The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22

A writer in theNew York Times notes a
great change in tie conditions of social life
among the weakly people OF that city
within FIVE years He says: The new
phase of country life in America has no
counterpart. 1t isnot in the least like the
rural life OF fashionable people in Eng
land. or again. il France or On the con-
tinent In Enslnd people live at their
country places. he country seat is the
home and one goe up to town merely for
a season. In New York society one lives
nowhere in the Gentry. except at a sub
urban club, going for the night only TO
their homes. Lon6n is a city of clubs and
club life exists thee in all its perfection.
but the country Glib as yet does not exist
in England. In Frince one finds at all the
watering places cainos, which have some
faint resemblance o the country clubs on
this side of the Atlantic Houses, cottages
or villas, whateverone may choose to call
them, are built al Newport, at Southamp-
ton. al Bar Harbr and along the Long
island coast, the nOres of the sound and
the sands of New Jersey, in which home
comforts are maze subordinate to enter
tanning In one lila in process of con-
strUctiOn at Newport the entire body of
the house is built so that it may be made
into one great ballroom, and there are
only nine sleeping apartments
AT Newport The people pass the days at
the clubs and Wmen are almost as much
in evidence as men. There the Country or
Golf Club is cr'wded from morning until
night, there are daily dinners and lunch
cons at GOosebrry island, and one must
not forget eithe@ the Casino or the Reading
Room. southampton, for it's SIZE is a town
or clubs. THERE'S the Golf Club out on the
dunes, the Meadow Club and the new South
amptOn or Me1's Club, TO be opened this
season Compliant was made last summer
by some OF the older men at Southampton
that the grounds and buildings of the
Meadow Club were monopoiized by the
very young people, who played tennis and
golf there all day, and by young matrons
and chaperOn;. II is not an ideal place
for that class of man who every morning
OF his life takes his walk when in town
down To the Union or up 10 the MetropOli-
tan and enjoTs in quiet or in the society of
a few crOnies his newspaper, and, perhaps,
bis glass of whisky and water, and his seat
at the window. These conditions have led
10 the estab ishment of a mems club in the
very middle of the village, TO which only
men are admitted and which seems to fill
the long-felt want" The new club has,
however, met with determined opposition
from the original Southampton element,
men as well as women, who call IL the
doom of the resorts primitive simplicity.
AS at Newport and Southampton. so at
other small places. In neither of these is
social existence possible Without CluD men,
bership. The first requirement of the South
ampton sea sont-and those who frequent
that part OF Long island become quite in
dignant if one only suggests that the place
Is second Newport-fs a subscription to
two or more clubs III a man cannot get
into any of the clubs, he and his family
may we'll be in the very wilds of the
Rocky mountains. There is not even the
doubtful satisfaction of the poor peri. who
ut least got n glimpse into Paradise
through the "chinks in the fence" The ex-
perience of wealthy family at South
amptOn of late years is an example in
point For some reason, one of the male
members was not over popular, and he was
unable TO get into any of the clubs. The re-
suit was the almost absolute ostracism of
some very charming and clever people. by
the very set, strange to say, who fire.
quented their entertainments in town
Each village or community. to be fashion
able. must now have not only its golf but
it's country club, and these quite independ-
ent of a casino. To subscribe for a small
family takes a small fortune, and il is
clubs suffering through this new order
of things. There can hardly be said at the
present writing to be more than three of
the great Fifth-avenue clubs on a firm
financial basis. Already there has been a
heavy assessment at one, and for days
there have been vague TuInOrS of the pos
sible collapse Of another, which has been
looked upon as an absolute stronghold.
The reasons for this state of affairs are
many designations, and the staying away
of members. Sunday. which was once the
most profitable day in the week, shows the
majority of the city clubs deserted.