The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
NEW WORKERS IN THE SADDLE
1lyBiRK RINGS DESERTED NOW
rORTHE PARK Birdie PATHS.


the Family May Ftnd Enjoyment-Many
MlIliOnaires VINO jos There Daily.
Trees IN bud and the peeping Of crocus
and tulip tips through the soil now charm
,bs eatiestrians In Central Park. The
bride paths are crowded and riding indoors
on the tanhark, save on rainy days, Ia
now done with until the fall The exclusive
Riding club leads In the fashion, and the
nemters are out for canters side by side
on the an too narrow bride paths with the
customers q the riding schools. At the
best-cven the class rides with music and
airing-indoor riding Ia only endurable
asa substitute OF preparation for the recrea-
ton in the open Especially at the start
of the -eason Is the pastime an enjoyable
change from the cooped up gallop Of the
tanhark, for then grass and eaves seem
most ,erdant, flowers the brightest and the
air as uplifting as old wine. The steed
hounds under the rider in an accord Of
bieh spirits, and the speed when the police
man has his head turned would win at the
facecour~e.
school riders may he broadly divided into
two casses "Boarders," who keep their
own horses at the school, and patrons
a. the trade name is, who ride the school
horses The boarders are often members
Of one Of the clubs that have quarters in
the schools, Of which the New York Riding
Club is the oldest. Other old clubs are the
Knickerhocker, Metropolitan and the
Park Each maintains quarters at one or
the other Of the schools the year round,
and so they are distinct from the transient
clubs and classes formed to ride on certain
nights or afternoons each season. The
greatest organization OF all is the Riding
Club, which owns ts clubhouse, ring and
stables Originally. in 1881, il was known
as the Gentemen's Riding Club and
I maintained quarters at a riding school,
as the smaller clubs do still. This il the
name Incorporated in 1888, and is therefore
the legal title Yet the first article Of the
constitution contradicts the papers Of
Incorporation by stating The club adopt
ing this constitution is The Riding Club,
Incorporated Jan. is, 1888, and it Is popu-
larry known by this name,
II is co-sex club. the meeting rooms
being used in common by the members
and those having the privileges Of the club
and also the riding ring. Besides there are
two other clubs, practically, under the
ZANE roof one for men, the other for women.
Perhaps family club would be a better
term than co-sex, for the patriarchal idea
is at the foundation Of it's rules and governs
the community. The women may use the
club ~ .ey please, but they may not rule.
TIE distinction II well studied, may make
il clear that the germ Of the women's club
epidemic was not born in this organization.
Yet, Of all the clubs in the declarations Of
women throughout the country, there Is no
such clubhouse as that used by the only
oo-se1 club and the children Of members.
The Riding Club has long lease on the
ground it holds on Fast Fifty-elghth street,
lust on Fifth avenue, the property running
through to Fhty-ninth street, which Ia the
stable end In 1882 there were more vacant
lots than houses above Fifty-ninth street
along Fifth avenue, and the Riding Club
was considered uptown by It's members.
The selection Of the location was on account
81 it's accessibility to the Plaza entrance TO
Central Park.
There are 500 members and a waiting
list, the initiation fee being 500 and the
annual dues 500. There il a somewhat
strict rule regarding applicants which
reads
The proposer and seconder Of a candidate
for membership are requested TO COM
municate in writing to the secretary such
information respecting the candidate as
will enable the executive committee TO act
on his nomination without delay, and no
candidate for membership will be balloted
for unless personally known to at least one
member Of the executive committee present
at the meeting and letters Of recOmmenda-
ton from his proposer and seconder be
read
Once past the Rubicon the wife. minor
sons, unmarried daughters and unmarried
sisters Of the new member become entitled to
The privileges Of the club, and once in the
year he may also extend the privileges
20 one woman not OF his immediate family
for period Of two weeks. Day guests and
nonresident male guests may also be in
vited under restrictions.
In case Of vacancies in the list Of mem
hers, which Is where the patrtarchal idea
again crops up, the order In ballotinR for
candidates shall be first for former members
Of the club who have resigned and again
been proposed for membership, and next
for such sons Of members as are eligible
for election. still stronger instance OF
respect for family ties Is that after the death
Of member the executive committee may
grant a continuance Of the privileges TO
the widow, unmarried sons and unmarried
daughters OF any Of them, upon the annual
payment Of SlOO. Those who accept this
privilege, however, shall only be guests,
not members.
A room is provided for the use Of maids
or nursery governesses in attendance on
women or children. and they are not allowed
10 any other part Of the clubhouse. There
u separate entrance that children whether
accompanied 10y their parents OF servants,
must always Use. Boys over fifteen must
u-c the main entrance and their own dressing
rooms, there being also separate dressing
rooms and on different floors, for the men
and women and children. There are sepa-
rate restaurants and lounging rooms Tor
'h' women and men, besides the common
rooms for dining billiards, cards, etc. Minor
sons may not 90 into any Of the rooms
Unless with a parent or guardian. No
smoking Is allowed In the dining room;
There BE- q smoking room for men only, as
Tho patriarchal idea does not associate
women with the balmy weed.
there b. not a set Of harness in the stables,
where the stalls hold only horses owned
hv member. There Is a riding master
and a riding mistress 10 direct the riding
~ the ring They do not teach In the or
binary sense, byt merely direct the riders
and coach in general way. besides riding
"ut with the classes in the spring the woman
taking the young girls and the children.
special Hlle Is that only girls under
u years Of age will be permitted TO ride
astrte and 1t is said that the style Is now
Questionable, save for children. No groom
is allowed 10 lead horse out Of or into the
mig by his right hand. From the moment
- leaving the stable until after the horse Is
mounted h shall be led by the groom with
his len hand. When long tailed horses are
Used IN the club drill their tails must be tied
mp. II not banRtailed. they must pretend