Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-05
WHEELING PRESS L U

"Reminiscences OF an OrganlLsuon hna
Once Held Sway in This City.
1t is possible that some of the readers o.
the REGISTER have forgotten the existence
of the Press Club of Wheeling. 1t is not
strange if they have, when the fact had al
most passed from my Own memory. In the
winter of 1880 eleven gentlemen employed
on the Wheeling newspapers entered int
a conspiracy to form q club, their sharp
vision seeing that such an organization
would fill a long felt want. They occu'
pied a room over what is now the Dollar
Savings Bank. When a constitution,
finally adapted to its peculiar wants, was
passed, it was found that there were
lust enough offices to 20 round. The
stated object of the club was,
believe, to promote more cordial re
lations between the members OF the
profession" The other objects were rather
indefinite. In 1881 the State government
refurnished the State House and through
the conniyance of several friendly officials
the Press Club obtained a fairly good sec
oud-hand carpet and 4 sufficient number
of chairs to seat the members with comfort
aud dignity. The majority OF the club
being of a musical turn, a piano was rented
at the extraordinary outlay OF 81 per
month. Aud what 4 piano 1t was A
perfect symphony 10 wood, iron ana wire:
The most effective piece ever heard played
upon il was The Lost Chord" The real
istie effects Of the composition that could
be brought out on this instrument were
truly wonderful.
The most attractive features OF the or
gauization were the monthly suppers got
up by that eminent caterer Martin
Thornton. The club seemed TO thrive on
these suppers, and the only thing that had
any ~well-defined terrors for the members
was the approach of rent day. On Satur-
day evenings during the summer the lyri-
cal members gave what they called must
cal recitals. | must say that had the
police been as yigilant then as they are
now the history of the club might have
been entirely different.
The most remarkable banquet given by
the club was that rendered to members OF
the press who were in the Legislature OF
1881, It was an occasion that was re-
membered long afterwards by those who
participated in il. These regularly re-
curing feasts, however, told heavily on the
treasury of the club, and there was con-
siderable anxiety in regard to a deficit In
funds. The Board Of Directors, however,
sat III solemn session several times ADD
finally evolved a scheme which they
thought would pull the club ont OF the
hole, which was q lecture to be given by
Col. Kemple. The only interesting features
clustering around this event were the sum
realized aud a little diversion OF one OF
the members of the club in the wings OF
the Opera House stage. This gentleman
thinking b eColonel was not funny enough,
pulled the curtain bell when the hilarious
lecturer had advanced about half q mile
into his subject.
1t was not long after this that the club
found out that it had outliyed its useful
ness. Harmless games of cards afforded
pleasant recreation for the members who
were built that way. But Don these
games grew in magnitude and interest.
After several suckers had been inveigled
into the rooms the highly moral ele
ment thought it time 10 pull down the
blinds and close the shutters. Thus died
the Press Club, after a short but brilliant
life. Its last gasp, l believe, was expend-
ed in passing resolutions thanking Mr..
Thornton for the many cOurtesiss he had
extended the club.
The fast may be significant or not, hut
it is q fact nevertheless, that Of the eleven
original active members hut three are in
the city to-day. One is dead ard the re-
manning seven are.Scattered broadcast as it
were, over the country. Sic transit gloria
mWdi. FELIN.