The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-16
A coTILLON IN THE CLUB HOUSE
Description of Interior of the Building
Which Will Be the Scene of Smart
Gatherings Gossip and
Events in Society.
by ANNIE KENDRIcK wALkER

When the coaching and driving parties
wend their way along the picturesque road
ways leading to the Country club, and
draw up at the stone piers of the club
house, it will mean something more than
q display of brilliant frocks, or fine horses.
The formal opening of the Country club,
which will take place on Wednesday even
ing July %, while bringing together the
smartest gathering of the season, will be
a proud and happy moment for the board
Of governors and members of The club who
will have added much to the fashionable
life of Birmingham by the addition of a
perfectly equipped country club. There
could not have been a more picturesque site
selected than that upon which the club
house is built. 1t sits far back from the
roadway, a private driveway leading to
the broad entrance. The club house is but
one-story high, but with the immense We
randa and a balcony above. sone gets an
impression of height which is emphasized
when passing under the archways which
lead to the ball room. This apartment is
sixty by fifty feet, and the ceiling which
is beautifully paneled is twenty-five feet
high. N either end of the ball room are
Dutch fire places of red brick, and even on
July evening one thought of the autumn
days when burning logs would throw a
brilliant light across the polished surface
of the ball room floor. On either side of the
fire place are colonial pillars reaching to
the paneled ceiling supported by carved
brackets. The archways open upon the We
randa which encircles the club house the
width of the veranda, adding thirty feet to
the BAH room. The latter apartment is to
be enclosed with glass DOORS The recep-
ton rooms are in one end of the building,
while the cafe and smoking rooms are on
the opposite side, with that IF the billiard
and card rooms. The club house is lighted
by electricity and the kitchen and stall ar
rangements are in keeping with perfectly
organized country club The furnishings of
the club house will give one most delight
ful impression of comfort and elegance
The beautiful balconies will have a profus-
ion of hammocks and coucheS, and huge
lounging chairs Even with the necessary
furnishings there will be room enough for
al-fresco diner parties and the promenad-
ers The chairs and couches in the recep-
ton rooms will be of willow, and all the
furnishings and draperes to be used will
produce that ideal appearance of GOODNESS
that is so charming on summer days. Inc
governors of the club have gone in for de-
lightful width and breadth which will bring
solid comfort to the members OF the ciup
and their guests.
The exterior of the club house is of soft
shade of grey, which is a most effective
background for the white colonial pillars
which extend the length of the veranda.
The private park has not yet been put in
good condition, but the driveway leads one
through a beautiful woodland scene The
Country club has it's Lovers Lane
which will no doubt complete many ro-
mances begun in the ballroom, where life
is supposed to be as light as the foam that
caresses the shore, and where soft chances
behind jeweled fans are given so lightly.
There will be later on private golf links,
a bowling alley, and tennis courts, but the
of their club house that they have decided
not to delay the hanging of 1.-The crane
even until the autumn, when the club house
and grounds will be more complete.
1t was their intention to serve a barbe-
cued supper on the evening that the club
house was opened, but instead a dinner
will be served on the picturesque balcony
at o'clock. The driving parties will go
out about o'clock and the governors will
arrange with the railway companies so
special cars will be put on for the Coun-
try clubs guests. An informal reception
will be held from to o'clock, which VIII
be followed by a dinner. A cotlon will be
danced later in the evening, which will
bring to a close the most notable event of
the midsummer season, and one which So
eiety is anticipating with more than or
binary pleasure the thought of invitations