The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-08
CLOISTER AND. HEARTH
lRB 1HE cLUB ROOMS or CLU1oS
PLACE, WBOSE CHEZ rs DUBUTs.


They had discovered that Dubuis could cook
His pe'is rdmpquns and his macaroni au
gratin we're unexceiled. He was q conn oisseur
OF wines and cheeses These several men
were artists and writer's who found II pleasant
60 meet at the Restaurant Dubuis once or
twice q week for q table d'hite so excellent
and SO cheap that they feared 1t would become
popular. But before that blight struck it the
big factory adjoining needed room and the
Restaurant Dubuis was crowded out
Some Of his old friends have wondered what
hos become OF VI. Dubuis. It perhaps did not
occur to them to identity him with the chef OF
the new club that. in the paragraphs printed
about 1t, has been nam eess and located inde0-
nitely on one Of the downtown cross streets.
These paragraphs have told how women were
admitted to the club during the dinner hours
and they have limited at its unique decorations.
They have omitted to say. however. that NJ
Dubuis is its chef and that grated on his ta-
BILE dh0te is a club resembling none other in
this town.
Probably the success OF the Cloister Club, for
that Is its name. has been due largely to the
fact that 1t started on the basis OF a good din
ner for a reasonable price, q cooperative
scheme. and that its growth has not been
forced. With membership OF seventy five
the club thinks that It has passed the expert
mental stage. and 1t is even concelted enough
to think that 1t has dem onstrated the practical
billy Of several Innovations in club life
Nj. Dubuis had not been e at leisure" q week
before those several men who had appreciated
his cooking. among them W. G. Gibson and II.
l.. Wilson OF iUck. q. LWilmerding Peter K em-
BILE. r. L. Kemble. James l.. Ford. and +. w.
Townsend. decided that something should
be done. NJ. Dubuis had found some
rooms in Clinton place, not far west OF
Broadway. and could they persuade a dozen
men TO dine with him regularly evory night II
he opened a restaurant there? They were
fine rooms. he said. and when the several N en-
looked at thom they agreed with him. One
man became enthusiastic about the black
marbles over the fireplace. another admired
the solid mahogany doors. and before leaving
the landlord was summoned and the rooms
were engaged for a month.
Table dh9te dinners suggest Bohemian
clubs and Dohemianism, as it Is ommonly
accepted. suggests unpaid bills and a general
disregard for conventionalities- Many literary,
artistic. aud Bohe clubs have been started
IN New iork at different times. Those which
have failed have come t? grief. either because
they BECAME mutual HdmirGtGn societies Tor
writing things that were never printed. or be-
cause they went to- the other extreme and adj
mitted all sorts OF mon OF the class who say.
me have 81 until Monday" 1t has been dem
Pile" of this stamp are conscientiously opposed
to raying club dues. In the Cloister Club vo-
and sSne,hins w ts Se svoided. as senia's
The organizers OF this club saw that It's
embership must be necessarily small. and
they determined to invite Tor membership
only men who would find the club convenient
place to lunch or dine several times a week.
who never refuse to Join promising new club
although they have no use Tor it. some time,
men were not asked to Join the Cioistor. 4
temporary organization was formed with a
Governing Committees OF, Anoots and Mem
bership Of FIiars. IL was not confined to art
lists and writer's Among the original mem |
bers were lawyers physicians. ciyi! engineers.
original members had uptown clubs and thoy !
Joined the Cloister because 1t was located
some one. James l.. Ford ad mits that he was
the man, suggested that during the hours be-
iw ri, 80 HrI Si30 mep9SeIs should have ;he
club Beau Brummel Gibson pinchsi his |
monstaches and said he was in favor OF it-as
ton that the feminine element in the dining |
room, which was expected to prove u source Of |
.ure OF the Clolster. some mem beers dine |
here with their wives three or four
woman Of social distinction has quietIy en-.
Dyed Cioistsr dinner. and enjoyed il mono
he he LEES because she may ma have TeeOGnized At
Known actress. In fact, to the feminine ele.
nent has been due much Of tho character Of
turing these hours has not been abused so TAR
md as each member must register his guests
he first questions that is asked about man
Who Is proposed for membership In the club
$ what Sc, sort Of women would he be apt to
.nswered to the satisfaction OF the Abbots his
lame Is DROPPED.
present quarters It found two high eeilinged,
'ld-iashioned square rooms. with an open
,pene SiV into the halls and doa6ie Mahogany
loors swung between Ionic columns separat-
nG the two rooms. The artists IN the club
lniIue in their decorations. Mr. Gibson made
most OF the suggestions and !; n: Hqtchins.
ilackens. ;. u, EhrharI. and l.. DRlrymple
AVE executed them In crayon and sAter color
lame OF tho club and some Of them were
lone under dir1iculties. French pastors and q
prints sas sd dssdsd on on the shS wall T1
tyle of it's decorations. Mr.. Gibson solved
his problem one evening after dinner before
ilackens dropped in, and before they had
Ime to protest the tables we're pushed against
ord Would cali them mrs genials There S
% help for it Gibson was backed up bya
he ' su G for their cir dfawinG. EhThaTt
'as asked to draw the Maid OF the Cloister
fe- size monk sitting on the arm Of an old
traiGhthaek chair angling for goldfish In .
istory as well as an exponent OF the manly
1T Of self-defsnce, illustrated the fall from |
race OF Brother AnAstasius in another panel
z. Bunner. Nutlsy's hard; working PROBES
ional poet and Incidentally the editor OF Pax, |
Ias moved to song by 1t. Hutchins also illus
,onE who had visited the CIOister greet.
ig a monk who had not enjoyed that
rivilege. Again, Mr.. burner. who. by tho
'ay may be found lunching at tho Cloister
oyeral days each week ana talking about his
erse one only andlt was placed under the
n-ds- steele combines. Dalrymple eontribut.
. . Jolly friar's face and Gl4ckens iriezs Of
mall friaTs in lively poses. In the panel over
40 fireplace inthe rear room Mr.. Ehrhart re-
entity placed this picture with Mr.. Bunnsr's
eTses. Prentice IreAdwell. who is the Chair !
ian Of the Decorating Committee secured some
ull, eloister-looking curtains and tied them
ack with hemp girdles. and so the decora.
ons have grown until the rooms now are well
oTth seeing.
ore OF the frat feasts celebrated at the
loister was that Of ST. Bunco. on which oeca- |
lon about dozen uususPeeting men were
lvited there with the view 0f imDressing them |
18th the benefits OF the club The dinner that
light was the best that has ever been served in
~ club, and in spite OF that fact the me mUers
ere fun OF fault hnding and apologies TO
heir guests, who wondered how such an eN-
silent table a. hote could be served ut such a