The record-union., 1893-06-24

ned mem berShlp III station, vocation
and views; but as it represents the con-
centration of all opposition to Toryism,
though it comprises at times almost
countless factional elements, it's wealth,
strength and permanency have been re-
markable.
The building is in the pure Italian
style, massive, rich and simple. The
central hall, open from floor to dome,
and surrounded by nassively colonnaded
galleries, IS one of the richest and most
stately interiors in England. 4 splendid
staircase leads to the upper gallery, which
opens TO the principal apartments of the
club. The coffee-room occupies the beau
titul garden front on Carlton House Ter
race; and the drawing room, which runs
the entire length of the building, is just
above. One OF the galleries OF the central
hall is filed with full-length portraits of
the heroes of reform; and the other
possesses magnificent frescoes illuStrat-
ing the fine arts; while the statuary, the
richest and most frequent in any London
clubhouse. immortalizes the great leaders
like Golden, Bright, Palmerston, Russell
and Gladstone. There is only one just
appellative to use when speaking OF
every feature of this great club. That is
magnificent. Both the Carlton and the
Reform are famous for their cuisines and
chefs, and the Reform is said to have the
most famous public wine cellar In
Europe.
With the extraordinary prestige, wealth
and influence of both these clubs, and
limited membership-for instance, the
Carlton is limited to l,600 member and
the Reform to l,400-"over1iow clubs"
were a natural sequence. With the Carl
ton. which contains the bluest blood in
England, death vacancies are the only
means of securing entrance. Men wait
from twenty to thirty years for admission,
N w hara lnalar nf
the Tories dies, when his heir is usually
elected to I'LL the vacancy. The Junior
Carlton was consequently established as
chapel of ease'' for the Carlton, and
the y National Liberal, with the same re-
lation to the Reform. The former has
membership of 2, 100 and the latter, with
It's splendid establishment overlooking
the Thames, has accommodations for
1000 members. There are also with Con-
servative or Tory affiliations the Con-
servative, City Carlton, National City
Conservative, st. Stephens, Beaconstield
and the Constitutional; while among
those taking the Reform as their leader
and model and possessing various phases
OF Liberal sympathies, are Brooks,
National Liberal, Golden, City Liberal
and the Devonshire.
The Athenaum Club is the chief liter
airy club, ii not the resort of London. Its
huge, time-worn walls and stately portico
have somber look in the splendid Pail
Mall region where it stands at the park
entrance of Waterloo Place, just opposite
the far sunnler-iookiug home of the
United Service Club. 1t occupies part of
the old Carlton House. The architecture
is OF the Grecian order, and Of severe
Grecian at that. The frieze is copied from
the Parthenon. over the Doric portioo is d
colossal figure of Minerva. The only
cheerful things in the whole place are
two huge tlreplaces in the main hall or
exchange. over these are the Diana
Robing' and Venus NictriX," in mar
bic. The entire atmosphere of the place
suggests marble aud Ice. 1t is a resort
for venerable professors, philosophers,
scientists, antiquarians and authors out
of whom the life cheer is already well
filtered. The club has the finest library
OF any club in the metropolis, and story
which Hatton tells illustrates its value to
habltues. \ member desiring reference
to the fathers on some theological point
inquired OF a club official if Justin
Martyr was in the library. II don't
think he Is a member, sir" the latter po-
litely replied; but l will at once refer to
the list, sir"
There is large number of really en-
joyable clubs in London, some OF them
really famous, which have brought So
cially together strictly professional peo-
pie, or men of means who are liberal pa
u CIlS VI LLiO ebi U.s. Al luG IIldIi ll6lT Ire
quenterS are persons who have really ac-
complished something; men who as au-
thors, journalists, actors, artists, singers,
and even in law and physic, are progress
i've, ambitious, independents: in fact, the
genuinely cultivated gentlemen OF Lon
don. These clubs do not always possess
palatial establishments; entrance fees and
annual subscriptions are not equal to or
dInary incomes; and their eXclusiveness
does not comprise questions of blood,
title, political opinion or wealth. In
these, 1 believe, exist in a greater degree
those true and laudable principles which
are the life and preservation OF genuine
club association than in all other great
clubs Of London combined.
refer to such clubs as the Garrick,
Green Room, Savage, Arundel, Lyric
and Beefsteak. The latter unique little
club, which has its home over Toole's
Iheater, sprang out of the Honorable
Society of Beetsteaks, in the old Beet
steak room OF the Lyceum Theater.
which still exists, and is used by Irving
for his exquisite private dinner parties.
The Beetsteak over TooIe's is distinctive
in being a "one-room' club and admit
ting no guests whatever.
The Arundel has $50 to 400 members.
1t was once exclusively literary and ar
tiStiC. Am bilious solicitors and amateurs
Of all sorts are now admitted, and while
its prOmiscuOusness is a bar to especial
influence, it serves as a sort of necessary
training school to higher club honors,
while atfOrding many deserving fellow
a foothold and beginning at professional
recognition which would be difficult in
conservative London to otherwise secure.
The Lyric has a magnificent club
house in Piccadilly, and with it's entire
appointments, including large theater
and concert hall, is among the finest
building for this purpose in the world 1t
also has an annex called the Lyric Club
1T Barnes Thames, from which boat
racing and other river fetes can be wit
messed. The Lyric is dramatic and
musical club with nearly 5000 members.
Perhaps 10 per cent. Of these are actors.
Lord Londesborough, Fred Cowen and
Sir Arthur sullivan are members.
The well-known Savage Club, literary
and artistic, which interohanges prlyi-
leges with the Lotus Club OF New York.
has about 700 members, about 500 OF
whom are leading London actors who are
also members of the Green Room Club. |
1t had its origin twenty-four years ago in
public house near Drury Lane Theater.
Since then it has wandered to HaxePs
Hotel, thence TO the Savoy, and finally to
the Adelphi Terrace, overlooking the |
Thames.
The Garrick, in Garrick street. Covent
Garden, venerable, rich, stately, mellow |
and grand, has no membership Lmita- |
tlons as to profession. Perhaps no more
than twenty-five actors are at present
among its members, although all London
managers OF any prominence are upon
its rolls 1t undoubtedly possesses the |
most valuable collection of souvenirs and !
paintings relating TO the stage and its
most famous representatives of any asso-
citation or institution in the world.
Indeed, the Garrck is a perfect mu-
scum of art treasures. You can read
upon its walls the entire history of the
English stage. Harlow, Hayman, Zoff- |
nov De Wilde Cntes and Hanrn o 70 IN |