New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03

stated number Of residents OF New-York within
certain time limits. and this Is impossible at
our best clubs In the framing Of these rules the
new clubs are apt to follow the well-established
laws of the older clubs. which in their turn bor-
rowed largely from the English clubs. Thus, though
none Of our organizations CO. so far as those In
London which almost universally confine smokers
to special smoking-rooms most New-York clubs
forbid pipe smoking. regardless OF the fact that
the pipe has come to be more reasonable thing
than the cigarette.
In many other respects the clubs Of London may be
said to be the recognized models Of New-York club
DOM while the clubs Of this city serve prototypes
for the clubs Of other American cities. So the Union
and Knickerbocker In New-YOrk strive to be what
the Bachelors. Whites. st. James, Marlborough
and Wellington are in London. JustAs the Phila-
delpha and Rttenhouse In Philadelphia, the Som
erset In Boston, the Metropolitan In Washington
and the Union and Chicago in the Windy City
moro or less consciously follow our patterns.
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT CLUBHOUSE.
Though In It's Metropolitan Club New-York can
still beast Of the most magnificent clubhouse OF
the world. not excepting the Imperial Yacht
Club Of st. Petersburg. it must nevertheless be ad
mtted that In all respects except cuisine the clubs
Of London excel the clubs OF NewYork, they
do all others In the world. with the possible excep-
ton Of the above-named Imperial Club and the
Jockey Club OF Paris Wherein the English clubs
shine. apart from the astonishing size OF their
bershp rolls Is In the actual comforts offered from
the attentions Of the club servants to the In
terror furnishings and comparative cheapness Of the
meals served. They further differ from the ma
jority Of American clubs In permitting house
accounts club debts. and they far cheaper.
Thus the pest London clubs exact no higher annual
duo than ten guneas. with initiation fee to match,
while the majority Of their clubs. In striking con-
trast 10 our initiation fees Of 300 and $780, content
themselves with collecting merely nominal sums.
ranging from $40 to SIS. As result. they attract
not only more members. but also homes to
large class Of younger men OF modest means who
could not afford to join similar clubs here.
Judging from the crowded condition OF most Lon
don clubs during the hours Of the forenoon and nj
luncheon one must perforce assume that the leisure
class there IL far than II Is here as Ia fact
Much OF this. however, Ia also due TO the central
location OF these clubs and their vicinity TO Nav
fair Belgravla and Pccadilly. an advantage tina.
IL almost out OF the question In elongated citJ
like ~New-York. where the constantly shifting
centres OF residence and business compel even s,rh
well-esablished clubs as the Union and IrniyersIty
to pull up stakes to move up down as often
the case may warrant.
This same geographical popularity OF Manhattan
leland must also account for the apparent anomaly
that the political clubs OF community In vhirh
the interest for politics IL wider spread-clubI like
our Union League, Manhattan Reform Democratic
and City Slue-Arf ept TO present deserted appear-
snes ,Gusne> taS daytyrel whsreas tpndea'l carlo: