The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-12

was equal 10 800 Of our money. inc l"t"
arising from this and other sources VIZ "
voted to the relief Of the heirs OIL M "''iSe',
in case Of his death, under ceI'ii" "'''''
The existence Of clubs. even at that early
dav. was not confined 10 the male seN;
Women formed themselves into kindred
ORGANIZATIONS. but Only by imperial peiinl.-
SION There were no mems rights 7vo'
cites then. The sex hal not YET al'a,neu
such degree Of influence a. would arrow
such AN act Of presumption. lheir s9c'ni
power. however was recognized "hv N
matters Of fashion etiquette, ana such I'M,
their will was potential. Hence lheIe vi" 80
i'm Rome "A club of ladies known - tne
.Alinor Senato.r whose functions were 10
settle an matters OF female etiquette ana
dress. i'm accordance with the demands Oh
social rank They established the rules OF /
nrecedonce on State occasions and 40 the /
Observance of other august public ceie- I
monies. By these rules. for instance. 10 was /
determined who among them should De al I
lowed 10 appear IN carriages drawn hl /
horses. and who should go only Denino /
mules: whose sedan chairs might be deco
rated with ornaments OF ivory, Oh goiu OF ol
silver.
The example of the Roman matrons IN /
their management Of such matters mlsnl +
with advantage Doe initiated by the American t
DANES az the National Capital.
For reasons that cannot De dWelt upon /
here. the era Of clubs came tO am end, e7-
pociallv I'm the middle and darker ages OF
Furopean history They reappoared lh
Italy when the long OhsCurod light OF learn I
ing began once more % revive. From mat
luminous point they slowly spread over /
parts of the continent. They lr-i assumed
a social character. then the learned ana /
Il rtHIf|I INInNNH mo
more practical pursuits Of Tie, they TOOK /
the form of guilds and such Ike organla- {
tions. through which agencies. commerce T
trade and manufactures were more OF less /
m was not until about the latter part ~
the Fifteenth century that the modern clup /
began tO appear in England. Before tnis
time the men about town. the young ara
dis-oute and galants of the nobility were
boo the habit OF frequontins the tayerns, the
old "B0aris Head" "6ray's Inn and
Others where they INDUCED in the crosse 10
excuses. making -uight h.de0u-' with
their noisy reYels and the neighhorin- tho
r0uehfares unsafe by their turbulent dee
bluehps. These disrcuufahle meetings
must not ho COMPOUNDED with those of ih-
clubs. which at later day became rfom.-
nelt social features DO the growing English
capital.
One Of the first and best of these was Che
90 Friday Club" founded hY Sir Walter li1-
loish. but was generally known a- the
" Mermaid" because Dts meetings were
held at the old tavern Of that name ln Cheal
side. The success and reputation oi the
Mermaid is too well known t0 need de-cril-
ton here. 10 is enough tO remind the reader
that DO became the most famous cluD OBJ lhal
OF perhaps 0f amy other time. ln tni- rr-
spoct DO was worthy of los illustri1us found
err $40 other man of that day could nave
succeeded .n bringing together a- many ul--
Ungu-hod pers0nages, brilliant WIS ana
accomplished scholars as composed the as
scmhlage that daily met at that unpreieno-
ing old tavern.
10 is scarcely necessary t0 recall the
names Of shakespeare, seldom, Beaumont
/ Fletcher. JOusOn and host of others VINO.
in their persons. illustrated the genius and
/ learning Of the time. The truth ls Raleigh
was essentially % club man. lie n1l JutI
fine qualities calculated Orb ud0ru such hn
organization. iii. gifts 0f mind, h'. vast
information acquired by study and iraie.
his courteous presence inherent maniine-s
and remarkable conversational powers
made bis society iwesistIDly attractive io
every class of people. Dut espec lly Orb
those whose wont DO was tO enjoy with him
the social and Intellectual syuposrums.
which have made forever famous The OLD
"Mermaid" boz Cheapsie.
Clubs have now become necessary p'iI'
of organized society. and increase DID, hul9-
Der with the growth oi town. ana ciiies. Do
were work OBJ supefeIotaloh lo AN"'un.c
the claims they have upon ihe public. of me
benefits they he-taw upon certain Interests
involved in Inc prosperity OBJ coHiliuni'ie
In the case of Richmond they have increased
boz numbers in proportion i0 the growth of
tAo clifi and from having nul SING ie one
Immediately after ihe laie Nai'hoN -li'o''
every public interest ana Grass ln 'Hl cry
has its rcsentat}e 0fslnliuNn.
Others VIII appear Mieh ihe-dei llaNNs pi
an increased lopuAti'N ahe "e.,iin |le ~
Doe satisfied. hl7 may h.l p' i,l l.1ia
come. Perhaps nNl uh.n lht gay "lii
when ihe bronze 81 'iut, SOON PIP 't "nf ,''.'
in the western limits li inn ciil' 7niu A'.
become one centre .I ti'"t lie'i
But when the necessity Goes ARRIVE Do i7 p"
De hoped ilo claims ol lle loA..'i 'i 'i'
ola MERMAID, ODD lohu'A' N.H W.
mitel. 1nd iltI me hcAl OIsiNif"l.'N ~
lne KIND formed ODD lhi' iI-iiit N'il.i n'.
~ will ear the llluelr'i@ name oi "".-
clgl. inns, NOT Ai0he D.ciN-t 'i "D 'l""l.-
ties referred ODD above. NuI Necau. el hi7 uii-
cquailed career 1na the eiaiiiule que l' ii'
memory of one Who WAS the ieai ai'eof eiti
and founder Nf lr-Ii'1.
Some one haa said Chat nut Tor hAIe.-n
-fncre would never have been aht .l-
-nia." AS wo i0oN back upon the past tle
Che figure OF OBJ. illasfr.0ls man. stands tle
most striking and picturesque NJ Che age
n which Doe lived. AS warrior ny land and
sea-. historian. statesman couriier and pee
iri0t, Doc illustrated hls country -ioiy ai
perhaps the most critical perod OIL Ln-ii-n
history Although he persisted Iul % l."
years after iAe settlement Hl JAnf--
town. Doe was deeply concerned i,i
ihe W'nre oi ile young c'i9ht. hi-
ready he hia ie-liied l' le li''
ducm- -eme oi ITS most fti"'.,ie lie
ducts info European markets. " quo 'li