New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-24
CLUB LIFE OF WEST SIDE.
THRIVING ORGANIZATIONS NEAR THE
HOMES OF THE RESIDENTS.


What is ordinarily termed the club may oe
considered one of the earliest outcomeo OF ma"
Assire for companionshp. 1t hardly dates oacR
:. ~. time NJ the Garden Of Eden which, after
ali IL not surprising when one comes 10 thihh
...,. :, Adam being the only man at that
early day. was not likely TO be tempted 10
wander from his own fresde IL climatic changes
IN the garden ever suggested that comfort
There Is no doubt however. that CLUB lie e~-
,s.ed IN the time Of the Romans, the Atneniahs
and the Spartans. Plutarch describes many "a
The laws OF these clubs. and they diner niue
from those Of modern clubs. cicero teis Oh '"e
Measure he took in freQuenting the meetings VI
81. soc,aI parties OF his time called contra
<e-nit,es where II was the custom TO appoint
oreaident. after the usage OF even more ahcien'
times.
Climb life in this city has always had many re-
.x,,,.s from, the ranks of married men. In the
days OF the old Union, Kent and Hone ciuos' INC
lists were largely made up OF men VINO repre-
sented the best intellect Of the community. Inc
roster OF the Kent Club was distinguished ny
the names OF such men as ]. Prescott Hai' oe
den Hoffman Edward Curtis Peter A. Jay ana
others almost II not equally prominent al 'he
bar In the early forties. The decade pet"ee"
1880 and 1910 may be called the iounoa'io"
years of New-York club life. Some clups exist
ed previous TO that time, but they were small
and club life as such did not exist 10 any
marked extent.
Among the members of the Hone Cuo were
uose. II Grinneu, Thomas Tileston, Simeon
Draper and Paul Spoford. This ciuo was rep
resentative Of the Wing party, occupying 'he
same position toward that organization that the
Manhattan OF to-day occupies toward the Demo-
nuva Y
Republican party. Daniel Webster and Will
lam H. Seward were honorary members The
Union Club was constructed on social principles
and its membership included some OF the lore-
most men OF the time.
AT the present the club is feature OF metro
politan life which has come TO be recognized
"a essential to the comfort of an important part
OF the community. 1t IA here that friendships
are fostered and social relations encouraged but
10 q great many men in New-York the club
means something more. II has come to take
ON many OF the qualifications OF a home
II was natural that when an important pro-
portion of the city's population began to move
10 the upper West Side the necessity for CLUBS
In the neighborhood should be felt Several
clubs were formed. which have grown to large
proportions. and which have come to play an
important part in the lives of the people there
There is one club IN this district that was
a direct outcome Of the popularity OF the West
Side as place OF residence. Many Of It's men,
bers are prominent in organizations in other
parts of the city. AS the West Side began 10
be opened UP and many OF these men resolved
to make their homes there. they decided that a
club in their immediate neighborhood would be
an enterprise that would probably prove advan-
itageous and successful The site that was Sc
ilected for the clubhouse was rich In historical
interest and in addition TO its social side the
club has beei a factor in gathering relics OF
Revolutionary times
OF the clubs that had political purpose there
are several in that part of the city. including
one conducted by and for women. They have
proved their usefulness. a fact which was evil
denced by their continued growth and prosper
ity.
The advantages OF these political clubs are
not confined TO their political influence. They are
part OF the social life OF West Side PEOPLE AT
the meetings the members are brought together
in a closer acquaintanceship and many strong
friendships are fostered. 1t is not unusual for
the political clubs TO arrange entertainments
TO which the women relatives and friends OF the
members are invited. These affairs are usually
well attended. and add their share TO the diver
sion OF West Slders.