Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-04
CAPITAL CLUB LIFE.
1t Plays an Important Part in Wash.
ington's Social System.
TWO VERY EXCLUSIVE CLUBS.
Successful Newspaper Mems and Women's
Organizations
THAT ARE NATIONAL In CHARAcTE
trnoN A srArr oonREsroNpENr.,

| fFRoM STAFF coRREsroNpENri
WASHINGTON, May 2.--Social life is s.
large part of all that is best in Washing
ton. that the capital is naturally city o
clubs. 1t is probable that no similar popu
lation in the world is so replete with thes,
organizations, whic h not only play an i'm
| portant part in society, but in political lif
as well. Of course, do not include in thi
mention the purely political or party clubs
those vagrant societies whose name ii
legion, and which rise and fall with the ad
minlstration thermometer, knowing M
more permanenee that the party to which
they are allied. The social clubs of in.
| fiuence in politics somewhat regardless ol
party, supporting or opposing great pol
icies at times in quiet way under any ad.
ministration, powerful, like the Partisan
salon in its best day, will be living long
after all persons and administrations now in
the eve of the public are dead, giving to
their members an Immortality in their re-
spective circles that must afford sensation
of satisfaction alike to religious devotee and
religious sceptic aside from all CONSIDER
dblOus VI OIluOUOAY OF LneOSOp0Y.
Possibly the most exclusive of the clubs
is the Metropolitan, in which it is difficult
to gain a membership if one lacks that
badge of American aristocracy described
by the magic word, wealth. The beautiful
clubhouse is in the aristocratic section, on
the corner of Seventeenth and streets /;
the cuisine is of the very best, and the
members are largely of that leisutely
fraternity who can order a dinner better
than they can discuss poetry or art, and who
in this eplcurean sphere are worthy rivals
of the late Sam Ward or his somewhat
vulgar successor. Ward McAllister.
Two Very Exclusive Clubs.
Another club that suggests exclusiveness,
in that it is confined to a class, is the Army
and Navy Club, limited to the officers, ac-
tive or retired, of the army and navy, and
not open even to nearly all of these, as the
membership is always full. The exclusive
ness of the two clubs mentioned led to the
formation of the United Service Club, which
is open to persons either In the military,
naval or civil arms of the Government. 1t
has now large and growing membership,
and is also beginning to draw the lines of
admission more taut. This club has begun
the erection of 8. fine clubhouse on the cor
ner of Seventeenth and Connecticut avenue,
on a part of the rear of the large grounds
that for long years surrounded the fine old
residence OF the late W. w. Corcoran.
OF sporting clubs there is no end. Num-
erous boat clubs have their fine club and
boat houses scattered along the banks of the
Potomac Several cycle clubs have their
own clubhouses, the Capital Club purchas-
ing the ground and erecting a beautiful
home facing the White lot. The Columbia
Athletic Club has recently erected one of
the largest and finest clubhouses in America
on street, block beyond the War De-
partmenI. 1t has mem bership of we'll on
to 200; the clubhouse is fitted with all of
the machinery and conveniences necessary
In complete place of its kind, even to
Turkish, swimming and other baths; and it
has long lease of Analostan Island. a
beautiful bit of ground in the middle of the
Potomac, opposite Georgetown, having an
area of about 100 acres and devoted to the
outdoor pleasures of the members and their
friends,
A Model Press Club.
Within two months the National Capital
Press Club has been added to the long list of
distinguished social organizations of the
city. The membership is upward of 150,
and more prompt and enthusiastic body
does not exist in the social world, The
wonder among the members is how they ex-
lsted so long without such means of associa-
ton. The dozen rooms of the club are lust
around the corner from ''The Row." facing
The avenue. They are elegantly furnished
and decorated, and two, at least, OF them
are hardly equaled in attractiveness by
any other club house of the city.
Books, newspapers, magazines machinery |
or all sorts of games, from dominoes to |
penny ante, are there in profusion. The |
are of the best The cuisine |
would put to shame many of those of more
clubs, the edibles being of the
most delicate selection and the cooking be-
7ond cavil. Here at almost anv time of
lay numerous correspondents or represen-
atives of the local press may be found.
ften accompanied by members of the House
# Representatives, Senators, judges, officers
# the army and navy, high civil officials of
he Government visiting journalists or clti-
ems, and it is no exaggeration to say that
n no other place in this or any other city
an so distinguished a company be found as
5 often present in these charming pre-
incts.
A Really National Institution.
While this solidity and enthusiasm is, in
measure, due to the interest taken bv all
tuc he" UCiS, IL Is ALSO greatly Que to the
ard work of those who were chosen to rep
esent the club: The President, Mr.. s. II.
lauffman. one of the proprietors of the
1Uening Star; Mr. Goodwin, Acting Secre.
ary, in the absence OF the Secretary. Mr..
Iosford, the brilliant correspondent of the
Detroit Free Press; Mr.. Thomas W. Kirby,
the New York journal of Commerce
treasurer, and all-round hard worker for the
eneral good; Mr.. Charles H. Hamilton. of
he Buffalo Courier and other papers, Chair
ian OF the House Committee, whose hard,
ractical labors have done so much to make
ie club the pleasant resort it is, and Mai.
ohm NJ. Carson, Mr.. Maurice Splain.
lessrs. Fearn, Conner and others of the
loHse Committee and Board of Governors.
II of whom have done noble work for this
ally national institution; for it is repre-
'ntatlve OF the press of the whole country.
nd great profit to that press, though at
savy expense to the representatives in the
ltertainment of its friends and others who
IN be of benefit to it.
l believe it is intended to open the way