Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
The Evening Star Club and
the Part 1t Plays.
WHEN WORK Is DONE
A NUCLEUS OF A FORCE ON HAND
FOR ANY EMERGENCY.
AL Departments Of the Paper Are
Represented in a Unique
Organization

All 10 not business In Evening Star jour
nalism A distinct social atmosphere per.
vades the various departments Of the paper.
binding them together and making for .
closer harmony and for better work. apart
from a spirit of comradeship which lightens
the burden of the daily task. This is de-
parture from the conditions which obtain
In the average newspaper Office. and its
happy effects are today to be noted in the
| atmosphere OF mutuality which pervadss
| The Star office from basement to roof.
Years ago the spirit of comradeship be-
| tween the members OF the various STATS OF
| the newspaper was a noticeable feature OF
| The Stars organization Those were the
| days when a comparatively few men did
| all the work Of reporting editing. type
| setting. printing and distributing. AS the
| papers circulation grew and its size kept
| pace with the news demands OF the times
| and the staff grew larger this spirit con-
| tinued. No strict social line was drawn be-
| tween the "brainery." by which term the
composing room OF metropolitan newspapers
often term the editorial department in .
jocose scorn. and the mechanical depart
| nrents
The Star Dining Club.
In evolution Of this spirit there naturally
came about a somewhat loose organization,
known as The Evening Star Dining Club.
which had no officers and included within
its membership the members Of the editorial
staff and such representatives Of the other
departments desired to Join them in
their monthly gatherings Under the aus
pces Of this club. which WAS formed in
1890. dinners were given at the hotels at
fairly regular intervals during the winter
season. varied occasionally by shad bakes
at river resorts. The presiding officer OF
each meeting was chosen by his predeces-
sor
Merry were these gatherings Sometimes
they were the occasion OF farewells to those
comparatively few Star men who have
| turned into other fields from time to time
"Reminiscences of early days by the vet
Grams cheered and admonshed their juniors.
while the latter were given on their initia-
ton experiences which. while always mild.
taught them that life holds a great variety
of surprises. The club" had no constitu-
ton and no bylaws. Only one rule pro-
vailed beyond the stipulation that each
member should always pay his own way.
That rule was that never under any cir
cumstances. should reporters be permitted
to attend the meetings in a professional
capacity.
Once year the dinner became an occa-
sion for more distinctly social gathering,
at which the ladies of The Star workers
families were present Sometimes these an
nual affairs varied IN form. becoming re-
ceptions rather than banquets. but always
the good-fellowship pervading the staff
marked the assemblages in a distinctive
manner
The Evening Star Club.
Customs change in time. and so gradually
the dinner idea lost its force and men,
bers Of The Star family sought new mean5
of social diversion and assemb!age. Ac-
cordngly, in 1899. members OF the STAFF or
gained The Evening Star Club, the MEM
bership being open to any person directly
employed by The Star in any department.
The regular forms of organization were fol.
lowed. the clubs affairs being placed In
charge of a board of three directors re-
spectively. the presiding officer. the secre-
tary and the treasurer. These officers were
distributed at the first election among the
three departments of the paper. editorial.
business and mechanical. and this divi-
sion has since been followed Officers hold
for half a year.
At first the club had its quarters on the
second floor of a building on Pennsylvania
avenue between 18th and 18th streets.
When the new Star building was finished
The Star company donated to the club the
use of room on the fifth floor, which IL
now occupies. This room was fitted
with appropriate furniture by the club.
including piano. and later pool
and billiard table. Here the members
of the staff meet in social intercourse
and find recreation from their tasks by
reading the current periodicals and playing
games Whist and pool tournaments are
held from time to time for trophies, and
thus a wholesome spirit of competition leads
to Intimate association between the repre-
sentatives of the different departments OF
the papers organization.
The club has become a permanent insti-
tuition and is regarded by visiting news
paper men as a unique and altogether de-
sirable feature of the great Star establish
ment AS far as known 1t has no parallel
| in this country. Its good results have
| been felt in many ways. In one respect IL
| is invaluable to the newspaper itself. In
| stead of scattering In all directions as soon
| as the edition Is started to press members
l Of the staff from all parts of the building
| assemble IN the club room shortly after
! half-past 8 and engage in their favorits
| pastimes. Thus there are often on tho
| ground until 3 o'clock. or ever later. copy
| editors. reporters compositors, stereotypers
| and others necessary for the immediate Is
| sue Of an extra edition. Several times has
! The Star been enabled by this means to
| put an issue on the streets on extraordinary
| occasions in shorter time than would other
wise have been possible
| Furthermore when the stan is held In
| reserve for some expected event to culmi-
| nate In an important news announcement,
the club room becomes a convenient and
| restful place OF assemblage. where the
| tedious hours of waiting are passed with .
minimum of fatigue.