St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-09
woRKINGMEN,s CLUBS.

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.
Notwithstanding all that is said and
preached against the establishment of social
clubs in cities. they continue to be popular
and have demonstrated that there are bene
fits to be derived from them. But so far as
this country is concerned the comforts and
pleasures of club life are confined to the
wealthy classes. In England there is
phase of club life which has practically no
counterpart in this country, and it is strange
that it should be so. There they have
workingmens clubs, and many of them
in point Of luxury, comfort and
adornment surpasS those of our American
cities. 1t is surprising that clubs have not
been established On this side of the Atlantic
for the benefit OF the mechanic, the clerk
and the small tradeSman. In this country
the man of wealth and position can spend
his idle time in elegantly furnished club
rooms, while the young man of small
means is confined to the privilege of spend
ing his evenings by sitting in his bedroom
reading a book, or taking walk along
the crowded streets, or by devoting
himself to the maintenance of the
saloonkeeper. 1t would be infinitely better
to adopt the methods of the London work
ingmen and establish clubs for the benefit
of workingmen. A correspondent who has
recently visited number of these clubs
gives the following description of one at
Kingston, London suburb on the bank of
the Thames, and which he says is type of
many scores of these institutions to be
found in and around London and elsewhere
throughout the kingdom. The build
ing is a substantial three-story brick
block with broad entrance into
a large hallway running through to the
rear. On one side of this hall is a bar
where strong waters and malt liquors. effer-
vescent draughtS, and the cup which cheers
but does not inebriate. are to be had with
light refreshments. There are lecture
room, reading room, a large library and ac-
Communications on the ground floor. On the
second floor is theater seating 400 persons
with well arranged stage and dressing
rooms. Above this again is billiard par
lor with billiard and bagatelle tables. In
the rear of the building Is large lawn. The
correspondent says it would be impossible
in brief to give description of the activity
for which this building forms a center.
.There are chess and billiard clubs which
play tournaments constantly and give prizes:
there are bicycle and atlethic and cricket
clubs; there are swimming clubs and boat
clubs; there are amateur theatrical and
musical and orchestral societies. There
are all the facilities for cards and checkers
and dominoes. And there are also courses
- Of Of in,
languages and other useful branches;
there are sick benefit and build
ing societies; there are discussion
classes and mutual improvement societies.
There are garden parties and music on the
lawn in summer and balls in the thedter in
winter" There are from 600 to 700 men,
bers of the club, who manage its affairs en-
tirely. The annual assessment against each
member is SLIGO a year, with subscriptions
ranging from 25 cents to $3.50 to such of
the subsidiary clubs as each member may
wish to join.
1t is not worth while to stop to discuss
the advantages which laboring men enjoy
from such an Institution. 1t gives them a
place to wholesomely and innocently employ
their spare time. With such a place to
spend pleasant evening, the members
have no desire to visit the rum shops nor to
stand and loaf around street corners. The
members of club are never seen at an
archist meetings. They have constant and
interesting and exciting occupation for their
leisure hours and with them the question.
lis life worth living to the laboring MANI"
is solved effectively and decisively. There
4I,A 90 !
Paul should not set good example to their
American brethren by initiating the Eng
lish laborers and establish workingman's
club in this city, where they can get as
much or more enjoyment out of life as
their wealthy neighbors.
SrPAnnIERS NOT 1NANTrn