The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-06-03
ACLUBF FOR WORKERS
A NEW YORK CLUB THAT IS LIKE
LoNpoNS ToYNBEE HALL.

.duoing Good Results = wOrlingmeA
Have Advantages of Real Club Life.
The nearest approach to ToyEbea
Hall in America is the East Side club.
The movement originated in the Church
club. an organization consisting Of about
400 representative Episcopahans.
Instead Of an Oxford tutor, a New
York lawyer, Everett P. Wheeler, con
eeived tho idea Of a hospitable home,
with liberal minded men in residence,
where the workingmen Of the east side
might meet, Mr., Wheeler had just re-
turned from London when he read his
paper to the Church club, showing the
magnitude and magni6cence of the
work accomplished in Whiteehapel by
university extension.
The laymen were SO very fayorably
impressed by the strength of the appeal
and the earnestness Of their associate
that as individuals they agreed to give
any project he might formulate their
support, That was in March, 1891.
In June Mr.. Wheeler had rented
an old frame dwelling house at the
foot of East Seventy-sixth street, once
the country residence of a promi-
nent New York physician, to which he
gave the name of the East Side club.
His family had gone abroad, and when
it was learned that Mr., Wheeler had
closed his house at the corner Of Seventy.
first street and Park avenue, and taken
up his residence in the club for the sum
mer, his friends in the Lawyers club,
the Church club and society generally
we're amazed. From chance acquaint-
ances he made friends, and the few who
were welcomed to the freedom Of the
turf and the cool shade about the house
welcomed others on their own response.
bility. In this simple and cordial way
the men were drawn to the East Side
club every evening, and on Sundays
they brought their children and theiI
lunches and newspapers and picnicked
On the grass,
Mr.. Wheeler talked to the people. He
had every newcomer introduced to him
and he sat on the grass with them he
smoked and read with them, and he moi
only got their ideas on political, socia
and industrial questions, but frankly
gave his own. Some of these friendly
discussions lasted week, and news O
them drew new visitors, When ont
evening "the club gentleman" as ht
was called, invited two men to dine witt
him, his sincerity of purpose was estab
lished, and since then the work has pros
pered.
Associated with Mr.. Wheeler were thu
Rev. Mr.. Theodore f. Bacon and Mr.. L
d. Hughes, graduate and student of di
vinity. Notwithstanding the religious
tendency of these gentlemen and tht
support of the Church club, the wOrl
was conducted on purely nonsectarial
lines, Not Scripture quotation wa
seen on the walls, and neither hymna
nor book of common prayer was visible
The old fashioned dining room wa
converted into a billiard hall, and her
the men smoke and chat, play billiards
chess and checkers whenever they like
At small expense the CONSERVATION!
was converted into gymnasium. Ol
the same floor is the layatoTy and bath
Every day in the week from 8 a. m
until 10 p. IN. the clubhouse 10 open ant
the attendance in the billiard room AM
gymnasium is greater Sunday than q
any other time. When exception wa
taken to this unusual plan of operation
Mr.. Wheeler took the ground that
gentleman might play game of bill
lizards in his private club Sunday after
noon If the notion pleased him withou
exciting any comment among the mem
bers. Granting this privilege to mel
chant, banker or professional man, VIII
should it be denied his truCklnan an
clerks2 1t also occurred to him that
game of cards in private club was nc
only less baneful, but less expensiv
than in a saloon or beer garden,
Another innovation is monthly dane
to which all the members are invited t
bring their wives, sisters and Friends
Good music is provided, simply printe
dancing cards are distributed and in th
middle of the programme hot chocolat
and cake or coffee and sandwiches al
served. The young clergyman is a
ways present, and no group, hoWeyG
small, is unattended in the club, and
consequence noisy harangues, profanit
and discord are unknown,
Now there are FIVE club residents-M
w. S. Brush, also lawyer; Mr.. Pal
Reynolds, editor of a religious pape
Mr., Willis B. Holcom, Mrs. Virgin
| Gookin, the Kindergarten, and her lit
son.
The ianitor and his wife take care
the house and John Oodet, aged sixteel
Is custodian of the Fairgrounds. Du
ing the day Mrs. Gookin teaches all Il
children who come to the Kindergarten
Last October an epidemic broke out an
the school had to be closed. Sever
deaths resulted from measles and feve
The work was resumed recently with
membership Of fifty. At the start the
toddlers had to be washed and scrubhe
now they present themselves clean al
tidy,
Amy self respecting man may heoon
q member Of the club by paying iif
cents month This fee entities Il
member to an the privileges and adya
tages of q social and friendly organiz
ton. It gives his children the ifeedo
of the Fairgrounds seven days in q
week aud provides kindergarten trai
ing for them. It Welcomes his wife
] the mothers meetings and Che gener
entertainments, and II gives him the y
Z Of q gymnasium, library and readil
room, and coy and heautifnl place
, 4 spend his holidays II brings him
contact with At least three synpafhei
and influential men On whom pc can
pend for many couFteslas ealHi4taa
relisve The monot0ny ana reanee Y
etruggles fer ezistepce. New Aoi