The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08

life is very decorous and dignihed. but al
together devoid of those periods OF utter
wTetchedness and loneliness which charac-
teFize club life in Chicago. For j dare say
there is not a man in Chicago who viii not
confess that some Of the saddest ana
dreaTiest moments OF his life have been
spent at his club. For the Chicago man
has not been educated up 10 the part or
slipping brandy and soda alone.
The dining club Is, OF course. not pc
culiar TO Boston. but / do not recall that L
have seen ii so popularity cultivated In any
other American city. Dismissing the ques-
ton OF feminine exclusion, the dining club
is built on a wise and sound basis. and L
use the term TO apply to any gathering Of
men for food. material and mental. That
there are hundreds OF such clubs in Boston
i have no doubt, and the membership may
vary from ten to fifty or more.
1t is the small dining club. however. 10
which special reference should be made.
the club where a dozen good fellows OF
kindred tastes-nOt necessarily OF the same
v~Ocation-get together once a month or
once a fortnight, or even oftener. eat a
good dinner, have a little something for the
stomach's sake. smoke "a cigar or two. and
settle the affairs OF the Nation az only
, your BOstOnian can.
Perhaps the dinner Is served I'm a private
room at a downtown restaurant or hotel.
Each member pays s.. more or less, \
plate. and each buys his own liquor and his
own cigars. The wisdom or this latter
course is at once apparent. and j am not
prepared 20 accept the reason ~half-humor-
ously given by a friend. that "a man
rarely ulllkE 0T HtlnhfN 10 fANAES e. nc
is paying for IT."
A dinner in Chicago may begin az any
time from Z 20 9 o'clock and conclude At
any time between midnight and sunrise.
The Boston Inner Is likely 20 be served
punctually at Z o'clock and 10 last three
hours. The wine card IS handed 10 each
member and he selects champagne or
Rudesheimer. beer or Plymouth gin. as his
taste and purse may dictate Conversation
Is general and usually animated.
In former days IL was customary for one
or two members To draw out "A manu-
script. as Or. HolmeG puts II, but adj
vancing civilization has abatcd that nui-
sance- Good stories are told. excellent
discourse il supplied and at 10 O'Clock or
shortly thereafter the company disperses
and each man goes decOroUsly and soberiy
TO his home.
This does not sound very thrilling or ex-
citing. but in point Of fact IL Is nearly the
perfection OF successful dining. II has been
my good fortune 10 be present at many
such dinners. and / have never seen a SIM
gle case OF intoxication. have never noted
an objectionable feature and have never
known a dull evening.
Ny wise friend. Critlcus. tells me that
the reason OF the failure OF stag dinners IN
the West and South Is that men have not
learned 10 control their appgtites. / might
go further than that and explain that 70
my mind the trouble lies in the feverish
restlessness OF the Western man. who,
day, resorts 70 his cups 20 stimulate his
faded energies.
But whatever may be- the reason. IL "A
certain that our occasionally frieid friend.
the BOstOnian. Is far ahead OF us in the
wisdom and the art OF true dining. and that
We have much TO learn from his expert
ence and his example.