Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-01

Democracy chsckmatsd Kelly In the
State and National Conventions, and
Thompson finally drove him from his
snug berth in the city chamberlain's
Office.
Thompson's death Is probably due
directly to his treatment BY the Admin
istration. To him more than TO any
other man was Cleveland indebted for
his nomination. He received not the
slightest recognition for his services.
The pressure Of his faction for places
was intense yet he could do nothing.
His party was torn by intestine trou-
bles fomentsd by Grace and others. aud
last fall he met bis Wellington, Blucher,
and Waterloo. Thunderbolt Norton had
played the part Of Grouchy in 1884,
and, without the support Of the Admin
istration, q further contest was hopeless.
THE CONTRAST.
Thompson WAS the opposite Of Kelly
in character. he was neither arbitrary
nor dictatorial. He was plant and
suave, and he never lied. He reasoned
by the hour with men who desired his
aid in securing nominations for office,
and invariably convinced them that be
Was right in his conclusions. He was
unusually kind and considerate. Men
chung to him from sincere attachment
to the man. They chung to Kelly
through selfishness and . desire for
personal advancement. saw district
leaders weeping tears Of sincere grief
over Thompson's coffin. No such tears
fell on the bier Of John Kelly. Yet
both men had warm friends. Kelly
commanded them by his pluck
and obstinacy. Thompson won
them by his manly worth and
sympathy. Kelly made a fortune in
politics; Thompson died not worth a
penny. Kelly gave large sums to the
Church; Thompson spent his money in
caring for the orphan children Of a
dead brother. Kelly was the most
prominent pew-holder in the church
where his wife's uncle officisted as car
dinal; Thompson attended little Swe-
denborgisn chapel in Thirty.fifsh
street. Kelly was buried with great
pomp in the vault beneath St. Patrick's
cathedral; Thompson sleeps in agrass-
covered grave in quiet nook in Wood
lawn. Kelly reposes near the remains
of Archbishop Hughes; Farragut's
monument casts q shadow on ths sward
that covers all that is left of the first
leader of the County Democracy.
GOSSIP OF THE CLUBS.
A confrmatory evidence Of the large
social exodus this year to the summer
resorts or across the ocean is the sur
prisipg attendance of club-men in the
several leading clubs. As rule, when
a club-man's family leaves, the house is
closed and used by him only as DOR
mitory, as he takes all his meals at the
club. The club caterers always serve
the best of everything in the market,
and the spacious houses are always
carefully ventilated and so kept charm
ipgly cool, even on the warmest days,
and consequently the members can fare
as we'll and be almost as comfortable
in their dolce far niente as if they were
away touring or sailing on their own
or some friends yacht. Ofone thing the
absent wives can be assured, and that is
their husbands are safe in the retreat
Of their clubs from the allure ments OF
the other sex; for the portal of the
club is q rubicon that cannot be crossed
BY either woman or sheriff. Nothing
will be considerably said Of the money
that may be lost at cards, or the head
aches resulting from too liberal inter
change of sentiments, or the bad habits
contracted by sitting up so late IN the
small, or rather the increasing, hours Of
tn night; but Of their escape while IN
the clubs from the Establishments OF
rivals all ladies can be blissfully conf
dent. Since this summer invasion the
Union has become known as an "ail-
night" club, because its members larry
until late. The most carousing is done
at the Manhattan, which has the finest
wine-cellar Of any Of the clubs, and the
retired balcony Of the extension affords
a seclusive and cool resort, equalling
that of the dungeon cell sung about in
the Pinafore." The nOisiest crowd
gathers in the billiard-room Of the Lotos
Club, which is on the ground floor, but
as the boys sing tremendously, the Oft
recurring nocturnal demonstration is
not Objectionable. The quietest club in
the city is the University, probably be-
cause the festive members always ad'
lourn to neighboring lager-beer saloon
whenever they wish to have good time
: BUSINESS MEMS CLUBS.
In other cities, excepting possibly
Boston, where the idle income class II
almost as numerous as here, the club /!
more q resort for lunching or a stag
dinner or afternoon retreat on the way
home from business. But, notwith
standing the number and diversity o
our social clubs, there are two of thu
finest business-men's clubs in this city
in the country-the Downtown, OF
Pine street, and the Merchants Club
ON Leonard street. The whole houses
are occupied. and, while there is NJ
pretentious display, everything is yer,
coy and comfortable. There are pri
waite dining-Iooms, card-rooms, ant
sleeping.rooms for members FROM out o
town, or those wishing to be conye
nient for an early.morning train.
Even those quiet and staid clubs tina
ordinarily close with the days bushes
have become the scene Of nightly din
ner parties of the members whose FAM
lies are away, and who know they ca
get better fare here than in any publ
place. Soon another downtown clu
will be opened on Exchange place, nea
Broad street, to be called the Exchans
Club. The membership will be Gale
principally from the Stock Exchange
whose members are beginning to fin
the prices of the restaurants too hesv
for their limited business. There
also still some talk in the Up.Tow
Merchants Club about the accommodf
ton of the dry goods element centrin
about Broadway and Twenty-thir
street.
ABOUT A SCANDAL.