The New York herald., 1872-07-07
Opening of the Americus Club
House at Greenwich.
DULNEss AND ABSENCE.
LOunging and Yachting ut
Rocky Neck.
THE DEPARTED GLORY.

uc men WHO nau tnelr own VIII 30 ionR III tne clty
OF New York and avished the money Of its citizens
upon their own pleasures res0rted here during
most OF their leisure hours and devoted their facul
ties to the woong of pleasure and the dissipation Of
en.od. The fortunes Of these have since fallen
to very low ebb-low in comparison with their
former lordly sway and princely magnifcence.
THE CLUBS BEGINNING. s.sf. :.
The Americas Club was founded In the year 1867.
II used to hold its meetings In New York, and in
the summer would go to Rocky Neck and erect a
big tent, In which was found ample enjoyment In
the novelty OF camping out" In the fresh air of
the Connecticut coast. small club house was
erected there in 1851, where now stands-southern
fashion-the kitchen Of the present establishment.
This like everything else there, Is very elaborateiy
fitted, and employs one or two Dinahs, whose skill
sharpened by lounging on sea-breezy verandas or
sailing on the Sound in saucy sloop yachts.
The property owned by the club is probably
the finest for the purpose for which it is used OF
any in the world or at least in America.
ROCKY NECK
is low reach Of land which runs out about quarter
of q mile into the Sound, parallel with another
point called Brush Island. A small estuary Of the
sea separates this from Rocky Neck, and one OF
the little coves which is situated the boathouse
is denominated the 'Chimney Corner" South Of the
Club House is Indian Harbor, pretty little bay, at
the head Of which is seated the village Of Green
wich The shores are marked by ragged rocks, the
bases OF which are covered by reddish brown sea-
weed, which gives picturesque aspect to the ir-
regular sheet of water.
From the verandas Of the Club House the view
of the Sound Is simply magnificent. Ten miles
across the water is the shore of Long Island, dlmy
blue, with white sanded beach, Captains Island
effect of the gittering eXpanse lying just at the
mouth Of Indian Harbor and covered with bright
green turf Close to the Club House Is
TwEED'S ISLAND,
rocky bit Of land, shaded by hickories, naples
and elms. In its centre is cosey white cottage
over the porch Of which is emblaZOned the tiger
head emblem OF the Americus Club. The I" Boss"
crew of yachtsmen resided in this fairy structure
last year, but 1t Is now empty and deserted. Be-
tween the island and the shore Is anchored the Ma
~ Jane Tweed nobby little sloop with black
The opening of the Club House week ago was far
less enthusiastic than like occasions OF years gone
by There was no special ceremonies In honor OF
the event. Only about thirty Of the members were
present, and but few Of the magnates Of fallen
Tammany who used to be among the jolliest Of the
jolly at the clubs Publications.
80 WILLIE, WE HAVE MISSED your
Boss Tweed was not there, and the absence Of
MS sps III face nd
ing this, however, show OF careless gayety was
made and the day closed with one Of those superb
dinners for which the Amertcus Ia famous, with
champagne and st. Julien in abundance.
The first week OF the season Of the club was
rather dull because Of the Long Branch races
which absorbed so much interest and too much
pocket money.
Yesterday was Saturday, and there was expected
an unusual number Of the members at Rocky Neck
to sojourn over Sunday and enjoy q lazy "good
time" All day, however, the only persons who
and the two vanderbeck brothers. One or two
others were out on the Sound in yachts, but the
breeze slight that their white sails never
went out Of sight but hovered about in the glitter
ing sunlight the harbor The Boss' little fairy
liam M. Tweed stood out with her snowy pinions,
seeming motonless In the calm, yet she sailed faster
any @ m wss e Vr ea eor
and dclicousy tempered, and the prettiest scene
of land and water on earth was spread at the base
which might have been called a castle if it were
only built Of stone. The Sound was as clear and
still as a mirror, scarcely a catspaw ripping the
dreamy surface, and the purple ridges In the dis
tance were clearly marked In contrast with
the spotless sails ot at n%ng SO r stu IN tne
work righting some OF the boats In the Chimney
Corner" whistling away, and wood thrushes and
the hckOries and naples that mantle Rocky Neck
almost to the waters edge. AS the afternoon
ened by the haze in the air went Slowly down, the
distant vistas of land on the Long Island shore
became tinged with rich roseate hues, which were
About six O'clocka dim white speck afar of grew
into shape, and proved to be
THE STEAMER FROM NEW YORK,
on her way to Stamford. Drawing near to the land
ing at the Club House, she rolled the blue CLASSY
waters into thousand dancing swells, which
Tapped on the mOssy beach and broke the mOnOtony
of the dull flight of time with their rhythm leaving
white track of foam behind her, Meanwhile several
the train, among them Coroner Schirmer who
shouted Justify between his p0ndrOus strides as he
neared the shade of the veranda.
"Helo, Admiral How you wash It's tam hot
more worse dan vat 1t wash in Nye York"
He was rubbing his face with a 'kerchef with
great assiduity, and sat down IN wide armchair,
pulling good deal.
The conversation turned upon
THE ALTERED FORTUNE OF THE CLUB
mot so many here to-day as I expected"
'Oh, yes; but there'll be more up by and by. We
hasn't been here at all this year."
ave won't have so jolly time here this year as
we did last, but it will do us much good. The
club is on a frmer footing now than ever before.
With the $4,000 paid this year on our debt reducing
it to about thirty-fve thousand dollars, all
"a LITTLE TOO MUCH FRENCH"
"Yes, yes. Forty thousand dollars spent last year
for our running expenses We won't use third OF
that this year. It's all very nice, this damned ex-
travagancc, but it's little too much French, you
know.n
Some one with characteristic pride in the club,
narrated somewhat OF Its history. He denied that
was more charitable than political II any Of Its
members got 10 trouble or reduced IN 10 crcumstances
died they were buried line princes.
NEW ARRIVALS
The steamer mo0red In the harbor and in about
five minutes three or four or the clubs rOwbOats
were seen approaching with some OF the members
seated in them. But In all the number the we'll
known and longed-fO form OF Tweed was not found.
A neshy member on the verandah shouted TO thin
one who was rowing Justify,
Come Charlie, now show us 9 nice stroke ]"
As the party landed the gong from the dining hall
sounded for dinner, and moment afterwari
yachtsmen, loungers oarsmen and all sat down to
the board and discussed some well cooked viands
and luscious fruits.
VACANT PLACE
As the sun set the william M. Tweed rode at
anchor between the shore and Tweed Isand
but william NJ. Tweed was not. The
new arrivals embraced few of the
men who had been familiar to sight
and ear the princes OF municipal
politics. The great club house looked strangely
empty. The grand saloon In the same it was last
year. The portrait OF william M. Tweed ia the finest
In the room. In the ante-ro0m Is the case contain
ing the stuffed tiger-head which Norton the Thun-
derbolt brought with him from London in 1871. The