Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-10
The TOPICAL TALKER.
That Curious win Case what Lawyers Say
Of II - Gossip About Clubs, and the
Duouesue IN Pnrricular,

That Curious VIII Case-What LAWYERS Say
Of Il GossIp Aboat Clubs, and the
Duquesue in Parricular.>
THE opinion of the Supreme Court in the case
of the will Of the late Harriet Statabus
Knox has been the subject of no little comment
| in legal circles Lawyers naturally are not 30
much concerned about the equity OF the decision
as about It's legal points. According to more than
one lawyer of standing the decision is reversal
of what has been accepted as the law in such
cases in tins State Though the opinion Of
Justice Mitchell is a long one, it is considered
somewhat singular that no allusion is made to
the numerous precedents. said to be contrary to
this ruling, which may be found in the records
OF this States courts.
To the layman this feature is not regrettable,
but the lawyer is likely to regard it in case
creating such an important precedent as pecu-
liar and disappointing. The disposition OF the
numerous references to similar cases decided
in the past with wave Of hand and I'VE ind
nothing in the law to defeatits validity for that
purpose" is the thing which worries the law
yers, who dispute the accuracy Of the decision.
"a
OF course, IN this reelection Of several criti-
cisms. it is not my intent. or that of the
legal critics, infer to dispute the equity or in
palmer words, the justice of the decision as it
Il
that no recent decision of the Supreme Court
has had such extensive discussion by the mem
bers of the county bar. Perhaps Mr. Robert
Wilson, the attorney who appealed the case,
may profit by his defeat, as sometimes happens
in the singular arena of the law. 1t is some-
thing to extract an opinion of several thou
sand words from the court Of last resort in
Pennsylvania in these days Of breVity and
hurry
UTHE provision of such q clubh ouse as the
new one of the Duquesne," said club
man yesterday, 'is calculated to breed more
clubs of the best class. Pittsburg has never
cared much for club life hitherto, but it is evi-
dent already that the prodigious amount Of
comfort and convenience the Duquesne Club
now offers to its members has made converts OF
many men who have not sought refuge in
clubs. understand that there would be no
dificulty in doubling the membership of the
Duquesne in year if it were deemed desirable
to do So
"But the point mean to emphasize is that
the Duquesne is q pioneer Of the kind Of clubs
which have made club life such an important
feature of the society of New York, Boston
and one or two other American cities, and even
more notably in London. The result / predict
will be that the next i've years will see other
clubs arise to rank with the Dnquesne in Pitts
burg"
TALKING Of the utility of clubs in Pittsburg.
an iron manufacturer of the first rank said
to me before the Duquesne's new home was
finished: -, for one. need good club very
badly at times. Ny home is in the suburbs
and not very accessible. That is one reason
find il undesirable to take business visitors to
my house for dinner. Another reason is that
do not care about mixing up my business
with my domestic affairs. do not see the
necessity, you know, for bothering my wife
with the entertainment of business associates
and allies of mine. Sometimes 1t is very dis
agreeable to her, know.
ITO take such men to hotel for dinner has
many objections that are apparent enough.
way-comes to my rescue. Ny wife looks for
ward to the completion of the Duquesne with
as much pleasure as L"
..S
THE ballroom in the Duquesne Club is ad
mirable in many ways. The brass work of
the immense center chandelier seems to me to
extremely handsome and the general effect Of
the decorations is rich. One adverse criticism
have heard. 1t comes from a lady Who saw
the ballroom on the night Of the reception
Said she: ''The predominance of yellow in
the walls, and the effect of the lighting. will
make the room very trying to women's COM
plexions."
This may be true-the Judgment Of the fair
critic in such matters is excellent-but it seems
to me that while the blondes may suffer the
brunettes will not The disposition of the
orchestra in the gallery. and. in fact, the room
IN general seems to meet with general and
hearty APPROVAL