Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07


springs chiefly from the desire of certain
classes of men to show their utter disre-
gard for conventionality, and who find gen.
uine recreation in what is bizarre and I'M
usual in the way of social gatherings The
result is One-Legged Club, Cat Club a
Kat Bote Club, Harmonica Club, a Kite
Flyers Club, Coffin Club, an Undertakers
CLUB, Japanese Club, Lanthorn Club,
Mountebank Club, a Bloomer Club and SO
on through long list Some of these or
CARNATIONS have very entertaining fea-
lures.
OF all the queer associa tons of the coun-
try the One-Legged Club of ST Louis is the
most strikingly unique. There are twenty
two members of this organization Each in
dividual boasts the loss of one of his
neither limbs. physically whole man can
never hope to have his name enrolled on
the roster; 1t does not matter how the
members legs were lost, whether in battle
for their country or under the wheels of a
railroad train, it is enough that they can
show but single natural prop upon which
legs at all has as little chance of election
to membership as he who has both his
neither limbs. A suite of elegantly furnished
rooms is the clubs habitat, and twice
year a banquet is given by the members
to their friends. when the rare spectacle
of grave-looking men in evening dress ris-
ing on a single leg to respond to toasts
Ike Our absent limbs is presented to
those who are fortunate enough to be in
vited.
Women and Cats.
The Cat Club of Chicago stands alone in
clubdom. 1t is an association Of we'll
known society women of the windy city
and their faverite cats. Club quarters have
been regularly engaged, and cushions of the
softest down are provided for the comfort
OF the fair members pets At the weekly
meetings of the Cat Club the relative mer-
Its and behavior of each tabby and grimal-
Kin are descanted upon, while tea Is served
to the ladies and milk is set for the cats
Invita- tons to call from one cat presented
Of course by its mistress) to another are
exchanged, and as much formality is OBJ
served in introducing a new feline to the
assembled cats and clubwomen as at an
important social function. Small fortunes
In the way of silver collars, engraved bells
perfumed baths and the like, are expended
upon the restless, caterwauling company
and the fee of admission to club member
ship has been placed at a prohibitive fig
ure to prevent these who are not in the
high social swim from participat ting in
the clubs unique pleasures.
Another aristocratic eccentric club is the
Kat Bote Klub of Newport, R. I. There
are forty-nire members of this unique Or
While the ostepsihle purpose of the club
is the furtherance of the royal sport of
yachting. very few of the members know
anything about boats and things nautical.
The numerous officers of the Kat Bote
Klub are, for the most part, representa-
tive members of New York's social 400"
Among the more prominent Kat Boters are
Royal Phelps Carroll, Theodore A. Have
meyer, Herman Oelrichs, Winthrop Astor
Chanler. Prescott Lawrence, Louis Loril-
lard. Oliver Belmont. John s. Tooker
and Sidney Violet. New York's commits
sfoner of street cleaning, Col. George E.
iS q n ,tor Tlo
official titles of the members have in near
ly each case humorist twist Col. War
ing. for example. Is dubbed ''White Wings"
Peter H. Duryea is called BELL Buoy" F.
p. Garrettson is the Powder Monkey"
and dignified Isaac Townsend is the clubs
Ballast" Other designations such as "Sky
Pilot" .Swab," Captain with Cold
Deck" "Wee Wee" and Fog Horn are
borne with as much dignity as such titles
seem to require. At least So, 100000 is rep
resented In this grotesque circle of make
believe sailors, and they are banded to-
eether for the sole purpose of, squeezing
a drop of humor from even the most mel.
ancholy fact or circumstance.
Musicians and Kite Flyers.
The Harmonica Club of Cincinnati Is an
organization given over to musical recrea-
tions. The Harmonica Club means to de-
velop the crude instrument for which It Is
named. and hopes some day to place it in
artistic competition with the best wind and
string instruments of range and power
The eighteen active members are all en-
thusiastic performers on the mouth organ
The most difficult compositions of the mas
ters are essayed, and a concert In which
all the numbers will be played upon the
harmonica Is one Of the cherished ambi-
lions of this club.
There Is q club of kite flyers with head
quarters in Boston. Anything and every
thing which concerns the employment of
kites for scientific PURPOSES. and especfallv
the study OF aerial navigation, are the SUBJ
jects of constant discussion In the rooms
Of this queer club. The club IL coxily
housed In modest little building at the
far end Of Boylston street. and the chief
ornaments Of Its rooms are. naturally,
kite and flying machine models and por-
traits Of such students Of aerial matters az
the late Prof. Lillienthal, Prof. John Eddy,