The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
AMERI(A'SFINEST STEMS
Valuable Collection Of the Chicago Ath.
letic Club.

The Chicago Athletic Club possesses the
finest collection in America Of fancy beer
mugs, or STEMS as they are called In
German. One day In November the club
gave a dinner--a stein dinner, II was
caled--which proved to be SO great sue
cess that 1t has been decided to give
a similar dinner annually. the purpose
being to bring the members together in
a strictly club gathering. with the object
of increasing the acquaintanceship OF
members and promoting spirit Of COM
radeship.'
The dinner originated with c. X. Woos-
ter, the popular president Of the associa-
ton. and the idea suggested Itself to him
after hearing Of a somewhat similar func-
ton given by the Marine and Field Club.
of Brooklyn at which, however, there
were less than 200 members
When President Wooster suggested that
every man who accepted the invitation
should send in a stein he was hardly pre-
pared for the avalanche that followed.
and the club today Is richer by the pos
session of 546 drinking cups, of all sizes,
shapes and designs, embracing the largest
and most unique collection of any club in
the country. Each stein is marked with
the name of the donor and the date of
the dinner, whose fame SO quickly spread
ulatory letters from other cities, with the
probable result that so successful an affair
will be initiated by others.
Although only about three weeks no.
tice was given, the response to the invi-
tation was unanimous, and stems typt-
cal of the best products of many coun-
tries daily poured in. On surprise being
expressed that so fine q collection was
possible in so short time member re-
marked that one could obtain almost as
great variety here as in Germany. so
great Is the stock kept on hand in some
of the Chicago stores. Many of the Ath-
letic Clubs collection, however, were not
purchased for this occasion. Some were
heirlooms; others were from valuable lots
picked up in different parts of the world.
Some are from the famous Mettlach fac
tory, once a mammoth monastery, where
now hundreds of hands daily design, mold
and cast tankards which are greatly in
demand all over the world others are of
Copeland, Wedgwood, lockwood and
other fine ware.
These beautiful drinking cups now form
one of the most attractive decorations Of
the club. About 200 of them are ranged on
the walls of the billard-room, while the
mantels of the dining-room are filled with
them; the grillroom also contains many,
and some of the most unique stand in
glass cabinets in the library. They have
all been carefully numbered and cata-
logued, and each member can obtain his
own for use in the club by calling for 1t.
In the hall the stems OF the four exec
utive officers are to be placed in glass
case, while above them will hang a franz
ed poster donated by f.. E. Holman show
ing a skeleton of Mr. Elm Stein," whose
expression indicates that he still finds de-
light in his beer and pipe. Many Of the
stems have foreign Inscriptions, and these
will be translated and placed opposite the
numbers in the stein book.
The stein, originally of common stone
ware, is now deemed worthy of the at
tention of the best artists and designers.
The wonderful collection in the German
exhibit at the Worlds fair, with its
wealth Of ornament and decoration, re-
vealed to this country the skill of the
German craftsman, and served to increase
the demand for unique specimens OF the
potters art. A thorough description of
the collection at the Athletic Club would
be impossible but the following, each a
gem of its kind, seem especially worthy
of mention:
F. H. Cooper has the distinction of hav-
ing contributed the largest. thirty inches
in height. On the bowl is painting of
a German drinking scene. f. r. Bah
cock gave the only Royal Worcester in
the club. 1t was brought from the Blue
Grass state, and on the rich, dark back
ground is painted the head of Kentucky
horse. The stein sent by ]. w. Brooks
represents gymnasts performing various
athletic feats. This, like the majority of
the collection, is Mettlach, and a fine ex-
ample of the raised ware.
Mr.. Wooster presented graceful speci-
men of the same pottery. e. d. Hubert,
the treasurer, has perhaps expressed his
sentiments In the figure on his cup, who
is pouring beer from stein to quench a
fire. John H. Jones, vice president, gave
a handsome design from one of the Eng
lish potteries, and III. n. Higginbotham.
the secretary. brought tall Swedish
drinking cup, deliberately wrought in
white metal.
E. p. Jaquith's donation, which stands
at present in one of the Gothic inches of
the library, is a handsome Gothic vase,
from whose dainty lid it would seem al
most sacrilege to pour aught but the
drink of the gods" Taylor e. Browns
stein is of teakwood, decorated by his wife.
the inscription being burnt into the wood
with poker. DIR. Thomas is of yellow
ware, In the shape Of an owl e. H. Car
rr1ark's Is an old English stein. represent-