New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
MERIDEN'S HOME CLUB.
Has Handsome Colonial Building
Stories About Members.

in this new Colonial" design The interior Is
finished throughout in Flemish or antique oar"
From the main hall, which is most artistic IN oesish
and coloring open the library and the women
parior The color scheme OF the latter is green
which is most effective with the mahogany furni-
ture- The library is done in brown most OF .,ie
furniture being Of massive oak or leather. Inc
friroom and a cardroom take up the remaining
space OF the first floor.
At one side Of the hall the second floor are
the executive committee room and several srnaH
cardrooms. On the other side, running the entire
width of the building, is the billiard room The
portion OF haIl facing the street is separated
from the main hall by oak columns and railing and
IS occupied by card tables. When the club enter
tsins the buffet luncheon is served here.
The third floor consists Of large, airy hall for
dancing Below stairs quite perfect in
detail as the upper stories and the attention
has been given comfort and convenience. The
Kitchen, fully equipped with every device is pre-
sided over by competent chef. W. II. A. Maynard,
manager of the club. has suite Of rooms here,
artistically furnished and a has also been
Furnished for the benefit Of out of town members.
A complete electric light service, fine ventilating
apparatus and several telephones are among the
many inventions which go to make the Home Club
of the best equipped organizations in the State
The Home Club Realty Corporation, which owns
the clubhouse, is composed OF members OF the
club. Charles F. Monroe is president of the COM
pany. and his untirng is due the erection
of the building. which has challenged the at
tention Of cubmen throughout the State. The
other officers Of the corporation Treasurer l.
7. Holt; secretary Louis Fiske There about
one hundred stockholders. OF the capital stock
$4,000 has been subscribed for and the remainder
S5.eeo will be retained treasury stock
The present officers Of the Home Club proper are:
President, Allan B. Squire; vice-president. Wilbur
F. Davis; secretary, Louis Fisk; treasurer Willis
J. Prouty; auditors, ex-Mayor Levi E. Coe and
Samuel Dodd.
The Home Club members pride themselves on the
fact that women had no hand in the selection Of
Furnishings for the new house. Mere men," with
Charles Z. Monroe as chief adviser. assumed all
responsibility. and the splendid results in the
perfect appointments and harmony OF coloring
Justify the No Help Wanted signs. II
remember said of the ''Old Guard when
Charlie Monroe's artistic taste wasn't always
appreciated. 1t when Re thought he'd show
the people OF Meriden a thing in the line
Of art, and imported number of fine paintings,
which he exhibited in the old Guy building. Next
door two by four establishment that went
under the name Of art store. One day one of
AIeridens foremost citizens who was long in cash
but short in art lore, wandered in, and after
airing with his eyes Charles choice possessions
said. with the Yankee drawl which presaged his
penny squeezing ability. What's the price Of that
picture Mr.. Monroe?" Two hundred and fifty
the prompt response. Him. replied the
money keeper, I can get three times as big
that door for So Charlie said that If peo-
pie wanted TO buy pictures by the yard that was
their privilege but he tired of trying to knock
into their heads what art was
Once upon time when the Home Club couldn't
boast Of so many or such elegant card rooms as
now, hut when interest in whist at white
heat, they had a quartet Of whom they just
1y proud. II composed OF Dr. E T Brad
street, ex-Mayor Levi Z. Cole. Judge James P
Plat and Floyd Curtis Representatives of every
club in town had been beaten a sIandstiIl. Green
fields and pastures sought by the quar-
set. Out Of town teams were vanished with ease
and still the Home Club contingent cried for more
Finally from over tie mountain came the rumor
that in Bristol town dwelt family by the name
Df Peck, who could warrant a fun bushel measure
Of skill They came. They won. For while the
Home Club quartet couldn't understand it. and had
hare time explaining 20 their friends. Finally
The mystery solved. Somebody remembered
that curing the play peculiar noises had been
heard. and they do say that the ability of the
Messrs. Peck crack their toe Joints was the
means Of creating q signal system which saved
the day. But the Home GLIB quartet haven't vet
forgiven that Peck outfit for its remarkable pedal
ability.
H Wales Lines is a member of the club and his
hat is a feature Of his wearing apparel which has
become factor to be reckoned with. When some
particularly brilliant political move has been made
The Hat" gets the credit Mr.. Liness chapeau
gives a distingUe air to an already distinguished
looking parsonage 1t is. rather they are (for
Mr.. Lines buys his hats By the dozenl Of stone
gray felt, something between the time honorad
sonIbrero and the 'pancakes' affected bv the
youth OF to-day. This low crowned broad trimmed
hat a Websterlke head giving an ind,
T-idUality which is bound 10 challenge attention
''When did Mr.. Lines begin to wear those hats7,,
taid Home Club member IN response to a ouerv
That's poser. I've known him for thirtv-7ve
years. and I can't remember his wearing anv other
style Of headgear. Why Hen Lines with any
other kind Of hat would be like the proverbia
Hamlet with Hamlet left out His friends wouJdnt
stand for IL; it's part and parcel of him now and
IS distinguishing mark of a remarkable man ="
The story goes that when Mr.. Lines was running
for Congress a party Of his friends went IN to
cali on him. During the evening of his ad-
nirers made discovery which filled his heart
with JOY. He found dozen Of Mr. IInes's hats
carefully put away for future use. The next morn
ing all the hackmen in town blossoned ont in nevy
headgear and one Of the present Home Club mem,
hers could tell how these came into their possess
sion. For years Mr.. Lines has been afflicted
with serious affection Of the eyes which has
made necessary the use Of this hat as a shade as
well a protection to his head The Cons+it,,
1ional Convention, TO which Mr. Lines was dele
gate from Meriden. passed a resolution permitting
M Lines 10 wear his hat during the session in
order that he might not suffer from the light
Some good stories are told of Judge Platt another
member OF the club, when he presided over the
police court The judge has always been sticker
for court etiquette and be unto the backsIider
who essayed to use the same tactics in court that
he employed among his fellows An old rounder
standing up one morning to receive his sentence
heard the measured tones OF Judge Plat pronounce
Eng his doom.
Sixty days said the judge
PILE il on d your honor
Sixty days"
That's right; pile it on"
Sixty days"
Keep it up returned the straggIer.
But unfortunately. ii the same sixty
days and for his little game Of repartee $50 days
put 10 his credit and ne had ample time to
look 10 the definition of contempt of court
On another occasion well known butcher who
had appeared in court as witness making a