Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-03
CLUBS NOT TRUMP.
Why Wheeling will Never Support
Thin. ..
The Past Hi.toy Of One or Two Of These
GentIemen's Clubs What Club
Life Costs.

"A large number OF The young society
gentlemen Of Wheeling have, at different
times, felt the ardent longing which
comes once in all society life, to join
iwell social club. Some have been to New
Y RI and Philadelphia and seen the glories
OF the Metropolitan and Union League
clubs, while others have tasted the sweets
Of the Queen City and Duckworth at Gin
cinnati, and in their breasts arose desire
to emulate them, on a smsll scale, In
Wheeling. Some Of these aforesaid young
gentlemen sre now agltating the establish
ment of the Chesterfield club, which is to
be a model Of its kind. All card playing Is
TO be strictly tabooed IS he proposed elegant
rooms are to be devoted TO social enjoy
ments, cigars, lunches and receptions to
strangers, with few cosy bed chambers
when members are out late and indisposed
to go home.
Clubs have not been a success in Wheel
ing. The socisl element is not sufficient to
keep them alive and the expense Is too
great for the most OF those who. would
make the very best members. There was
the old S. Y. W. that lived brief, though
pleasant existence and then went the way
of ali flesh. The A. p. Q. had similar ex-
istepce and finally went to the wall by the
iolce OF circumslat cas-, while numerous
other minor ones met the same fate. But
the history aud career Of social club in
Wheeling is best told in the history Of an
other that had quite checkered career. 1t
was known as the 2. A. T., which was COM
monty believed TO signify Quit at
Twelve" though ii might have mean, just
as well, that it mad quite Time" Ole
of its members. in relating its history said:
1T was started by 8 number of young
fellows and started out in high feather.
Fke initiation fee was s. and with the sum
30 raised room was rented and handsome
Y fitted up. One member was little
short at the beginning, and in lieu OF IS
donated Burnside stove from his fathers
wsshroom, with the understanding 1t would
be returned when the club broke up.
Things went on swimmiBgly. We had
boxing gloves, foils, dumb bells, Indian
clubs and all sorts Of things, and kept pa
psrs and magazines always on the table.
No gambling was allowed, and 1t became a
great place Of resort for the boys. But after
a time it grew stale and there was nothing
al the club TO amuSe the boys. Finally
they began to play cent ante, and every
evening and all dsy Sunday little game wa
sept going. Their interest revived and
the b. Us all come back. Then the g ime
wss roiSed to five cents and then to ten
cents, and things were very hOgrishing
tLere. Outsiders were admitted, and by
George. it wasn't long before all the sports
in the city made the place their head quar-
teIs, and you could see toys SneaSiug up
or down stairs at all hours of tae night
Of course, the thing could not be kept
quiet and most everybody knew OF it,
Item they got behind on their rent unit.
one Sunday the landlord suddenly kicked
open the door and walked into the room ia
tine to interrupt little Jackpot some one
ned inst opened with three aces.
Yes, that settled the club. 1t broke up
then and there and the first thing any one
knew a red flag was hung oul and every
thing sold to pay the rent. Not an article
sss left"
What became Of the stove?"
Invent with the rest and nothing was
ever heard of il sgain."
This is q sample Of CLUBS" in Wheeling.
The Lincoln club, which is a political or
gsnization, has alone escaped the evil and
survived. II there is not something more
attractive and exciting than ordinary
social or litersry pursuits; the club dies as
In the large cities, where there
re many gentlemen OF means and
ejSure, a club will flourish, but in
Wheeling the eligible club men have
neither time nor means 10 spare 10 make
IN organization success. A New York
gentle man in this city q short time ago,
gave the writer an idea OF the cost. He is
young snd louriShing lawyer. with an
income OF 5000 beyond his profession.
He is q member of IA honsble club, but
is rot thoroughly a club man. yet his con-
nectiOn with il costs him 81 500 year. OF
course such a club would oe an impossible
ity in Wheeling, but still it conveys an
idea of the cost of one. The natural in.
ference is that club in Wheeling would
rot be q success.
Il DON'T feel WE'LL" The stomach is out
Of order; neglected, this means chronic
dyspepsia. You should take Acker's Dys-
pepsia Tablets and avoid this terrible dis.
Ease. Sold by Edmund Booking and G.
Menkemeller. Druggists, Wheeling, w. Va.
We will have big special sale OF trunks
III this week at the F-mous Hatters, lli2
Main street.