compared OF the relative ex-
pensiveness and efficiency OF rival tailors.
Boston cannot boast or the number or elegance
OF her club houses there being only three worthy Of
the name. or these the Somerset, situated on the
corner OF Beacon and Somerset Streets The
OF the swells.n and Is regarded by its habttues
the most select establishment the kind the Hub
The number Of effective members Is limited to 250;
the entrance fec Is $780, which is also the Of
the annual assessment One black bah In seven
excludes an applicant, who TO be elected, must
receive at least fourteen votes. II rejected he
cannot be again proposed FOR six months. The
Officers OF the club for the current year are men
who, though well known in the fashionable coteres
OF Boston, are, with one exception unknown to the
outside world. The club house itself Is q plain
granite puilding old fashioned in both internal and
external appearance, and originally q private
mansion. Considering the pretenslons OF this club
the representative ofthc wealth ana fashion OF this
community, ats accommodations are sngular!y
meagre, aud person familiar with the elegant
establishments OF Pail Mall Fifth avenue would
be surprised at the contrast There is one bylaw OF
tho club which Is suggestive OF Puritanical scrupu
losity. to use word which Byron, with less appro.
pratcness applies to the OrIentas 1t directs that
the outside blinds OF the two principal rooms where
members usually SIT and gaze al passers by on Bea
con street shall be kept closed from Saturday
ing 'iil Monday Monday morning This regulation
necessity Of conceang the faces Of nice
young men from the church-eopg throng-
like Venetian beauties behind ealonsies-or 20
prevent inquisitive members from scanning too
closely the features Of fair deyotees. In case
II wise measure OF precaution. The rule that
no game shah be allowed between twelve O'CLOCK
on SATURDAY. night and the hour OF opening on Mon
day morning Is one TO which no objections be
luaue III day, though the taIuestprS
the last century, ireguented Whites and Brooke's,
pleasures. Tie Contrast between the moderate rate
corner OF the Somerset and the $4,000 which
Charles FOX and his brother stephen lost in three
bic 10 the improved tone of modern society.
larger and consequently less exclusive club
than the Somerset, Is the "Unionn on Park street,
opposite the Common. II Numbers about 500 men-
bers comprising representaiiyes Of the best
formed to AID in the suppression q ''''s The
rebellion, and snll retaining some Of the features
OF It's Foundation, II has lost much OF the peculiarly
political character which formerly distinguished II
aad numbers among its members men or all parties.
The president is Richard ii. Dana, Jr the well known
lawyer and pub.icist, author OF 1.-TWO Years Before
the Mast" and one OF us directors the historian
recently neen elected The time has been in Boston
wnen actor, however distinguished, tabooed
IN social circles; but have changed all that aud
Mr. Fecater been received here th the courtesy
which Is que 10 The gentleman as wen rs the adIll-
admission 10 the UaIon CLUB recalls the difficulty
perienced by Sheridan In becoming a member OF
Biookes, the famous whil club OF st. James street,
his admission beng opposed by George Selwyn be.
ms father was an actor. Al this club one
OF a candidate. and Sheridan, though three times
proposed, was us often backbailed by the ias-
fidious man Of fashion. When the unsuccess-
ful applicant learned how his election had
been defeated he determined TO circumvent
his opponent. He had his name put up for the
touI ItL time and, on the evening OF the election,
wenr, arm In arm with the Prince Of Wales TO
Brooaes, where they arrived ten minutes before the
bal.oting began. One OIL The waters tnen notified
Se,wyn that the Prince wished to speak with hm
tmmedately' selwyn came ana SHERIDAN entertained
him with arainDllng political story and, IN the
meantime, the Daot.ng went on ana Sheridan was
elected. On being informed Of the fact by nod rom
the waiter he went up stairs previously telling Sell
wyn that the Prince would inl. the narrative, the
catastrophe Of which he would find very remark
able. The Prince, however, knew SO lutte OF The
story that he involved himself III contradictions and
a, last told Selwyn that they had better go up stairs
where Fox or some one else would tell the rest OF H.
On adiourning 10 the clubroon they found Sheridan
who informed them OF his good fortune, and onercd
beginniag to end exclaimed Selwyn, who realized
the trick which had been successfully played OF
him.
The Union club House was formerly the residence
OF Abbott Lawrence, the wen known miltonnaire
and Minister 10 England 1t was purchased seven
years ago from MS heirs FOR $4,000, aud is
worth double the money. Situated on PARK street.
FACING uhe Common with q view oil scenery such as
as seldom within city limits equ distant from the
abodes OF fashion anu The busy mart. and conye-
nieny near places o amusement IL is decidedly tue
most attractive pace OF the KIND at The HuD. It's
proximity to the building In whlch the members OF
the Great ana General Court ventate their erev-
ny Edward Everett III u eulogy on the great NOR
chant who used to live here. In del heating Mr..
iawrence's character the orator said:-'.such VAS
ms integrity that If the dome OF the state House
winch towers above his residence In Park street
Laid at his feet as the price OF an unJuss
ao1on, ne would nave spWrned II AZ the
charming stories of Boston hospitality in by-gone
DAYS when the ambassador welcomed the Wit,
tabes that Win !" pm me aool InGs tS Of
NE Next door Is the residence or George TlcNnor
tne historian or Spanish literature, WHO IS ol
Oldest literary hons OF Boston. HIS great work. Ike
many OF those books which no gentleman library
fesscd scholars. but ms large and valuable library,
which III matters pertaining to Spain Is unequaned
desires az @ Is a. e 81 she orye Hyeey student m wo
nor,s position here was wei Illustrated by remark
e ad de seen m on Us
answer the great humorist observed, III his nimita.
bic way, "Why, you might well 90 10 Ill and
Ticknor.n
The only building originally constructed for a
club house IN this city i tnat occupied ny the Temple
Cub in West street. 1t Is plain brown stone strlc-
ture well adapted to the use OF the solid men
ton, who form the greatest portion OF Its ha6ies.
The dining room Of this club is the largest OF the
KIND in the city, ana ts bowling alley forms at
traction not possessed by similar establishments.
Among the paintings on Its walls is fine bulls head
by Hinckiey considered the most vigorous produce
ton OF the artist. The character Of club may be
told BY It's favOrite wines. and the exuberant loity
OF the young bloods OF the SomcrseG is ftIy SYM
boiized by sparkling champagne, the widows tears
Yfjoy as one might term Ciicquot, or the flashing
fantasies OF Roederer so the more decorous disspa
tlOn OF the devotees Of the Temple Is shown
by their indulgence In substantial sherrcs and Ma
deiras. There men here OF whom Holmes may
have thought when he penned the description
OF the guest at the bankers dinner who
Remarks that "whtetop" was considered line,
But swcars the Juno ID the better wine.
Others show preference for the liquor which DR..
johnson said was the best drink for men, dimy
Fcious perhaps OF the rule which Cough may have
learned n his guzzling days, that when one's helm
- Daru aport There Is small danger OF being 'half
seas ovor;, while many more choose the serious sat
1siacion Of the heros tippe, the all potent brandy
Inc leiuphls, however, are not easily overcome,
and among their evo.Itons the 'rcel' is seldom
aeen ana the Staeyrttc has few disciples. Charles
Surface rather than Toodles is the tyne Of club dis
siration IN Boston, and the glass OF fashion, in0nrh