The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04
SMALLER CLUBS ARE LIKED.
A Reaction In Tho Town Against Big
Organizations Housed I'm Palaces.

A symptom OF the revolt against the BIZ
club housed In palace Is seen irfthe open
ing Of the Brook Club. with its small mem
bership and modest but we'll appointed
house.
Ever since the clubs OF New York begar
to house themselves luxuriously and tc
increase their membership 30 as to NEE
the necessary expense Of great clubhousei
there has been a minority Of discomfort
in every such club which regretted the
days OF the simpler club life. In every club
smoking room there has long been talk Of
the charm that lies in small, cosey club
and what has been done by the Brook lie
likely to be done on an even smaller scale
by other groups Of club members.
The new ideal is clubhouse not greatly
larger than the private home Of family
! in comfortable circumstances. There are
already a number OF such clubs In New
York
Most Of the Greek letter clubs are small
and housed modestly, though few Of them
have grown pretty big. Even the biggest
OF them. however, have simple houses Of
moderate size. because 1t is the wish Of
these clubs to keep their dues low.
The Whist Club in West Thirty-sixth
street has only about 200 members. The
St. Anthony Club, which Is a Greek letter
society in disguise, has grown to nearly
400 members. but its charming and I'M
usual house, in, East Twenty-eighth street
is comparatively small.
The st. Nicholas Club has only about
Club. for its membership is only &c.
The Fen,ers' Club has but 100 men,
bers and the Patria has less than 200. The
Grolier Club. whose modest house is one
NJ ha tntn tt,,n~ L.
resident membership TO ESQ and its nom
resident to half that number. The
Chemists Club, In West Fifty-fifth street,
has less than 1871 resident members and
only about 1926 nonresident
Nearly all Of these small clubs, however,
stand for a special interest or object, and
there is yet room for many other small
clubs purely social In their objects The
need Of such small clubs Is seen in the
existence OF the great clubs Of little coteries
daily or several times week, and constitute
as it were clubs within the club.
In some cases groups OF men in the big
clubs have sort Of elastic understanding
that they will visit the clubhouse on a GER
tain night Of the week, and there Is grow
ing demand for small cosey rooms in which
such groups of friends may gather.
Few small clubs In New York can afford
a clubhouse In Fifth avenue. Even the
Brook, with it's relatively high dues, has its
other small clubs. are in like case.
1t Is a pretty well established fact that
a well appointed club occupying even
small house will j, the so-called club district
must have an income from dues OF eight
Or ten thousand dollars year. There are
small clubs getting along on considerably
ess. but for the most part with poor service |
and ill-funished houses rather incon-
.eniently situated.
A club with 200 members paying dues
of $50 year each, II intelligently managed, |
elegance within easy reach Of the heart
II the town. Such club II its entrance
ZEE Is considerable, can be we'll furnished
1t the beginning. and IL it is really fire.
luented by the members can maintain
good restaurant on a modest scale, but
lot with low prices. 1t comes to this, that
he man who wishes to dine cheaply and to
teep his club dues low must belong to a
arge rather than q small club.