Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-15
THE THEOCRITUS CLUB.

Home Where the Motto In Laugh and
Grow Fat-Lazy Men viii Find Here n
Paradise-An Exclusive Organization of
College Men.
The Theocritus Club has been in exist
ence for fully three weeks. Its personnel
consists chiefly of ex-college men, who wish
to have a good time In a refined, quiet way.
Although not secret society the Theocrltus
Club sternly refuses to allow the names of
its members to be published.
Yesterday a representative of THE DIS
PATCH was accorded the privilege of view
ing the interior of the clubhouse. The ex-
terror appearance is plain. The house
stands on Ellsworth avenue; is built of
brick, and surrounded by nearly an acre Of
prettily planted ground. 1t formerly be-
longed to q Mr.. Armstrong. from whom
the club purchased it, adding third story
and refurnishing the interior throughout.
There are about 90 members, all university
men. The great majority claim Princeton
ss their Alma Mater, but few are from
Yale, Harvard and Washington and Jsffsr-
son.
Through the kind invitation Of one of the
members the reporter was admitted 10 the
elubrooms last evening. The house IA charm
ingly, furnished In the Oriental style, bsing
especially rich In lounges, easy chairs and
btambeul coffee tables. The doorways are
afehsd after the Eastern manner, and heavy
sllkea hangiBgs take tho place Of doors.
Heekahs stand In every corner OF the two
smoking rooms, but the big collection OF oe-
eldeHtal pipes in the gFsat oaksH pipe-Fagk
shows that all the members do not affect the
sugar-sweetened tube of Turkey, There are
eight principal apartments In the clubhouse,
the two smoking rooms Aforesaid, the dining
room, parlor, library, billiard room and the
three luxurious bathrooms. The parlOr
is perhaps the most attractive.
1t is "done," as Oscar Wilde
would say, in the prevailing
type of Orientalism. There are, however, q
lew agreeable incongruities, IT one might so
term them. For, instance, there is an old
English msntel-piece, truly baronial in its
width and height, from the top Of which
smile three marble busts. The first of these
represents Shakespeare-the merry Shakes
peare who gave US Dogberry and Fdlsta6
On the further end OF the mantel-shelf stands
the broad. good-humored bust OF Rabelais,
with the motto, "L'homme qui rit." Be-
tween these two is the representation Of the
clubs great patron, Theocritus, the "laugh-
iug philosopher" Cut deep into the oak OF
the mantel is the clubs legend in quaint
Gothic characters. 1t Is simple anG con-
else legend: Laugh ahd grow fatP' In
fact everything about this delightful club
house tells its beholders that "heart-easing
mrth" Is the best passport through the tolls
of life. A few choice water-colors and
crayou sketches adorn the walls.
The smoking rooms are gotten up in much
the same manner. The dining room con-
tans nearly score Of small round tables at
which only two people can sit comfortably.
In every room punkah, or Indian fan,
swings to and fro above the heads of the
loungers. The punkshs are worked by
steam, and with their long-measured sweeps
keep the rooms deiciously cool.
very pleasant place 10 lounge in; and no
doubt its wainscoted walls hourly re-echo
with merriment worthy Of its three right
merry patrons.