New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11
BERLIN LYCEUM CLUB.
Handsome Home of an Up to Date
Society of German Wontea.

e"The opening of the new Lyceum Club in
Berlin has marked an era in the public life of
German women" writes an American woman
now living in the German capital
'Women's clubs In Germany have heretofore
| been rather desultory affairs. The German
| woman is not Il cubwoman her sisters in
| England and America and have been for
years The establishment of the first Deutsche
Frauenkiub' in Berlin ten years ago was an
| achievement which astonished even the founders
| themselves Patronized by court circles as well
as by the intellectual and financial world, 1t has
| heretofore been recognized the smart club
OF Germany. but the Lyceum has robbed it OF
| much of its prestige
| THE Lyceum is an entirely different kind of
| organization. and one which the American
| woman will be inclined to envy her German Sis
| tiers. While embracing all the features that
| make club attractive to the wealthy, it offers
advantages and opportunities 10 the working
woman which have never been open to her be-
fore The Lyceum is a club for women of cult
ure, especially those engaged in intellectual pur-
suits; writer's journalists, musicians university
students, with the wives and daughters OF pro-
fessional men. who admitted as members
extraordinary and bestows some substantial
benefits upon it's members. Exhibits of work
done by the members given, and journalists
and other writers placed in touch with pub
fishers. editors and reliable agents in the differ
ent countries, besides which a special permanent
exhibit of industrial art has been arranged, this
being the special branch in which German
women artists are most interested.
THE Lyceum is modelled after and affiliated
with the London Lyceum Club, which. during
the short period of its existence, has come to
occupy position of much Importance. while its
membership has sWeed TO two thousand. It's
activities are many and far reaching, and it has
become not only self supporting but remunera-
tive. The originator of the plan, a young
English author. Miss Constance Smedley. had
no idea of such an outcome when she started
out with the purpose Of establishing a common
meeting ground for women who work With their
brains. and who meet with peculiar discourage
ments and difficulties. To bring those sisters
In art from dingy lodgings in Bloomsbury Square
TO the more agreeable atmosphere of Picca-
diliy was her purpose. but representative men
and women at took hold of the scheme
with much enthusiasm. Women workers came
crowding in, and, backed by London financier
and member OF Parliament, managed with all the
technical skill of shrewd London banker, the
proportions of the undertaking grew and grew
until little over a year ago it spread to Berlin
AT meeting of the representatives of the in
tellectual world of womne. at which Gabrielle
Reuter-, the novelist, presided. more than two
hundred women signed their names to the men,
bership roll, and this number soon grew TO six
hundred.
The new clubhouse is situated in a central |
part of Berlin. and is of the most stately
buildings in the quarter. Everything in it, from
the smallest piece Of silver or glass to the |
largest article OF furniture. is Of German manu-
facture, and all the work of decorating has |
been done by German firms. Naturally, how
ever there is no model for such a clubhouse |
in Germany, many ideas have been taken from |
London clubs. The restaurants are large and |
meals are served to members at exceedingly |
moderate prices-dinners. for example, at one |
mark, or two, the diner requires. There are |
handsome drawing rooms. and exhibit rooms, a /
well furnished library and writing ROOM billiard |
and smoking rooms. forty bedrooms and a num- |
Der Of little private cabinets, where members |
may retire when they wish. The elegance and |
solidity of the furnishings and fittings appeal |
especially to the practical German mind, and |
IL is with visible satisfaction that the members |
enter this house of rest.
THE special work of the Lyceum in Germany |
will be very far reaching. 1t must fulfil the re-
quirements not only of one club, but of many, |
and must be, in short. federation of clubs
1t will exchange exhibits with London, and a |
special series of concerts has been arranged at |
which the works OF young German composers |
will be heard in England, while those of English |
composers will be produced in Germany This |
Is regarded as most important feature of the
work. especially in the English club, as there
exists in that country an ancient and deeply |