New-York tribune., 1899-01-15
A CLUB OF RUSSIANS.
THE "ROUSSKAIA BECEDA." IT'S ArMs
AND OBJECTS.
4 yxxsrnsHlp OF FORTY. ALL OF WHOM MUST
SPEAK RUSSIAN

SPEAK RUSSIAN.
When the Grand duke Cyrille WladimIrovitch,
cousin of the Car of Russia, came to New-York
TWO weeks ago on his way home from trip
around the world his countrymen In the metrop-
oils made every effort to show him the most
interesting features Of the city. but were anx-
ious also 10 have him see that the New World,
with its modern ideas. had not estranged them
entirely from the mother country and the Gus
toms Of the Old World He was taken to the
Russian Church. where a priest, who holds his
office by the grace OF the Czar. oficlated: he
was taken into a circle Of men and women where
he heard only his native tongue spoken. and
from his apartments in the Waldorf-Astoria he
went TO a Russian club in which no person can
be admitted 10 membership unless he can speak
Russian.
II the visit Of the Grand-duke had been made
four months ago he could not have enjoyed the
clubs hospitality. for the organization has been
In existence only short time. and bears the
mark Of novelty in its home and the size Of its
membership list
The club occupies the main floor OF one OF the
old mansions Ia that part OF New-York which
was once known as Greenwich village. q part
FAR removed from the fashionable quarter and
unknown TO thousands Of the rising generation.
The house is in Grove-st.. just south of Blocker
ST. and this spot was selected because many Of
the Russo-Americans live in that district
It is estimated that there are 10000 Rus
slams in New-York. but Of these not more than
about one thousand eligible to membership
In the club. which is known as the Rousskaia
Beccda. Russian Social Circle.
we take 10 Nihilists and no Jews" said one
OF the m mbers. "and as all but about one thou
sand Of the New-York Russians are of one or
The other Of these classes, the organization has
a limited source to draw from"
The English language has no word for Beceda-
II means place where men and women may
meet In a social way for the purpose Of ex-
changing opinions, and the Rousskaia Beceda
possesses all the requirements at present but
viii probably be too small and too far down.
town within a few years.
There are four rooms on the floor OF which
the largest is the sitting room. where meetings
are held. This. like the reading and the dining
rooms. is ornamented and decorated with Rus
sian tapestries pictures and bric-a-brac. and the
most conspicuous place is occupied By a portrait
Of the Gar
OF the forty members ten are women, and
these enjoy all the rights and privileges of full
membership. They attend the business meet
ings. vote on all questions and are in every re-
spect equal in standing to the men. 1.-THE
woman question" said member. has been
solved in Russia for long time and in that re-
spect we ahead Of the Americans. Although
people here unaccustomed to see men and
women on equal terms in social organizations 1t
is nothing unusual in Russia, and for that rea-
son our first organization here bears that dis
tnctiYe Russian mark"
The rules OF the organization provide that one
must be able to speak Russian to be eligible to
membership but the rules evidently say Moth
ing to the quality of the Russian nor as to
how much OF ii one must know. for on the
membership list are the names OF William M.
wins and one Of the Cramps Of Philadelphia. 1t
was said In explanation that these men did busi-
ness with Russia and had friends in the Russian
colony Of NewYork, and that they could say
good morning" or good evening" and could
describe the quality of their wine in the Russian
language ana were therefore eligible to mem
bership
The meetings Of the Beceda take place every
Wednesday and Sunday evening, and they are
usually well attended. The Imperial Consul
General Of Russia, vladimir Teplow, is the
president and the Grand duke Cyrille Wlad-
!miroyitch is the honorary president; vladimir
Poleyoi is yice-president, and Leo Nabokoff is
the secretary and treasurer.