The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
CALUMET CLUBS FUTURE.
THE ORGANIZATION TO slc
7 INDIVIbUALITF.

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Union wish the Racquet Cius-Causes
Which Have Made such n step Noees.
snry-The Decline OF tho Caiunst,
The Calumet Club, which since its orRanisa-
tion seventeen years ago has been ono of the
hest-known social clubs In tho city, 10 about to
be absorbed by the Racquet and Tennis Club.
an association situated now in one of the hand
soonest club houses In this city on West Forty
third street. between Fifth and sixth
avenues. Tho members of tho Calumet have
been informed of the proposed change and 1t 10
now regarded as an accomplished fact, although
there are still certain preliminarles TO be ar
ranged before the final coalition of tho two
clubs Is effected. The news is not q surprise TO
New York club men, as 1t was rumored q year
ago with considerable appearance OF truth that
the Calumet was seeking to form some sort off
combination with the new Metropolitan Club.
The negotiations. IL they were ever COM
menced, fell through, Just as the expected union
between the University Athletic Club and the
Racquet. attempted about a year and q half
ago. resulted In nothing. But It has been be-
leved for more than n year that the Calumet
was seeking 10 merge itself in some club of SINH
lar position, and with one that owned It's club
house.
The building now occupied by the Calumet
stands at the corner Of Twenty-ninth street and
Fifth avenue. and 10 leased. The clubs lease
other p% reasons snreS wS@ sahpS led % mem pen' ta 5hifI, .nT wItb ~ ere
conditions of club life to believe that the gov.
eInors OF the Calumet were anxious to unite
A Sun reporter saw last night one of the
prominent members Of the club. and he said
timing In It's present quarters, although he de-
clined to discuss the terms of its combination
NETS present quarters are central, and the
mouse was not long ago entirely redecorated and
adapted to the present use.
There seems TO be no rensou to donbt, how
BY the Racquet, which has a large house in
II has often been said that Q combination DO.
tions. as the Calumet members would bring q
certain social prestige to the Racquet. which the
receive in turn the athletic accommodation Of
The Calumet is purely a social club. without
any political or athletic character. and has in
y yasb pas, m, inc M,1i tn HmonE /, it So me Tnsn many
eleven years later. It's first quarters In rooms
at p East Seventeenth street were opened in
BEEN Ar si ?; Russell: WiIIis% e: L
f%sndRFs Robert rsal M r@ g Bai2. EG@sr .; b TeE PessI.r
Livingston, and George alexander Brown This
f hsp ,6!sasy S5 g. g; J: S essfsI; e &isss:
GaiiuF;, =. IL. henderson,, Samuel H. Hoppin.
E.d DE pe 4 P, htslnRs1 F1snh (. kka an!sHr,t Norris ri
Tnckerman. William ,Turntuii. Jr.., and 4.
teenth street the club has occupied quarters at
20 West Thirty-hf,h street. 3 West Thirtieth
r present f home n at a5 fsf Flf,s ss aye N moved into Its
Tho Calumet" said u member of the club
a 'sss 81 ans "sss s %eli'saoH% rHs eiaG, During %SsS sh IL.
past few years. 1t il - social club. pure and
many OF the yOnnRar mnn waFa only in tho climb
waiting until they were old enough to go into
The cluo never had the high special prestige
Of the Knicke rbocker although It ranked next
TO that socially AS a young mans club. The
members the privileges Of a ine Ssmnasin@
and other athletic advantages. The receipts OF
ant have fallen Off greatly within the past two
or three years. and the average attendance has
men have resigned. and although few new
members have been taken in during the past
meniber that the old Standard OF he club had
not been strictly maintained. The Calumet had
to survive. as it had always been known
the younger set of men in the city.
But there now seems to be a demand for some
II be athletics. politics or merely social exclu-
siveness. The Calumet had none of the frat
could. not compete with the Knlckerbocker or
the Union, as u distinctly social organization.
ago. Then we began to feel the decline. Many
members resigned and Others died. and there
has appeared 10 be no possibility OF conducting
the club on The original ideas. 1t has been
forced to undertake the present combi-
nation chiefly from the lack of any
distinctive policy. which seems TO hn
any New York club. The lime has passed in
New ork when n com pnratively young club
can exist merely az a social organization. II it
lacks the social prestige OF the Knick srbocke r.
for instance, or the support or the old men,
beers. which the Union has. there must be some
other particular features to attract aud hold tho
Men Join now the climbs that offer them
tho greatest ADVANTAGES, and the success
and athletic sides. proves that, although
the Racquet will undoubtedly be strength
ened by the absorption of tho Calumet,
The members will welcome the new bcrs
as both clubs are made up of young men ac-
Quainted with each other and moving, in a
in the same social circles"
The officer Of the Racquet would make no
although II was not needed TO insure
the certainty that the two clubs have effected
or are now making arrangements to unite.
The Racquet and Tennis Club Was founded in
1875 and Incorporated in 1890. lts first rooms
were on the northeast corner Of twenty sixth
street and Sixth avenue. now occupied by tho
University Athletic Club. Its present house, to
which 1t moved about six years ago, is one Of
the hrest club buildings In the city.
The President now Is Isaac TOWNSEND. the
J. Atterhury, and the Secretary II. II. Croker.
The total membership Of the Racquet Is at pres
ent 1874. The Calumet, which places the limit
at 800. has now about half a hundred men less
than its nit.