The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-10
THE BUSY MAN
AND HIS COUNTRY CLUB.

AND HIS COUNTRY CLUB.
While country club life has grown in
favor In the south during the last few
years, can it really be said that there are
enough men of leisure in the south to
enjoy the full benefits of a country club
The southern man works too hard and
attaches too little Importance to reerea-
ton and rest for himself. If his family
IS able to enjoy life lesurily he is con-
tented to work increasingly and 1t Is sur
prising that there are not more nervous
wrecks among overworked men, for the
average man who has not inherited
large bank account finds little time for
out door life. He is always too busy to
play golf and to get the real benefits to
be derived from country club life. But is
IL not possible for the southern man to
have a little leisure for his country club,
for golf and other recreation afforded by
the club? The habit of constant work
can become SO fastened upon one that 1t
later affords an excuse from every thing
else, and one is tempted to shirk other re-
sponsibilities that are fully as essential.
The 'over-worked" man should not be
encouraged In his persistent refusal to
take time for more vacation, but on the
contrary, he should be urged to adjust
his affairs with a view for more leisure
and relaxatation from business.
Country club life is still something new
in the new SOUTH where unlike the old
regime there is an absence of the leis-
ure class. Still, 1t is accomplishing a
great deal towards lessening The strain
of commercial activity and the busy
man is discovering that country club life
is an essential factor and that his bust
ness or profession is not suffering BE-
cause he takes few hours for golf and
spends more time out of doors.
In Birmingham, the very center of in
dustrial and commercial activity, country
club life Is essential To relieve the high
rate of pressure under which we live
and instead of being a .'menance" to
business industry it should be a potent
agency In overcoming the increasing and
almost alarming tendency to overwork
The brain as well as the body. The
opening of Birminghams new Country
club should be as much and even more
a matter of congratnlation than the an
nouncement of a new "skyscraper' or
steel plant. since a country club, accessa-
Bile and ideal In Its surroundings has be-
come a large part of national social life,
and of necessity is assisting in creating
leisure among a large class of people.
The Country club, like a new beauty. or
bridge whist is talked of to the exclusion
of other subjects. The very brilliant re-
ception on Thursday afternoon and even
Ing brought out society in the smartest
of tolettes. and the long driveway lead
ing to the club house was a futter with
well set of traps. while within the club
The scene was all that music, and gaiety.
and light and flowers could make It,
The decorations were the handsomest
ever seen in any of the club houses. The
wealth of the Conservatives and the wild
and natural beauty of the April woods
Il, foot tFA # ia
decorative scheme was in the gorgeous
stone fireplace, extending from the re-
eeption room to the second floor, franz
ing in Itself massive adornment for the
spacious hall About il were dozens of
palms. while banked to a height of twelve
feet, were Easter lilies and American
Beauty roses. The arrangement of the
fire place is so admirable, the raised plat
form about 1t being about twenty feet
wide and on either side of which are
luxurious seats. When the spring even
ings and early autumn days make fires
comfortable, il is not difficult to picture
the very charming look of the guest hall
when the burning logs in the stone fire.
place flash out their glowing welcome.
SO much has already been written of
the plan of the club house and the
beauty and simplicity of its furnishings
that 1t seems supertious to repeat de-
been guest In the elegant country clubs
in the north, declare that Birmingham S
new country club surpasses many of the
luxurious clubs in the east in architec-
tural beauty and elegance in its furnish
ings as well as pure comfort.
The building committee was most for
tunate in its chairman. Mr.. John Miner
Caldwell. upon whom so much RESPONSE
bility rested and he deserves warmest
congratulations upon the superb arrange
ment of the club house. He is one of
Birmingham's most influential and pro-
gressive men. and one of the most promi-
nent and popular members of the club.
The personal attention that he gave to
every detail incident to the building
made his services to the club of great
value and no better chairman of the i'm
portant committee could have been Sc
lected, one whose splendid judgement
and taste is unquestioned.
or the members who have taken the
most active interest Mr.. George Hunting
Clark as secretary of the club has had
the most abiding faith in the future of
the club His enthusiasm and interest
has done more to hold the club together
than any other influence, and its present
prosperity is largely due to his efforts in
affecting the consolidation of the old
Country club and the Golf club which
brought into the Country club so strong
an element.
Owing to other duties Mr.. Clark has re-
signed the position of secretary and his
successor Is Mr.. Thomas Ward. one of the
most influential and popular members OF
the club and one of the best known golf
PLAYERS In the south Among other men,
bers whose great interest In the elut
has been shown in every possible way is