New-York tribune., 1885-02-05
A HANDSOME HOME FOR ATHLETES.
TO De OPEN TONIGHT.

NEW QUARTERS OF THE NEW-1ORh AlHLElIO Ill ID
TO De OPEN TONIGHT.
The large red brick building at Sixth-ave. and
Fifty-ffth-st. has for the past twelve months at
tracted the attention. Of passers-by III every
Eew-York Athletic Club, aud tonight the friends
of the members of that body will have an oppor-
tunlty OF seeing what is confidently claimed TO be
The finest athletic club house in the world. Yester-
day the whole building was alive with workmen
who were engaged i'll putting the finishing touches
to the many different departments.
The mani entrance to the club house IS in Fifty
fftl-st From the largo entrance hall rsos the
broad staircase, finished in hard wood and having
at its foot carved newel-post surmounteo by a
bronze figure OF Mercury, the ciuD emblem
being the winged foot OF taat deity
On the left side of the hall IS the oicc htted up IN
O manner suggestive. OF hotel Behind thus are
greater portion Of the first floor, however Is taken
up by the baths, which include a large plunge BATH
nearly seventy feet long, completely ntted urk-
ish BATH lounging rooms and dressing rooms. Inc
baths are all fitted up III white marble. III the
basement are six bowling alleys two OF which can
be SO shut off as 10 be made perfectly private On
this noOT Also are the WINE cellars boiler and en-
gine IoOms Coming upstairs again, the flrs; light
of the great staircase lands IN rlchly FURNISHED
reception hall. entering from which by long corr-
dor are the reading and smoking rooms and the
large restaurant which is connected by hydraulic
lift with the kitchen the roof AT the end Of the
corridor IS large cheerful and we-lIghtcd billiard
room containing four billiard aud two pool tables
Up another flight of the broad stairs ana the
locker hall Is reached. Here are over Thousand
lockers SO arranged as 10 be easily bic by
the member fortunate enough TO own the right Of
slowing away therein his CLUB costume On the
same floor is the sparrins -rOom connected with
douche-room and iavatOry. where after lively
bout the sparrers may sponge OH III the most
scientific manner.
II takes vet another fight of stairs to bring the
visitor to the great gymnasium, which is really the
kernel of this magnificent sholi. Oae can scarcely
secure an uninterrupted view of this fine hall, 80
close a network Of ropes and ladders, bars aud
frapezes has Professor Sargent, of Harvard, had
erected under his personal supervision. Machines
OF the strangest FORM whose uses to the INITIATED
are well-nigh unimaginable are placed al around
the walls, each having as its object the development
of some particular muscle or set of muscles. Mid
way between the floor and ceiling gallery runs
around the room, which is not all gallery. 1t is
race track, whereon, ia winter, the sprlnter
or the Iong-aistance runner can exercise when
the cinder track is deep with, snow. The
track is covered with corrugated rubber laid
on felt-a novel idea suggested by Vice Presi-
dent Curtis. A fight of winding stairs leads from
the gymnasium 10 the kitchen which is completely
fitted with all that is necessary to supply the most
elaborate meals.
lights, and is fitted throughout In hard wood:
large collection of pictures lent by the members
has arrived and win be ell exhibition this evening