New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB.
A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION SOON TO oc-
cUpY IT'S NEW FIFTH
AVE HOME

Il.
A,thoush the Stewart mansion. the home OF the
Manhattan Club, is about TO yield 20 the encroach-
ments OF trade and become In all probability the
site of a business block Thirty -fourth-st between
Firth and Sixth ayes, continues to be popular
,,ub locality The City Club. forced by the tearing
down and building up epidemic which perVaues 'ie
city to vacate the corner OF Thirty-hfth-st ana
Fifth-ave. has leased No. 10 West Thirty-iourth-
st recently abandoned by the University Athletic
Climb Within a few doors OF the City Club. and
diagonay opposite the Waldorf-Astoria, the ola
brownstone homestead OF Richard V. Harnet is
now IN process Of reconstruction for the Nationai
Arts Club 1t will be this unique clubs first home
After long search and consideration OF many
sites the trustees decided that this locality would
be for at least the next ten years. the centre OF
the uptown movement. The alterations to meet
the requirements OF the club are completed, ana
next week the decorators will assume charge. inc
ward has been built up entirely with ireproof art
gallery 10 feet high and 2lh by - feet In dimen-
sons The main or reception room is on lever
with the gallery. The entire street floor is given
over TO a grillroom The second floor with speclai
rooms and large alcove reception han. III reserved
for the women members. Billiard. smoking ana
committee rooms occupy the third floor. whiie 'he
ton Of the house has been converted into servants
quarters.
The remodelllng has been under the supervision
Of Charles l. Berg the architect. The decorative
features OF the interior are largely confined 10 the
gr,Ilroom. They designed and are being car
rled out under the direction OF Charles r. Lamb.
The scheme is suggestive Of the early history OF
New-York, the griroom being treated as a.Dutch
interior The pervadng colors are green and Delft
blue tremendously blended. high wainscot oil
cid oak supports an deliberately decorated frieze'
which fills the front Of the main floor This frieze
decorated in old tile color shows canals with Dutch
architecture in fat elevation the centre Of each
oanel being treated with large water gate" like
lhose ct HARLEM and Delft. while in the upper
part shields and scrolls In high relief support the
timbered ceiling which is arranged to receive the
necessary electric light for illumination. The CEN
ire OF the grillroom has unique arrangement-a
settle framed OF hogshead casks. suggestive OF an
old wine-shop. while the entire back portion, In
which the range and grill. with cook and attend
ants at work, be by the diners. has the
wall lined with special glazed delft tiles. Between
The windows at the extreme end coppers are hung.
aiylng a decorative note Of rich red
ahs 'front.' middle and back parlors Of the old
LINES, cad have been united and open into the
raiiery floor through large double doorway, CIV
ing q Ooor space of the entire depth OF the Iot
Green cream. white and gold predominant, the
decoration being largely restricted to the freze'
leaving ample wall space for pictures and sculpt-
ures Stained glass windows light the womens
reception hall. In compliment to many members
of the club who are daughters of the various
Revolutionary societies. the women's floor Is treat
cd In Colonial colors-blue. white and bun The gal
arranged
readily be turned into a dinng-room, and II the
ideas of the committee are carried out IL will be
one of the most interesting rooms for art dinners
that the city yet possesses.
The National Arts Club incorporated last
October. 1t is successfully formed on new lines.
two OF which important departures In club or
ganization. 1t admits women on an absolute equal
lily with men. This feature commends itself espe-
cially to married couples who are mutually inter-
ested In artistic matters. and wish 10 keep In
touch with the progressive movement now going
on in this country. Unlike most new clubs. which
endeavor 10 secure membership from existing So
cietles. thus weakening those already in the field.
the National Arts Club takes diametrically oppo-
site course. II considers membership In existing
clubs an advantage. and 1t makes rebates In dues
10 the extent of one-half Of the yearly charge of
the club dues. For instance $50 Is the yearly dues
of the National Arts Club Members Of any other
art societies may demand reduction equal to the
amount of dues they pay to the other societies
For instance SO is the membership dues of the
Sculpture Society. member OF that body who de-
sires to join the National Arts Club can have his
dues to the latter reduced to $40.
In scope and aim the National Arts Club. as the
name implies. is in every sense National organi-
cation as a glance at the addresses Of fits
thousand organizing members attests 1t is largely
representative OF the wealth and culture OF the
country. II aims to aid In every possible way the
development OF industrial art by bringing through
exhibitions the manufacturer and the artist artl-
san in closer contact
The idea of uniting the art forces OF the country
into a National club originated with the managing
director and secretary, Charles de Kay late
United States Consul-General at Berlin.
There is no country in the world" said Mr.. De
Kay, where determined effort 10 improve the
artistic quality Of industrial objects is need
ed or would be more profitable when attained than
in the United States. We stand at a critical turn Of
~ OF IN
the markets of the world far manufactures
are concerned. AS nation We have not yet awak-
ened 10 the effort Europe is making to meet the
rivalry Of Americans in manufactured articles We
cannot expect Government to foster our art
Industries as does Germany, Belgium or France. 1t
IS neither practical nor wise 1t should be accom-
plshed through the united effort of architects
scuptors, painters and lovers Of art. The National
Arts Club proposes to have small and select exit
Billions OF objects Of Industrial we'll fine art.
20 that men and shall have a chance to
show what they have been designing and discover
Ing and compare 1t with the work turned out by
famous companies such Gorham. the Tiffany
Glass Company and others. so that the capitalists
and manufacturers and solitary workers engaged
IN one line OF industrial art may be able to see
what is being done. and the lovers OF art in the
United States may be able to compare the product
OF our artist artisans with what is made in Eu-
rope"
Charles B. Post is the president of the club and
the Board OF Trustees include such men as j. Car
roll Beckwith, late secretary Of the National Acad-
envy Of Design; Perry Belmont Walter Cook l.
wyman Drummond, James w. Ellsworth William
T. Evans Robert w de Forest Richard Watson
Glider, Daniel c. Gilman. president OF Johns Hop
kns University Baltimore; Judge Henry e. How
land. Of the NewYork Art Commission; Brayton
Ives. John La Fargo. president Of the Society
OF American Artists and the Society Of Mural
Painters: Charles Robinson Lamb George z
ard
quand. r. Hall Mccormick George b. Post. presi-
dent OF the American Institute OF Architects and
Fine Arts Federation: Samuel T. Shaw. Louis
c. Tiffany. Spencer Trask Henry Walters. John
Quincy a. Ward. president Of the National Sculpt-
ure Society. and Thomas w Wood president OF
the National Academy ~ Dasfgp