The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-15
IDEAL LIFE IN A CLUB.
What Membership In Metropolitan So
cial Organization Means.

What Membership In q metropolitan So
cial Organization Means.
BY union Of financial and social forces,
club conditions have been created that to
individuals would be absolutely impossi-
BILE. All one has to do to secure their per-
feet fulfllment in his particular case is to
pay his dues and observe the few simple
rules thatunderlie his peace. BY his choice
Of club it is assumed that the conditions
there are those he most desires If lie finds
himself mistaken, he is at liberty to shake
of the shackles at small cost and try
over again elsewhere.
After admission, which secures TO him
congenial environment, he takes his own
pace and forms his own associations. Aft
er that his life is as near happiness as it is
possible for material influence to bring q
mortal. One in possession of q perfect
home may still make sensible and proper
use of the club while for the one having no
home it is place of refuge and palace Of
peace. BY an entrance fee of few dollars
and trihng annual payment a man may
enjoy the privileges of an institution whose
income and expenditures are enormous.
Even under u wasteful management, one
has the privilege of living in house worth
many thousands of dollars in a way that
seems impossible in private house.
Each one has the same right as the other
The house practically belongs to the mem
Der. Hundreds of perfectly trained serv-
ants of various grades are employed with
out thought ON the part of member
These, prohibited from accepting fees, serve
all alike in view Of the generous wages paid
and the voluntary subscription which at
holiday times is distributed among them
The whole management is 50 arranged that
all runs Gs if by clockwork. Cleaning
sweeping, etc, are done out of sight of mem
bers. All appliances are first class and Of
the best description. Nothing is ever out
of repair, there is no dust or dirt anywhere,
and some one is always within call.
Letters are stamped as received to the eX-
act minute by an automatic clock. While
life strife is vigorously excluded, it inyisi-
bly, pulsates in the very heart of the club.
There are telephone connections, telegraph
reporters for stocks, carriages within call
furnished at moderate charges and free
from suspicion of extortiOn, and barber at
tentions which are confined to members of
the household" There are dining rooms
where the most perfect service is furnished
at moderate rates, and private rooms where
one may give entertainments Of such char
acter as he may choose to pay for. There
is library with hundreds of volumes, such
as one might select for private use, ana a
reading room where all papers daily,
weekly, monthly, quarterly--and in all Ian
guages may be found, as well as an abun.
dance of stationery In payment of any ex-
ira debts incurred one simply signs check
when he is furnished with vouchers for all
he has ordered. Everything is looked after.
Then there is special entertainment from
time to time
Good breeding, correct behavior and
strict courtesy are the club atmosphere.
No matter how extended the membership
limit may be, there Is no interference, as
each uses the privilege only occasionally,
Some use II only during the summer
months, when their families are out OF
town; some drop in but to get glance at
! the papers some visit but seldom, while
Others make the house their regular head
quarters. There is always view from the
windows and some one interesting with
whom to converse. The club furnishes q
good place to make business OF social up.
pointments. While all messages are
promptly aud safely cared for addresses
are guarded from intruders, and once one
passes through the doors he is absolutely
safe from interruptions. In most clubs
the billiard table, card table, bowling alley
pool and chessrooms add to without tax
ing anything from the desirability Of the
place. New York Club.