The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-24

to answer, says the Nineteenth Cen
tury." If, as some folk say, they only
came into existence as an imitation OF
mems, why was that imitation not made
long ago? Centuries passed; generations
of women lived and died; yet there were
no clubs. why should they have burst
suddenly upon the world? Who brought
them? Not the haus frau of life, who
now so gladly halls them as a means of
evading the daily wrestle with domestic
mutton; not the social butterfly, who hut-
tiers round the teacup in preference to
her own; not the women with money,
means and opportunity to start them
not to these do we owe our clubs. 1t was
only when women took to work. asserted
their independence and set up for them
selves to earn their own living, when in
twos and threes, and one by one, they
came and settled in lodgings and resi-
Dental flats; it was only then that some
thing in the nature of a club became APP
parent.
The first experiment to be tried in this
direction was the Albemarle Club in 1874
1t was not, however, absolutely and me-
tirely a ladies club, men and women
being members in about equal proper
| llOUS. 1UG COuStltQCll POI -, OVih5 ~
force of circumstances, have slightly
changed during the last quarter of a CEN
tury, and of its 500 members about 600
are women and 200 men. Its lists are
full for the next five years, than which
there can be no better test of a clubs
| popularity. In 1878 came the Somervilie,
the first genuine ladies' club. 1t was, L
believe, an outcome of the Women's Clup
| and Institute, which was opened in 1863
and lasted not very long. The original
intention was that 1t should be a place
| where women of all classes met on COM
mon ground for discussion and Tor re-
| creation; but qualifications for member
ship, two only; personal respeetabihty
| and interest in social and political ques-
lions.
The club has its ups and downs, but It
| still continues, and is a meeting place Ior
journalists. for workers, for women nav
ing every variety of occupation.
In 1884 the Alexander Club was found
| ed. It's number of membrs is now close
on 900, and it frankly states that its lin
in life is the providing of a convenient
centre for ladies and a permanent Lon
dom address. 1t demands of its members
that they should be eligible to attend her
Maiesty,s drawing rooms. After TINS, IN
| 1887. the University Club came into exist
| ence. it's mission to be a meeting place
for students and women who had been
| at college together. 1t limits itself TO
a0 members. and the qualifications ne
| eessary to members are a degree at any
university. registration as a medical prac-
titioner of the United Kingdom, and GER
tain other diplomas.
During the next five years no clubs OF
any importance seem to have been
formed. and it was not until 1892 that we
| find the late Mrs. Massingbred creating the
| Pioneer. a club whose members have al
WAYS prided themselves on being in the
vanguard of progress, and slightly in ad-
vance of their time. Tbs clup was, l
think, the first to give professional Wo-
men the advantage OF a lower rate o.
| subscription and entrance fee, the dller-
| entiation proving that all classes OF Wo-
men were beginning by this time 10 APP
p~reciate the movement. h year 1857
| also witnessed the originatlon OIL the
Walters Club. 1t requires OF the mem
bers that they should be engaged IN Mt
\ erary or journalistic work. gives out tnal
its aspirations are of of a social ana
friendly kind, and fixes the 300 as the
limit of member it will admit at the
same time.
In 1894 clubs began to spring up rapidly
The Bath Club, the Green Park and the
Victoria all date from that year. The
Path ellb is also a mixed club, but the
proportion is such-1,200 men to 3o
| ladies' that it is doubtful whether It
should be included at all in a list of
| ladies' clubs. It's object is to afford TO
its members opportunity, at all seasons
for receiving exercise under cover, espe-
| ciallv swimming. The subscription IS
higher than that of any other ladies'
club in London-e7 7s.-the average at
present being from a3 3s. to SO 5s- 1t IS
however. unique in not charging an en-
trance fee to any lady member
The aims of the Green Park club are
social and musical, and long and varied
is the list of actors and singers who nave
helped to entertain the membrs and their
| friends. The Victoria, on the other hand'
has no ambitions either of an athletfc or
artistic nature. 1t desires to provide a
town house for country members, and all
If exaets as a qualification from its MEM
hers is that they should be that Old
World thing '.gentlewomen of no profess
sion or c%ailing.' Its subscription IS
among the lowest, and it is one OF the
| climbs where smoking is tabooed. Inc
Sesame was first opened in 1885. Its list
of members. both men and women, IS a
long one. and includes much that is best
in the literary and educational world.
Literature and education are its primary
aims. but being wise in its generation 1t
does not neglect the social side OF Lon
don life. A contemporary is the Country
Club. since reconstructed as the New
Country Club; its speciality, the hiring
out of club rooms for weddings, dinners,
or at homes.
The Crescent Club dates a
year later. 1t is closely connected. one
might almost say affiliated with the
Women's Institute; both it and the Sc
same have lower subscriptions for pro-
fessional women, teacher more especial
IL. In the same jubilee year the En-
press and the Victoria Commemorative
also were founded
When formal seating at large tables IS
not practicable by reason of space, there
Is aIwav the small table expedient to
which one may resort. says the "Wo-
mans Home Companion" These tables,
seating four, may be placed in every
available nook through the rooms. halls,