Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-24
Boston Clubs,

The Paint and Clay club made it's first ex-
 hibition last week, the occasion of 8 reception
 in it's big top-foor club room. to which ladies and other friends were invited. It was a
 pleasant affair and 8 creditable show. Not
 the least interesting features were the cards of invitation which each invited guest receiv- ed. These were gems in their way, daintily exhibiting something of the talent embraced in the club. Each was embellished with sketch reproduced by BicknelPs monotype process, mounted on card board, large enough to frame. All the artist members of the club contributed to these invitation sketches, and some of them were admirable bits of work. They will, no doubt, be cherished by the fortunate possessors as souvenirs of a most agreeable evening, and will set the fashion for invitation cards to similar receptions, which is already in vogue in New York. The Paint and Clay is the youngest and most un- conventional of the art or professional clubs of the city. When it was first organized wrote of it's plans and prospects, somewhat enthusiastically, perhaps, and 1t IS now gratifying to be able to say that it has devel- oped well and is doing it's part toward the
 encouragement of home talent. It is a club of what might be termed genteel bohemian
 character. Its members are all producers.
 There are no fossils among them no dead wood. It's membership includes few archi- tects, and fewer journalists while the ma- jority are working artists of recognized tal- ent, who are steadily pushing their way toward the front Their club-room, a big, roomy hall at the top of Washington street building, with huge sky-hght, having the effect of big break in the ceiling, is one of the pleasantest and jolliest of places on Wednesday evening, the favorite cub meet ing time. The club men are gathered about 8 long, wide table set underneath the big sky light some are making black and white sketches, others are critieising or telling stories, or talking of their work; many are smoking furiously, and now and then the exhilarating pop of the festive beer-bottle Is heard. The walls of the room are perma- nently adorned with pictures contributed by the members; and among the portraits IS one of Hunt, well portraying his strongly mark ed features The clubs first exhibition is particularly strong in works in black and white. though some paintings are displayed which are highly commended. The club hopes to sustain itself and strengthen it's position through it's exhibitions and the work Of it's members for it's benefit Possibly the club will the coming season illustrate some book, such as Whittier or 8 Longfellow, and so appear more prominently before the pub lie. It has some generous patrons, one in particular, who has helped it along the thorny path of the expense account, in kindly and unobtrusive way; but the fact that it is club of earnest and honest workers, of good fellows who pull well together, and whose aim is to help each other up higher, is the best indication of it's success, prosperity and growth. The other clubs are moving along in peaceful way. The Art club men expect soon to get into their new club house the St. Botolph is slowly enlarging it's numbers, and is coming to be the most conservative of our clubs; and the Papyrus is progressing to the satisfaction of it's members, dining every month as usual, and arranging for it's GUS tomary annual 'ladies' night" which is one of the pleasantest of the literary events of the winter season. Possibly, by and by, the Papyrus will have it's own elub-h house, along with the rest, and will so add one more to the pleasant 'sexclusive'' lounging places of the city, the round of which is so agreeable a pastime for the favored guest in the city whose friends are Ion the inside"