The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-24
PROVIDENCE PRESS CLUB.
Its New Quarters Nearly Ready for
Occupancy.
PREPARING FOR HOUSEWARMING,
A Stage Fitted Up for the Entertainments
OF this Journalistic Organization
All the Comforts of Modern Club Life
to be Introduced.

The rooms of the Providence Press
| club in the Dwight building on Weybos-
| set street, are receiving the finishing
| touches anticipatory Of the housewarm-
| inR which will occur soon. MaJW Har-
court Of His Excellency's forces, who Is
president OF the organization, will wei
| come the 200 odd members on that occ' l.
sion and the pipe Of contentment will be
smoked, and the healthy fun aud ex'
change of pleasantries that mark the
| club "smokers will be renewed.
The Press club Is one OF the unique hx-
lures of all large cities and the Provi-
| dence organization il in the first rank.
| Its members are drawn from almost
every walk of life. Previous to this year
! the qualification for membership mas
has been retained to such an extent as 70
preserve the club from losing It's de-
| stinctive caste as a social adjunct OF the
newspaper fraternity. the rules have
been reltxed aud many new members
| added TO the asso ,iate list
| Lawyers, doctors. artists, ministers,
| politicians Of every party, judges, mer-
cnants, bankers and actors are members
of the Press club.
The Annual Banquet.
Once a year the club has banquet to
which a~e invite the best speakers OF
the land to enjoy its hospitality. but 1t
| is seldom that set speech is delivered.
| The Rev. DIR. Horton accomplished this
| feat at the last banquet. it was a
supreme effort on the part OF the mem
bers TO give him hearing. and the other
speakers OF the evening never got mncn
| farther than one sentence when they
were invited to enjoy themselves and
| cas- serious considerations aside
The central 10 atiol OF the new qutr-
| ters Is but one OF ils excellent lea ures.
The tired feeling that comes over the
| news gatherer when the last mage has
gone to press was evidently taken into
| consideration by the comm ttee in cast
ing about for suitable location. When
he opens the street door he will discover
six steps that end at = little landing like
"thauk- e. ma'am" on a mount in
road. Here he may take brea h and con-
template eight more steps. that bring
him on the first floor When he has
mounted these and right -about-faces he
hnds that stair-clim bingls at an end. On
the door in front OF him is Tie Provi-
dence Press Club"
Inside the Rooms.
eOIce inside he may think he has mad e
"A mistake, as the rooms are not rooms at
ALL The entire floor space, over Zoo
square feet, is without PARTITION. The
three bay windows tnat command an un-
obstructed view up and down Weyoosset
street are drapel with maroon hangings
aud an electric light bulb depends from
the center of each. DiIestly under these
are small chess, checker aud cribbage
tahles.
Off in an alcove Is a large reading
table. The secretary's desk and tele-
! phone occupy corners OF this recess.
| N al
ter of the room. On the middle of this
Is long table. over winch hangs clu,-
ter Of electric lights.
A stage has been erected 1T the south
| end OF the room, aud H. IN here that the
| members expect TO disporS themselves
in IA seemi, manner. The stage WAS
built by Mr.. ID jolan, master mechanic
Of tn, Froviueace opera houss, AID Is
complete in every detail
Tue entertainment committee has in
rehearsal for the opening night trav-
esty written by two members Of the
| clun. Besides tiis tlere will be a varied
program. in which only members OF he
ol lganization will take par.
he Press club is equipped with a small
but weighty library. A piano is in evil
numerous high-backed rockers and ca, y
chairs which dot the room ia artisti1
confusion.
Maggie (line's Chair.
III o pie.e OF furniture the club pr.z.s
most highly is Maggie Cline's chair"-
Maggie OF "rrow Him Down, McClusky"
fame. 1t is low. leather-covered arm
chair and was presente To the club by
Robert Morrow of the Providence opera
mouse. 1t gets ! name from the &C.
that years ago, when Maggie was quite
young and unknown to 70 Pas. o., she
sat in this chair aud, ith feet swinglng
to he time OF the music, sang n soug
In the ola loves opera house.
| A handsome 81 ieooard fills a corner to
the lett of where tue stag stands. The
club contempiates putting In Dilliari
and pool table in hi, part OF heir quar-
ttrs, Tor which there is ample space.
| In tue sou heast torner OF the rDom
AMI conneceed with the stage is lava
| cory, where the actors who appear III che
Slare of the footIights may remUvs their
| paint aud powder ana be agaiu recognlz
| able To their riends.
Tue walls are dotted with paintings
ana engraviugs aul tie club emblem, n
tin sword, balanced nigh ia the air by
the su, erior weight Of u large-sized pen,
has a pro niIent place.
The Drake. Payson 81 Whittier COM
| pany has fit et The room with electric
lights. The draper e3 and furnishings
are from the Ii. w. L,dd company.
| EVERYTHING considered the Prov deuce
Press club has taken a big step toward
reaching its proper place as ope OF the
leading organiz atoms or our city.
Beside President Harcourt, VINO 1, the
cores pondenJ o. the BJs )n q Jbe. the
officers of the club are. V.te President,
f. n. Luther; treasurer, judge w. a.
Pnillps; secretary. X. w. Jennings: ex
ecutivs commitJee, A. M. Williams.
George A. Va and "A. j. Mcconnell.
NJ. G. Day Is chairda of tue committee
that will provide the eater aiument oI
the evening Of the housewardiIx.
Jeweiry Failures.