The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-11-23

| HlOT hlll'H ufllkhAh NV Nhi NHN'
the mind, hut long ago concluded that
was not born funny, and | have neyo
by attempted cultivation been sue
cessful in ENGRAVING upon mysql
stock that nature evidently
never meant TO flourish there for as often a.
have called upon the designated locality
OF wit, have as invariably found nobody
at home" shall, therefore, have to con
fine myself TO field of soberer line, aud
will say something about clubs, their his
tory, nature, value, effects, etc.
Among the many instrumentalitles ior
the promotion of certain objects, whether
social, political religious, commercial, liter
airy, or other, is that peculiar association
known as the CLUB" Its existence is dae
to the organization of man, as gregarious
in his nature as are the fowls OF the air
with their flocks, the beasts OF the field with
their herds, and the fishes Of the sea with
their schools. Perhaps the suggestion for
THE CLUB, IN ITS REMorER DATE,
arose out of the recognition OF community
ofmaterial interests when government was
strong and arbitrary and thu. people weak
and oppressed. The story of the world is
strewn with illustrations of the workings of
these organizations in all their varied
spheres. A certain law of Greece, for in
stance, once ordained death to all persons
that would worship certain gods and god
desses not in the calender Of the govern
ment and the consequence was that many
dssenters from the promulgated faith had
to meet in privacy Of the stric' est sort to
discuss their views and to arrange for the
most expedient methods for their dissent
nation and gcceptance. Within the meet
ings of one OF those Memorable Clubs
newer views were crystalized and
sent upon the nation until the efforts re-
suited in the achievement of giant reiorma-
TONS The earlier Christians had recourse
to similar institutions, Disgusting their real
designs under the cloak of clerical assem-
bling. So, when the age of falth-govern-
ment, with its idolatrous practices, gave
way to the age of government by discussion,
in the purely political clubs, affairs OF state
were secretly debated by the brotherhood,
plans proposed and advances in the general
welfare urged through insldious plays, sug-
gestive poems, and well directed satires,
and other agencies employed to awaken the
people to necessity for change. The regular
social clubs of those eIas were more par
ticularly confined to the foreigners who hap
pened to cOngregate in some certain country
and who naturally yearned for and driited
into each others society. Nor were these
club organizations limited to the patronage
of men only bat the
WOMEN FREQUENTLY PARTICIPATED
in them, after the manner of our side de-
grees in Masonry, Odd Fellowship, etc.
And although they at times dellberated
upon the more serious affairs, national and
municipal, their purposes were more es-
pecially for social enjoyment, the settle
ment of questions OF etiquette, OF dress
fashions, of positions on public occasions;
OF professions, balls, etc.. as to who should
ride in carriages drawn by horses, who
must be content to sit behind mules, whose
sedan chairs might have fittings OF ivory,
and whose might be trimmed with gold,
silver, etc.
In more modern times clubs have been
of equal potency, being particularly
fashionable with the literary aud scientific
characters in Johnson's and Goldsmith
age, and under the reigns OF the Iudors
and the Stuarts. Chief among these mod
ern Clubs stands out in our memory what
was known as the Friday Street Club, ORR
ginated by Sir Walter Raleigh, and Of which
Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher and
other well known characters were emberS.
Also the London Literary, and the Roy
Society club, where Addison and Pope and
Steele, and REYNOLDS ard Goldsmith gave to
the world immortal thoughts and poured
in richest song the current Of the feelings as
the eager workings of their finer passions
beat upon the wild drapery OF
the words that couched them. Even
transpirings in their meetings, the
humorous sayings, the witty anecdotes, the
admirable essays, and the good influences
these brought forth as a charming inherit
ance for future generations, no Gever highly
interesting, would consume more time than
| have to spare this morning, or you the
patience to besJow.
Probably the most powerful of all Club
organizations that can recall just now was
"A EuaN 1tV nj mi gnh gnn1antlp
political, one SO notorious in history as q
Phenomenon, and doubtless familiar to
you all,
THE JACoBIN CLUB OF FRANCE,
which was organized Just prior to the
French revolution of 1883, and modelled
after the English literary clubs l have
lust spoken of. You will remember
that at that time France was seethlne
in troubles of every description, moral
religious, political, social, financial
All sorts of vicious excuses were rampant,
and the genius of evil as it stalked through
out her limits with its aids-de-camp OF per
secution and prescription and murder, SC
Swallowed with sorrow the afflicted nation
that Hope unfolded her wings and fled from
The Tu lleries. These friends of the revolu'
tion," from quiet modesty OF social iestiyl-
ties, came afterward to direct the public
opinion Of all France with their half-milllon
OF close mem bership and nearly one thou
sand affiliating societies meeting together,
As W. sEEI THIS MORNING,
they deliberated upon passing events, and
determined in a sort of caucus like ouI
American prototype, upon programmes o
action. SO powerful did the Club become
in regulating the course Of the National AS
sembly that no politician who had any
ambition could afford TO be without
emebrship in II. The famous Danton
Murat and Robespierre we're in close com
munion, belonging TO the little knot Of the
Inner circle" the "wheel within wheel
caucus, as you and ] would say. IL dicta'
ted deputies and delegates; IL controlled the
legislature; il nominated and assigned the
army officials; Il created the foreign policy,
and, indeed, handled all matters through
all the realm, making the terms Of has
lille" md "guillotine" forever memorable.
And ali this from an origin, as / said, quite
similar 10 that which begot the peaceful
organization sitting within these walls and
listening TO me now thus, Illus.
large streams from little fountains AOw."
IN OUR own COUNTRY
clubs have fiOurished from the Boston Tea
Party Club and the little literary assembings
Of Franklin; the one eliminating IN the
overthrow OF one government on these
shores ard the Inauguration Of another,
the other ultimately developing into the
great philosophical society Of Pennsylvania,
down 10 the leading social ones Of to-day
I as prominently represented by the fremont
Club. Of Boston, the Lotus, Of New York,
the Union League, Of Philadelphia, the
] En-, -of st. LOuis. the Pickwick, Of New Or
leans. and the Bots dare Of Dallas. The
. chief purpose Of clubs like these Is 70 az
7 ford a vent, q recreative relaxation Of the
mental aud the physical from
/ tie cares and labJTs that weight
ore down through the week
I And THE 10 effects through slcial c0nvivi
I niitv. srd tfeaking the cake Of ceremonious
custom, mind meets mind IN dishabille and
honest uureserve. Here our nature airs
~. .is.s-frscrefs Of her inner chant ers upon
the outrr sleeve. and here the feelings 81
L road fellowship blend in happy harmony
With the sense ~ humgr. wit and mern
nirnt. never once Durring, but always pro-
noting our more pracii1al guslincaiion'
L f0r every day lie. And how far our valu,
L rrIar rr-fnrId ore uf thee DAYS ID the c1usid