The morning news., 1897-08-30
LINDSAY Ss MORGAN
rOR ALI SORTS OF FADs.
Queer Clubs of the Country, With
Various wild Views.

From the St. Louis Star.
There are 5000 clubs in the United States
Nearly one hundred of these are of the
eccentric order, and they represent the
strangest oldest fantasies that the hu-
man mind could possibly conjure up for
its social entertainment. The eccentric
club illustrates phase of social life which
springs chiefly from the desire of certain
classes OF men to show their utter disre-
gard for conventionality, and who find
genuine recreation in what is bizarre and
unusual in the way of social gatherings.
The result is a One-legged CLUB, a Cat
Club. a Kat Bote club, a Harmonica Club,
a Kite Flyers Club, a Coffin Club, an I'm
dertakers' Club, a japanese Club, a Fat
Mans Club Summing Club a Lam
thorn Club, a Mountebank Club, a Bloom
er Club, and so on through a long list
Some of these organizations have very
entertaining features.
OF all the queer associations of the coun-
try the One-legged Club or st. Louis, is
the most strikingly unique. There are
twenty-five members of this organization
Each individual boasts the loss of one Of
his neither limbs. a physically whole man
can never hope 10 have his name enrolled
on the roster 1t does not matter how the
members legs were LOSE, whether in bat
tie for their country or under the wheels
of a railroad train. il is enough that they
can show but single natural prop upon
which to stand Curiously enough a man
with no legs at all has as little chance
of election to membership as he who has
both his neither limbs. A suite Of elegant
ly furnished rooms is the clubs habitat,
and twice a year a banquet is given by
the members to their friends, when the
rare spectacle of grave-looking men in
.fs-g,4
spond 10 toasts like our absent limbs is
presented to those who are fortunate
enough to be invited.
The Cat Club Of Chicago stands alone
in clubdom. II Is an association Of we'll
known society women of the Windy city
and their favorite cats. Cub quarters
have been regularly engaged and cush-
ions Of the softest down are provided for
the comfort of the fair members pets.
At the weekly meetihX of the Cat Club
the relative merits and behavior of each
tabby and grimalkin are dcscanted upon,
while tea is served TO the ladies' and milk
is set out for the cats Invitations to call
from one cat (presented. of course. by its
mstrcss) to another are exchanged and
as much formal!ty IS observed in intro
duclng 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 caterwaulng company and the
fee OF admission TO club membership has
been placed az a prohibtive figure to pre-
vent those who are not in the high social
swim" from participating in the clubs
unique pleasures.
There Is a club OF kite-hvers with head
quarters IN Boston. Anything and every
thing which concerns the employment OF
kites for scientific purposes and especial
ly tho study Of aerial navigation are the
subjects of constant discussion In the
rooms OF this queer cub The club Is
cozlly housed Zen a modest little building
at the far end Of Boylston street and the
chief ornament Of its rooms are natural
ly. kite and flying machines models and
portraits Of such students Of aerial mat
ters as the late Prof Lilllonthal Prof
Eddy. Prof Maxim and Or W0.fert A
valuable library ~ volumes dealing with
problems interesting 20 the members Of
the Kite club shares the affections Of tho
latter with a perfect model IN miniature
OF Androc'a famous balloon shin now on
lts way to the heart of the Arctic circle
No club OF purpose similar 10 that OF the
Kite club is IN existence outside of the
Hub city
Among eccentric clubs which have some
Kind OF grewaomc entertainment ne an
excuse f0r being are the Toby club. the
ON CURIOSITY 'iMhi AlH NNAff fihMNfH AlNn
aud tho Grave UIETrrs' League ~ New
York The Toby club has nfiy members
Thr club room Ia ou tho northeast corner
81 charles ana West streets Nca York
rlfv Thn main reception room lr sob.
trrftne0us apart mont aonuirhlral snd un-
Inviting ron.nH arr uHfl f0f nnafs and
hsff hlrrfia With c0fn Doe f1r ths t0uH
Furnish FfrWHOme substitute f1f fhe
rh.rH On affmH fo he fHf special fuUr.
f... az Ala T.I.# fIHH fH n"uW "a f#.
gloomy fufFifar lfafh. Thr msnIefa ro.
haf fHrmffifrH from hfafsHdfn ffu.ia
.rI rm..e ffnm Ilnfa rHrfff ffum human
InUes T.r EIHh ~ composed nf HHhsfHr.
900 aHHrfsa mHn ~ uIIlIr ara nhs ara
Aslea ln laffle aERlHat fapefHlton.