The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
CLUBS OPEN TO WOMEN.
PRIVIL &c rs GIVEN TO THE GENTLE
II DOWNT0WN.

men NJ Nsuehth III ~ Nuo ~ St"tNt
but No Disposition Vet to Admit Thorn ne
NTembrra-Mnny Women Among tho Gueaia.
A business woman OF exceptional aueliica-
lions, whose work keeps her In tho very heart Of
the business district, wrote II letter recently to
the Governing Board Of a downtown club, ask.
ing il she was eligible TO membership. Cortain
OF tho downtown clubs have tho following SEQ
ton in their constitutions:
All male persons OF good moral character and bust.
ness standing, more than 21 years " age, may DO
elected to membership in the club. upon the terms
and conditions provided in this ron-:l:utio=-
In tho constitution OF the particular club TO
which this woman applied there is nothing said
about either male or female persons. Tho Com.
mittoc on Admissions read the letter carefully
and with interest. each member in turn. and
held a special meeting to determine what was
usual un Ter such circuinstnn cs. After mature
elaboration, during which tho most inspiring
vintage that the wincrooru had 10 offer was
called in aid, IL was discovered that the
circumstances were not ususal; indeed, were un-
precedentcd. The committee called yet another
meeting to determine what should be the
tenor of the reply. and then sat long and
thoughtfully celebrating as to the framing OF
that reply. Tho club was inherently chIvairous;
that fact was proved by the carefully considered
appointments in the rooms set apart for women
guests. The very carving on the silver backed
brushes said so; the white mahogany furniture
told Of it: even the ornate powder box, the dainty
note paper In tho escritoire, and the ferns in tho
ladies' dining room moro than limited that the
gentle sex was welcome. The mmit on
Admissions felt that these luxurious furnishings
had been the means OF bctraying the woman
whose letter lay before it into thinking that
female membership was desired by them, and,
bearing this In mind, 1t couched tho refusal In
such courtcously rcgrctful terms that the would
he member ever since has been a frequent guest
in the clubs dining rooms.
This incident makes noteworthy the sentiment
regarding woman's presence displayed by most
OF the downtown clubs. There are eight or nine
of these clubs. more or less near the City Hail.
and within the last few years nearly all have
made arrangements for tho comfort and enjoy
mcnt OF women. The older clubs have altered
the plan of their various apartments 50 as to adj
nit OF better accommodation for women. and the
organizations formed within the last eighteen
! months have made their plans with a special
view to having a womcn's annex as comfortable,
II smaller, than the main part OF the clubrooms.
The Commercial Club, organized in 1896, has
made liberal arrangements for women in its
clubrooms in the Gcrkcn building on Cham
bers street. 1t has q reception room set apart
for them. provided with reading matter, writing
materials, and comfortable ~lounging chairs. and
there is also n dining room for their use. One OF
the objects OF the club, as set forth in the consti-
tuition, is TO provide facilities for the advance
mcnt OF art and literature. by subscription an
the maintaining OF Il library. reading room, and
gallery OF art, or by such other means as shall
be expedient and proper for such purposes.'
The presence OF women. tending to refine and
elevate, may be regarded in this case "one Of
the means expedient and proper" This club
has 400 members, although so recently estab-
lished. Its most influential members arc prod.
uce dealers. The article relating to visitors in
the bylaws says:
The wife. daughter. or other female relative of .
m mber IN good standing shall be entitled to the
lunch privileges OF the clubroons, ard may aiga %
indorse the husbands or fathers name 10 checks FOR
meals. unless specially ordered to the CONTRARY by the
club member. and may also entertain lady guests by
Permission Of a member OF the House Committee.
The women reception room is a pleasant pic
ture mt the luncheon hour on almost any fine
week day, when the wives, daughters and other
female relatives who have come in from out of
town or uptown or across town are meeting the
club member and indulging in social chat be-
The Wool Club located in the Wool Exchange
most dis,inctively feminine women's annex Of
any of the trade clubs. To be exact. it is not an
e onIs heavy at S!y' Por Ha in's @ark P 9he d IL 1hs wh iins.
The women's dining room at this club accommo-
ors have to walt in the reception room unit!
place can be made for them, The Committee of
popular this dining room would become, but it
has made the reception room so homelikc that
the gu guests a are perfectly pon,s byr wi! nf1sEr to y Msttt: landed Nv
members T. was asked.
Not very often, but their coming unattended
is perfectly proper. and occasions no surprise.
Situated as their rooms are here, they can
readily come. two, or three together, and b
The Wool Clubs rooms, owing 10 the c~onfor-
nation of the building, are unique in shape and
susceptible of original treatment in the matter
OF furnishing ana decoration. There has been
lavish outlay in every detail tending, to promote
generous sSl" 9 contributi9ns Of paintings and bric.S.
brnc., and, the ladies' rooms have been well re-
At the Hardware Club, established in the
breezy upper. floors of the Postal Telegraph
the charming water view beyond. the comfort
of won n has been well provided for in the
matter of dining room accommodations, but
there is no private apnrtmen,, dedicated espe.:
cially to women reception. The word ladies"
!, rules. and. altogether. while evidently expect
ing women visitors md prreparinS for their ao-
urgent inducements for their coming; II
they come land they do come sometimes.
S by ih ho,i tIrtiss or Hp he '' iike,. oh thcW ma ara mn HesS we Il
come. thrice welroine; but on days when only
one or two MppsS mn thS G"n 81 nin9hc Go %f m moi u bsr,
betray disappointment. The furnishings and
appurtenanccs OF the small apartment that wai
taken Oft from the mons coat room TO make q
reception room for the gentle sex are of cxeep.
!: tional tnenssi and ftncss. and show plank
out especially for their benefit: but, on coming
ont Of this tiny domain. it becomes evident te
the feminine guest that, once luncheon Is over
she is expected to go. There are no inducements
/, for her TO tarry. She would tie out Of place in
. tho mems library, smoking, lonnging. and COS
{ sip!ng rooms, and there is nothing for II hut "a
take the elevator and he let down 10 less re
strictcd regions. The Hardware Club has Go(
I members. Including non-r"sidcnts.
t a downtown club that has recently moved intt
e larger quarters and tttCd up II special dining
t room for women. n room whose Windows com
mand the most beautiful river view OF any of tn,
trade clubs. is the Drug Trade Club in JohI
t street. The ladies' dining room here has n Yep
arate entrance. and is cnlivcncd with growing
plants and wc,!-choscn cngravin%s. There AR
y great pots OF towering plants in the CHEEKY cor
II nor fireplace and In the windows, and delicate
maiden hair ferns give lightness and grace e
the dining tablr. Not only women. hut flmi!ie
q OF bows and girls, meet pltorfam!l:ns and max,
u merry in that dining room.
@ The Arkwright Club, whose crest is a minia
turc loom, and whose members are largely con
II ccrnCd with the linen trade and manufacture
has quarters IN lhr Mutual Reserve building. u
~ | lhn rLL.n-r nj nlunL ii rnIl nnl lArnnlMnN WI