St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-31
GOTHAM TOWN GOSSIP.
A Club For Ladies the Daring Scheme Of
New York Society
Bellies.
The Organization to be Modelled After a
London Olub--Mrs. Astor
for President.
Close of an Unsuccessful Dramatic
Season--Theaters Owned by
Milliona1res.
Lillian Russell's Fat Baby Worshtped
BY the Dudes--Summer
Dizziness.

NEW DIRK, May 2S.-1t Has pceH uiluOi-
stood in club circles for some time past that
ladies' club, patterned upon the Union,
was to be organized in the metropolis. This
rumor has finally resolved itself into fact
and there is now practical certainty that
on Fifth avenue or some adjacent street in
the neighborhood of Union or Madison
square there will be, by the opening OF the
next winter season, fully appointed club
house, run entirely by and its membership
composed of the most prominent women in
New York society.
1t has long been felt by certain set OF
society women, married and unmarried who
have found that the balls and other enter
tainments of the winter season, with the
concomftant labor, fatigue and expense
which constant attendance upon them de
mand, did not afford sufficient opportunity
for them to meet each other in the way they
desired, and also that the formality neces-
sarily attached to them prevented that free,
unconventional and delightful intercourse
which they have seen their male relatives
and associates enjoy at their clubs.
THE NEEDS OF THE LADIES.
They recognized also the need of COM
mon and proper meeting-place other than
their own private houses, for ladies OF the
same social position where entertainments
might be planned the latest books and pa
pers might be obtained and, in fact, where
all the advantages of that club life so en-
loved by their fathers, sons, husbands and
gentlemen friends might also be theirs.
This feeling became stronger than ever dur
ing the past winter; then reports came OF
the foundation of the Alexandra club by
ladies in London. Finally, after some in
formal agitation of the subject, the Misses
Hewitt, daughters of Mr.. Abraham S.
Hewitt, and their inseparable friend and
companion. Miss Bessie Marbury, daughter
of MI F. F. Marbury, counsel for the Brit
ish consulate decided to start fully-equip-
ped
LADIES' CLUB.
This was about three months ago. Agree
ing, of course, that it would be necessary to
enlist the interest of some old married
women in the subject they called upon Mrs.
Francis r. RiveS, who warmly Endorsed
their ideas, and plan for the formation of
the club was at once put in operation.
It was agreed that the limit of member
ship should be placed at 800, and that each
of the fifteen ladies first invited should send
in twenty names of desirable members, for
whom they should be in measure in
dividually responsible. The news at once
got abroad, and the ladies found little diff
Guilty in securing each her quota of names.
Most encouraging letters were received in
reply to the invitations to become members.
The general tone of the acceptances was a
joyful one, and all those invited, with hardly
dissenting voice, expressed both the warm
est Endorsement of the plan and great sur
prise that such club had not been earlier
organized. Thus far over one hundred
members have been enrolled, and the list of
applicants already exceeds the limit set.
THE EXPENSES.
The initiation fee has been fixed at $25
and the annual dues at the same figure.
With part of the 81, 500 thus obtained it is
proposed to hire house on or near Fifth
avenue in the neighborhood of Union or
Madison square, opinion being divided as to
which location is preferable, from the rela-
tive shopping and other advantages of both
places. Of necessity several of the rules
and bylaws of the Union club will have to
be altered or modified to suit the ladies' Or
ganization. No intoxicating liquors are to
be sold, no cards allowed and no children
are to be admitted, except at certain hours
and under certain well-defned conditions.
TEA Is TO BE SERVED
every afternoon at 5 o'clock and it is hoped
commodations. There are to be parlOrs,
library and several sleeping rooms for the
use of out-of-town members. A place is
also to be provided for the leaving of par
GELS, etc. These ideas are being discussed
at frequent meetings and will soon take
definite shape.
Canvassing for the official positions has
already begun. The names of Mrs. Rives,
Mrs. William Astor, Mrs. John Jacob Astor,
and Mrs. Adrian Iselin have already been
suggested for president, and the Misses
Hewitt and Miss Marbury will almost Ger
tainly be among the governesses.
1t goes without saying that no men are to
be admitted to the club, either as members
or visitors. The servants are all to be
women, and the stewardeSs will be person
of long experience as housekeeper. AS
might be expected, many of the husbands
OF present and prospective members do not
favor the new club.
DRAMATIC DOTS.
The dramatic season, which has Just
terminated, has been with few exceptions
unremunerative, and managers now say
that theater rents must come down. This
will seem the more reasonable when one
looks at the enormous figures which this
class of tenants have endured. Even Madi-
son Garden, which Barnum occupied with
his menagerie, costs 1000 week. The
property belongs to William 81. Vanderbilt.
The Madison Square theater, on the other
hand, belongs to the Malloy family, and
rents for $14, 600 year. The Fifth Avenue
theater, which is much larger, rents for
S25, 900, while the Fourteenth Street thea
ter, which belongs to the estate of the late
Marshall o. Roberts, has brought S12. 600.
but must be literally reduced before it will
pay manager. The A. T. Stewart estate
owns Harrigan & Harris theater, which
formerly was church. It rents for $15,-
600 year. 1t is said that the Astors get
$40, 600 year for the Thalia formerly the
BOwery) which has been in the family for
over half century.
BOOTHS THEATER.
This property was paying well, and would
have remained in the dramatic service had
it not been for the speculative mania of
James D. Fish. He bought it at an extra
VACANT price in order to transform it into
stores but, like the most of his schemes, it
proved failure. The complications of
James D. Fish with Grant & Ward and the
whole train of speculation, debauchery and
fraud is in itself one of the most impressive
dramas of the day. To return to rents. it.
may be said that Barnum and all other itin-.
Grant showmen make great saving of this
expense. during their outdoor season, and
when it closes they find some cheap place
for winter quarters. 1t is now thought that
theater rents will be reduced from one-third
to one-half before the opening of the fall
season, and managers will find it difficult to
meet their obligations even thus reduced
Speaking of the drama it may be said that
New York contains more domestic tragedies
than any place on the continent but this is
simply because there are so many people
here. and wherever you accumulate man