New-York tribune., 1902-01-19

said Of either of them. Indeed. Whites. once
the headquarters of the famous Earl of Chester
field has thrown open its doors to such an ex-
tent that it Is to-day far more redolent of the
Stock Exchange and OF the Contango jeunesse
cuivree than Of the patrcian jeunesse doree
Formerly it took years of waiting to get into
Whites, but now any moderately decent man
without known criminal record can become
member in a few weeks time. Equally access-
BILE is the Devonshre higher up St. James's-
st, where the Liberals who have not found
grace in the eyes OF the Reform club wont
to cOngregate. Its membership amounts to some
fifteen hundred Arthurs and the Garrick are
both very rich clubs. moderately exclusive with
Il membership limited to about six hundred.
Both a trife old fogyish the presence OF
youth being regarded with suspicion and re-
sentiment. The prevailing tlpple is old port.
and the prevailing complaint gout.
The St James's Club, in Piccadilly, Is an Off
shoot of the Travellers, and owes its foundation
to certain members Of the latter, WHO found
that its atmosphere had suddenly become un
Congenia 1t is the club par excellence of the
minor fry of the diplomatic corps, and opens
its doors wide to the members of the embassies
and legations accredited to the court OF King
Edward, and also to any foreigners whom they
may choose TO recommend. In this manner the
club occasionally finds that 1t has been tender
Ing It's courtesy to strangers who are unworthy
Of the honor Although all the current scandal
and gossip of the day, both domestic and for
eign, are to be found there in their best and
most detailed forms. yet that scarcely
constitutes a compensation for the departed
glories of the club cuisine. which at one time
the most famous in London.
The Marlborough Club, in Pail Mall although
it no longer boast of being frequented by
its founder, King Edward. who, prior to his
Cession to the throne, In the habit of drop
ping in there nearly every day during the sea
son for game of whist or ecarte, still remains
one Of the smartest clubs in London. and It's
membership, at any rate until year ago, was
to a great extent restricted to the circle of the
then heir apparent's friends and acquantances
In fact. to belonging to what then
known as the Marlborough House set. 1t may
be said without any degree of exaggeration
that no one who was not personally known to
the prince and Congenial 10 him, stood the
slightest chance of election; and although the
King longer honors the club with his pres
ence. yet II still continues enjoy the prestige
with which his intimate association endowed It,
and while he no longer presides over the COM
mittee, yet the latter remains composed Of his
friends, who are aware Of his wishes and his
views, by which they may reasonably be ex-
pected to be guided. Election, therefore, to the
Marlborough Is still regarded by the world at
large implying the enjoyment Of royal favor
The Carlton IS the Tory stronghold in the
same way the Reform is the Liberal head
quarters, and If one is elected to Parliament on
the Conservative ticket election 10 the member
ship of the Carlton Club follows ipse facto
less, is sometimes the case the individual is
what may be described as absolutely unfit for
publication
The Bachelors which started the home OF
masherdom, has settled down into a fashionable
and very smart club. and has outlived not only
the aTectations which handicapped ii al its
start but likewise its anmosity toward AmerI-
cans. The origin OF this i'll Will was owing 10
the blackballing by the Knickerbocker Club in
New-York of Englishman OF rank. a member
OF the Bachelors Club. and who was married
to an American girl The Englishman's brother,
n peer. dead. the committee OF the
Bachelors Club. at the time. and. by way OF
avengng the Slight placed upon his brother. in
New-Yorl1. started a movement for the exclu-
sion OF Americans from the Bachelors. owing 10
which a number OF candidates from this side Of
the water turned down. All this. however.
is past and forgotten. There are several Ameri-
can members the roster. which comprises.
too such names as those Of the Dukes OF Athol
Devonshre Roxburghe and Portland. The club
was founded by William Gillet, with a view OF
furtherng his social aspirations, his cleverness
being shown by the 1act tnat When he started
It he placed the limit OF youth at eighteen in
stead of twenty y-one. There are a number OF
youths OF good family and OF wealth in London
who not having attained their majority found
all the good clubs closed TO them. II was 10
these that the Bachelors Club appealed and by
degrees they have brought in number OF their
relatives that although II still remains a
stronghold OF the gilded youth. It has likewise
on its list number Of men OF age and standing.
commencing itself to the latter perhaps. by the
fact that II is almost the only club in London
that is convenient to Hyde Park, being located
near the entrance to the latter
OF the Atheneum. which possesses one OF the
finest libraries in the world, l unable TO
speak with any degree Of knowledge. For l
have only entered it's doors. and on that
occasion found myself among a crowd Of be-
gathered and silk aproned preates of the Estab- |
lished Church whose society. though emnenty
respectable not OF a sufficiently congenial
nature to create any longngs in my mundane
Bishops OF the State Church of England are all
the pulpit they not conducive to that re- |
harassed benedict exhausted bachelor is |
won't to seek and find in perfection in his Lon |
don club
While many OF the best London clubs are wont |
to put up distinguished foreigners when strongly
backed by temporary membership they cannot |
be described hospitable. In most of them |
members are not permitted to invite friends to |
dine or lunch while in the case of others the |
guests of members restricted to special din |
ing and smoking rooms, and not permitted |
access to the rpma inder OF the house course