The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-14
A Successful Club for Women.

Ten months ago the Ladies' New York
Club was started at 1874 Lexington avenue
VITA thirty-five members. Yesterday. saws
the New York Sun of Sept. 10, i began an
other period in new and better quarters at
20 East Twenty-second street with 400 men,
bers. The increase in membership
is due to the fact that the club in
Lexington avenue furnished something that
a large class of women in and around New
York had long wanted. The quarters in
Lexington avenue were not adequate In &C.
commodation nor sufficiently central.
When the club was started at the Begin
ming Of last winter it was explained that
the object was not to m Ike the house
home for a few and gathering place for
social purposes for many, iuss as are most
mems clubs; the scheme was rather that the
house should be place where women ont
shopping might drop in for luncheon, or to
meet some other woman or for similar pur-
poses. 1t was also intended that woman
whose town home might be closed could
find resting aud sleeping place in her
occasional visits to the city from her
temporary home in the country. Another
cause for the forming of the club was the
need felt by women residing in other towns
of some place in New York that would
serve them instead of a hotel.
The membership of the club is about
equally divided between women living in
New York and women from other places.
There are on the roll names from many
towns on Long Island, in New jersey and
up the Hudson. Some women are from
Boston, Stamford, New Haven and other
New England cities; from Rochester. Buff
falo and other western towns, and one
comes from as far away as Pass Christian.
Miss. These nonresident members go to
the club instead of hotel. and if the Sleep
ing rooms a not all engaged they fad in
the club q pleasanter place to tarry than
any hotel would be. AS one visitor from
Long Island said yesterday:
Il am stopping IN our country place and
had to come TO the city for two days. NV
home here is locked up, and the servants are
away. If it weren't for the club I'd have
to go to hotel and have a maid with me-
But being member Of the club, can dis
pense with the maid and come here almost
the same as if were coming to the house
of friend"
The 400 who are now on the rolls of the
organization are not the 400 of Ward Nc
Alister solely, though his daughter is one
the members. In fact, the inten ton and
desire is not to limit admission to those
alone who form what Is commonly denom-
mated society" The requisites are that
applicants snall be gentlewomeu-and this
term does not exclude those who teach and
otherwise work for their support-and that
the applicant shall be known personally to
three of the present members A candidate
is proposed by one and seconded by another.
while the third name on the paper of pro-
posal must be that of some one who G IN
contirm what the others say City members
pay an initiation fee OF $40; non-residents
pay no initiation fee; all members pay $50
each as yearly dues.
1t will be a few days yet before the club
rooms will be in complete order The house
is an English basement, the first floor being
occupied by Mrs. Henry Wright Shelton.
president of the club The maiu floor above
is divided into the drawing room, the din.
ing room, and the library. The drawing
room will be finished in gold and white. the
dining room will have less color, while the
library will be brilliant with sunshine from
It's southern exposure. The space above
will be used for sleeping rooms. Of which
there will be five. No member may keep
room for more than two weeks at a time
In the other house the limit was one week.
but that house had only three sleeping
rooms.
Ever since its start the Ladies' Club has