The evening world., 1894-05-12
that CLUB OF
MILLI0NA|RES.
Members Stay Away, Object
to Assessments, and It Is
a Dismal Failure.
THEY DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER.
Not Enough Bright Men to Make
the Place Entertaining and
Too Much "Shop" Talk.
BUT THERE IS WEALTH GALORE.
Some Prominent Tammany Men in
It, but Ex-Mighty Mogul Croker
Not on the List.
THEY DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER.
BUT THERE IS WEALTH GALORE.

The Metropolitan Club, an organiza-
ton which started out to be the most
magnificent In the United States, II not
In the world, has proved to be one of the
most complete fiascos of modern times.
This club was composed in the beginning
of the wealthiest men in this and neigh
boring cities. 1t was generally supposed
that the leading qualification for mem
bership was the possession of at least
81 900, 900. Anything short Of that amount
would not do, no matter what other
recommendations an aspirant may have
had.
That this was the policy of organizing
the club has been illustrated in more
than one case in which men who have
won the respect and esteem of this
worldly goods, have failed in their effort
to gain admission to this league OF
millionaires. 1t was for this reason that
the organization has been more popularity
known as the Milionaires' Club.
1t was only two months ago when the
doors OF the white marble clubhouse. on
the northeast corner of Fifth avenue
and Sixtieth street, were thrown open
at the first reception of the club. On the
following morning the newspapers
teemed with glowing accounts OF all the
gorgeous things the reporters had seen
Adjectives in the superlative degree were
exhausted in order to fittingly describe
the interior. There were magnificently
panelled walls, trimmings of English
oak. cherry, mahogany, white and gold
tintings, oak beam ceilings, electrical
effects of all sorts. marvellous decora-
tions, sumptuousness and luxury in such
abundance that the reporters pens fair
ly trlpped as they attempted to set down
their descriptions on paper.
More especially was 1t remarked that
the club had been admirably arranged
for the accommodation Of very large
GUS spacious billiard, smoking, read
ing, and writing rooms, lounging
ana sleeping rooms was the main
persons. aD mere Ues was nsn also sh0qsase Iarse
dining-room and reception-room in the
ladies, annex. All these conveniences,
pense. were. for the enjoyment OF the
possessors OF millions. There were about
six hundred and nifty such persons on the
Everything promised well. and Mr.. Will
lam c. Whitney, Mr.. Pierpont Morgan
and others who were directly connected
nounced that this was to be the most
successful thing of its kind on earth.
But these gentlemen fell somewhat
short in their calculations. The Metro
politan Club, the exclusive organization
of millionaires, is not travelling a road
OF prosperity, The trouble lies In the
Guilty In getting $50 millionaires to put
their names down on the list OF men,
bership. these same millionaires have
shown decided aversion to making use
Of the clubhouse and supporting 1t by
their presence. The elaborate smoking
and other rooms mentioned above are
seldom, II ever used: No ladies' grace
attendants. walters and servants stand
around with time hanging heavily on
their hands. Above all. the magnificent
one thousand, seldom contains more
than eight persons at a time.
More than this. the additional million
aires whom Messrs. Morgan, Whitney
and their associates expected to flock
to the standard of the millionaires' club
and swell Its list, of members and add
so the receipts have not been cen forth
men OF any standing in this city. but
there are others from the outside who
ed NPs'dea TO de- so TO- %h Wiz go S msmbers whG hayt
was Impossible TO pay the running ex.
ptSenses Per es,3f OF the club to say nothing Of
putting up the building and getting the
organizat on on it's feet.
A number OF mortgages were regis
for putting W, the building, a magnlf
cent creation of McKim, Mead & White
Sne mortgage was recorded In May
Bnchess or 81 soGS to Lg n Ghurchi
made In August, 1893, by Cornelius Van
der6ilt, Charles Lanier and William C
nrs ntnRss Rsr trustees otS to ot6 the BEwery ssy
was recorded in October of the sam,
year for 100000. These debts and til,
interest On other loans aggregate sucl
son VINO became member of the clui
became also individually responsible To-
A,2s6 of Indebtedness.
,,an tnsse straits the moving spirits o
.ne Cup, who 10 must be confessed ar,
men or no ordinary business resource
adroitly approached the moving spirit
te Ter 'ne ne,a ar,stotratic Union Club. The lat
yer organization, 1t will be remembered
mas outgrown its present quarters anr
mas been casting about for a suitabl,
MessrI ss surther uptown. Knowing this
gesied that the members OF the I'nioi
iuo give up their house and merg
premislns rreinselWes In The magnificent an,
HIter listening to these overtures tn
mon club men respectfully, but firmly
thtsnfd: that tbi. w IT has has been recently SAL
that the Union Club ever did and WIRE 4, hB
o9ne great many. - -"
=, ne Metropolitan Clubs CommItte
ot, mays and Means next adopted III
oInrr way OF raising revenue: that
20 say, they raised the tax by increa sin
sne ILL.,, ,a,hnual dues to 500. This, OF course
@ uuuiu anord no permanent relief
sn,srrther nurther provided that in a case o
emergency each member could be as
sesseI up to $500. This. II will be o6
served. was piece of skilful fnan
c,erIng on the part Of the gentlemen i
SNarse, Having devoted most OF thei
Ives TO raising money 1t is rather SUI
hMnhg mat In matter OF this kin
SnG Any shoud have encountered so niue
sary amount, but II must not be for
eotten that they were denlinR Wit