The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-25

abou 700 members, about 500 of whom are
leading London actors who are also mem
0ers Of thh Green Room Club. IL had its
origin twenty-four years ago In public
house near Drury Lane Theatre. Since
then 1t has wandered to Haxels Hotel.
thence to the Savoy, and finally to the
Adelphi Terrace, overlooking the Thames.
The Garrick, In Garraik Street, Covent
Garden, venerable, rich stately, mellow
and grand, has no membership limitations
as to profession. Perhaps no more than
twenty-five actors are at present among
It's members, although all London mana
gers OF any prominence are upon It's rolls.
II undoubtedly possesses the most valua-
BILE collection of sovunirs and paintings re-
lating to the stage and its most famous
representatives of any association or in
stitution in the world.
indeed the GarricR is perfect museum
of art treasures. You can read upon its
walls the entire history of the English
stage Harlow, Hayman, Zoffnev. be
Wilde, COtes and Dance are all repre-
sented in priceless examples. There are
several Hogarths. Though not the lagest,
1t is the most eXquisitely beautiful diub-
house in London; and its club-life, genial,
dignttied, almost dreamful, is positively
ideal
The Green Room Club, in Bedford
street, which had its origin about four
teen years ago from disagreements in the
Junior Garrick and the Arundel Clubs, is
the real actors club of London It is
olready one of the wealthiest of its small
clubs and owes its great success to the
administration of its honorary secretary,
George Denacher, a gentleman of ample
means, genuine art lover with bound
less sympathies for actors and their pro-
fession. Persons in all the liberal arts
are admitted to mem bership; but no
active manager can become a member I'M
less he was formerly an actor of good
standing. Pinero and Lord Carton, dra-
matists, Farieon, the author, and Charles
Dickens, editor and author and son of
the great novelist, are among its men,
bers
Saturday Nights" and saturday
House Dinners" the latter, splendidly
served at but three shillings and six
pence, are the kindliest, brightest, mel
lowest and most genial occasions of our
time among men Of heart and brains.
Gathered here will be found such men as
Pinero, SAINT Matthews. Irving, John
Hare, Royce Carleton, Kendall, Paul Mer-
rift, Wyndham, Charles Hartbury Ban
croft, Fernandez, Beerbohn, Tree, Ted
Gardiner and Henry Howe, the Oldest
actor on the English stage.
Besides these are hosts more clubs upon
each of which an entertaining article
could be written. Americans are princi-
pally found at the St. George The Tray
oilers, near the Reform, tells its purpose
in its name. Diplomats toast their heels
at the St. James. Military folk are
housed at the Senior United Service, the
Junior United Service, the Army and
Navy, the Guard Club and the Army and
Navy while the East India United
Service Club is the home of the nabobs of
the East India service, and is fitted up in
Oriental luxury.
London clubs are substantial and SPLEEN
did in the main rather than smart" and
dazzling. Truly their distinguishing fea-
ture is comfort. l think their hospitality
to well-accredited persons from other
lands Isl less ELUSIVE than that common in
American clubs; but once extended it is
genuine and worth something to the re-
cipient The English club is more the
home of its member He is more particu-
lar whom he entertains But all else
aside, London clubmen or stranger never
finds more true enjoyment and snug, gee
NAL, all-enveloping comfort than within
the almost cathedral quiet and the home
like warmth Of the average London club
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.