, 1875-06-13

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cLUB-LIFE IN CHICAGO
There is one feature Of metropolitan life i.
which Chicago has heretofo1e been notably
Deficient life in the clubs. In almost every
other respect Chicago has been in advance Of
lta age, population, and necessities Ou1
people have boon lavish in their expenditures
for public Improvements. No cost has been
| spared that would add to the comforts and
enhance the beauties Of the city. The disad-
vantagea Of low, marshy ground have been
overcome by raising city already largely
built up from to 10 feet above its original
! level Engineering works in the shape OF
tunnels under the river for more rapid tran
sit, and tunnels under the lakefor getting the
pnrast Of wator, have commanded the admira-
tion Of the world The edelightfulnes of wood
an pavements was first generally recognized
in Chicago, and the luxury moro widely
enjoyed than elsewhere Tie most extensive
and beautiful system Of parks on tho CONT
nent was projected at an carly day, md will
unquestonab1y b. completed when tho city
shall have attained an adult growth. The
Chicago hotels are known the world over for
their commodious and elegant character, and
for the excellent manner in which they IRE
managed. The places Of public amusement
have generally exceeded in number the de-
mands Of the people, and have always pre-
sented the best attractions Of the lyric and
dramatic stage. Tho investment il churches
has been rockless1y e1travagant, until there is
mn a;+@ %1,oo
can count the same number Of gorgeous TOM
pies devoted to IN observance of single day
Of the week And 80 with every other ad-
junct of city-life except that we have noted.
The neglect Of club-lfe in Chicago is
easily accounted for. Successful club-Efe is
peculiar to metured communities and it is
only more general in large cities because
large cities nre usually old cities. Chicago is
scarcely yet adole8cent- It's time hns been occu-
pied with growing, and clubs wers not essen-
tial to it's growth as were the hotels, theatres,
churches, tunnels, public improvements,
etc. Public ca1ayansaries are necessary to I
the accommodation Of the immense tide Of |
transient people who hnvo flowed in and out /
OF Chicago for the past twenty years thea
tres, opera-houses, g. public halls were
necessary to their amusement, but clubs were
not The attractions Of Chicago as
. placs Of residence have been Of
= nature entirely opposed to that Of
.lub-lfe. They have been chiefly CON-
nercial The e1citements and pleasures
1t the mnle population have been those in
'ident to speculation and money getting.
aeal-estate and Board-of- Trade operators
lave found stimulent enough in tho ups and
towns OF the market; merchants have been
obliged to devote ali their time and au thoir
money to keep pace with the rapid growth Of
heir business. There is wealth enough in !
lineage, but It Is not Of the concentrated and
hereditary character that eustains cluba. It
5 the wealth Of men who have spent the best
ears OF their Life in accommodating it, and who | /!
'aVe acquired habits In this work that have
mt little sympathy With tho ordinary pleasurea ,
t club-1ife.
Another reason why the growth Of club
fe IN Chicago has been retarded is that r
lost OF the cluhs which have baen started +
Tere loaded down with cumbersome timber. :
built up Of sach Light weight that tbey :
onid not stand The press clubs have been t
'eakhngs that had no good claim upon O
z1stence' The Inducements to Join one of O
lem WAS the promise OF free burial after o
cath but even this brilliant promise to an I
and generally impecunious class Il
ued to attract The miscellaneous clnbs a
arted IN Chicago have died in their infancy 7
ecau8e Of an utter lack Of r1aso1I dret~s. l.
ut one club organization has maintained o II
30 on Lie hong enough to assert q claim to | r
and even this institution has | II
'en subjected to considerable criticism of ono b
nd or another, aud has been Threatened / o
1n o1sso1uuon from time to time By chron- k,
abssnteeism. We do not include undo, +ha ia
me Of club-life the social organizations of h,
q two sexes for dancing, Of which tha c;tv ~
3 bad great safaciency, but the male clubs. til
.1ch are aort Of Ang1o-8axon heirloom. Ar
1he failure IN the past OF the various at ne
npts at club~life In Chicago cannot be
len as rule for tbs future. Already there til
project on foot for the erection Of a hand. "a.
ne clubhouse which ia to be bnilt and m
ned BY hundred Gentlenen. and iasth.rr- ~;
., IN 10 sense 9 nouey-makinp ent.r- -,
&C. Inc project 1s so far advanced as int
leave no doubt OF its success and an
worthy OF uots that the list Of sub,nr;h- inv
already includes the names ct gentlemen ha
Q would have resented such an application far
*hem as an insult few years ago. Thess b;z
nos, found among tbs LIST OF gubscribara so,
'uld clubhouse, ara indications Of 4 re- wo
rkahla change in tho sentiment of onr stn
asysd o'oas. It is aign that monsy-est- ahe