New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-19
tested that the use of the lancet would effect the

GLASS public restaurant in London has also
powerfully contributed to the success OF its clubs
There are no Delmonicos. nor Bignons, nor Demons,
nor Sachers on the banks of the Thames to
enter into competition and to offer rival attrac-
lions to the cuisine of the clubs; and. indeed. un-
less man belongs to one Of the latter. he Is
at loss to know where to find decently served
ana weltcookcd dinner at any reasonable price.
Under these circumstances It IL not surprising that
the club should play far more important role
in the existence Of an Englshman THIN In that
OF either an American or OF foreigner. With
both OF the latter, the club Is merely by-nomeans
indispensable incident of the day, whereas with
the Briton it constitutes the very cornerstone
OF his daily life. Nor can he be blamed for re-
gardng it as such for no private establishment
or institution could secure 50 many comforts.
Injuries and conveniences with the additional con-
dderation that they are procured at almost nomi-
nal cost. Az stated above, the cookery Is al
most always excellent the wines perfect, the at
tendance irreproachable, the rooms we'll Lit. lofty
and ventilated the supply Of newspapers and Of
books almost unlimited, and the communication by
wire and telephone in operation with every por-
ton Of the world. Owing to the dreary nature
OF the London newspapers and to the manner in
which the intelligence contained therein Is care
fully shorn Of all scandal and gossip the latter
finds it's centre and headquarters around the
club fire. OF in the club bow-window, and it is
there only that one is able to acquire the special
information needed to comprehend the why and
the wherefore of the so-caled news contained in
the London journals
Inasmuch as the Englishman Is wont to consider
his club as his home, it is only natural that he
should endeavor by every means in his power
to restrict it's membership to persons of his own
social standing and Of cOngenial character. And
this together with the tendency to eXclusiveness
that seems Unborn in every Brton, combines TO
render admission to the frst-cass clubs matter
Of both difficulty and time. Owing to the small
number Of vacancies and the immense number of
applications for membership, from five to fifteen
years generally elapse between the date when
the name is entered on the books as O candidate
and the date when it comes up for ballot. The
ordeal to which candidate for membership is
subjected before election Is of trying and severe
nature and il he succeeds in escaping the fatetul
blackbas, he may look upon himself as having
secured the stamp of authenticity not only upon
his social status, but also upon the quality of his
character 1t is the membership of club that
determines more than anything else the social
classification and degree of fashion Of man
about town, and hence Englishmen are won't to
display more ambition and to devote more time
and trouble to get into frst-rate club than they
do to secure nobiary honors or political prefer
ment. Influence rule plays but a small role
in the election of candidates. Members are mostly
extremely independent and Jealous OF their
prerogative of making a careful selection of the
men with whom they are to associate and not
withstanding the immense social power and in
fucnce that is exercised in London by thaPrince
OF Wales, there have been several occasions on
which candidates whom he had personally pro-
| posed and sponsored for membership at Whites.
and even at the Marlborough-a club founded
| under his own auspices-have been most unmerc-
fully piled.
The most exclusive and difficult club to get
into in London is the Travellers. which is now
az select as it was on the day Of it's foundation
lust seventy years ago. 1t occupies the picturesque
building between the side of the Atheneum and
the Reform in Pail Mall. The Travellers SHiOys
the reputetion of being more liberal and capricous
in the use of it's blackballs than any other club
in Europe, and to have withstood the ordeal of
it's ballot and to have secured admission thereto
may always he regarded in the light OF social
triumph. The next in point OF chic and en-
clusiveness is Brooks on ST. James's-st., founded
some $50 years ago, and affected mainly by the
Wing aristocracy and county families. Boobies
and Whites which look out on to the same
famous thoroughfare, and which are OF about
the same age as Brooks were for
merly accounted as very exclusive, out
have both gone down terribly OF late years,
This is especially the case with White's-oncc the
Headquarters of the famous Earl of Chesterfield,
but which has, since it passed into the manage
ment of Mr.. Algy Bourke, of Stock Exchange fame,
thrown omen its doors to Tom, Dick and Harry and
become redocnt of the Jewry and of the contango
ieuncsse cuivree Formerly ii took years OF walt
ing to get into Whites, but now any moderately
decent man without known criminal record can
become a member in few days. The same may
be said of the Devonshre, higher up on 81 James
ST. where the Liberal OF polloi, who have not been
deemed fit for admission to the exceedingly acces-
sible Reform, are wont to congregate It's mem
bcrship amounts to some 800: there is daily
fight to get table d. dinner-time. and the CLUB
is irreverently described by its younger members
as the Penthouse. Arthur's and the Garrick are
both rich clubs, moderately exclusive and whose
membership is limited to about Goo Both are
triie old-fogyish, the presence Of youth is
regarded with suspicion and resentment, the
prevailing tpple is old port and the prevailing
complaint govt.
The St. James's in Picadilly is ON ofshoot Of
the Travellers, and owes its foundation to Ger
tain members of the latter who found that its
atmosphere had suddenly become qncongenial. 1t
is the CLUB par excellence Of the Diplomatic
Corps and opens its doors wide to the members
of the embassies and legations accredited to the
Court of Queen Victoria. and also to any foreigner
whom they may choose to recommend In this
manner the club occasionally fnds that 1t has
been rendering it's courtesies to strangers who are
unworthy Of the honor, and more than once OF
late wears it has become the scene Of discredit-
able card transactions. Although all the current
scandal and gossip of the day, both domestic
and foreign, is to I've found there in its best and
most detailed form, yet even that scarcely con-
stitutes a compensation for the departed gories
of the clubs cuisine. which at one time was the
most famous in London. The Windham. too
which was once renowned for the excellence OF its