The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
FINE HOUSE FOR WOMEN'S CLUB
PLANS THE OOLOkY rs Carrying
OUT IN NADIsON AVENUE.

Social and Athletic Advantages Combined
in the BuildinE-Weil Known women
Amcng the Omeera- Mhrble Swim
ming Tank, but No Smoking Room.
The house which New York women mem
hen Of the Colony Club are building in
Madison avenue between Twenty-tinth and
Phitieth streets will, when finishsd, be the
finest institution Of the sort In this country.
In a number of American cities women
own their own clubhouses. In London
there are at least three or four such clubs,
conducted on the lines OF a mems dub.
New York women, however, have been slow
TO promote any such scheme.
The Colony Club was formed through
the efforts Of Mrs. J. Borden Hartman,
Miss Anne Morgan and Miss Helen Barney.
Like everybody else in socety-aud q
good many persons who are not In society
they had the prevalent mania for country
life. 1t Is a mania which brings its troubles
as well as its delights. When ones town
house Is closed three-quarters OF the year
tho occasional necessary trip to the city
becomes o ohastened Joy.
Such q state Of affairs may have brought
rapture to the hotel keepers, but 1t soon
lost it's charm for the women themselves.
They decided to have a clubhouse where
they could stay on these flying visits.
Then Mrs. John Jacob Aston proposed
that the scheme should include some pro-
vision for athletics, The proposition was
received with enthusiasm. Other add
tions to the original plan were accepted
and now the project Is the most oomprehen-
sive attempt toward club life that has been
made by American women.
The building will be Colonial and will
have a frontage Of rs feet on Madison W
nue.. II viii be six stories In height, though
two OF the floors are m~ezzanine. The ground
is said to have cost $500 900. The building 10
costing $25O. 900, and $4,000 will be spent In
furnishing 1t. This is to be under the!direo.
ton Of Miss De Wolfe, IA
The building is brick; with parble trim
mings, and is oonspicupus among its neigh
bors not only because Of Its architecture,
but by reason Of the character Of tbs ma
terials, header" brick OF a dark COLOR being
used in a pattern on q pale reddish ground
work. The house 10 separated from the
street by q FIVE foot porch extending across
the entire front and q six foot wrought iron
fenoe.
Several steps lead up to tho wide Colonial
doorway, through which one enters o white
marble yestibule and then q panelled hall
way leading TO another and larger hall.
On this hoor are the strangers' reception
room, coat room, Office, reading and writing
rooms, tea room and winter garden. ,
Tho latter has bsen described ss 'laden
with greenery, the entire room being the
most exquisite combination Of diamond
shaped t%rellis, with Opaque glass inter-
- -l.Io - ~ and Naoalaa - alno,>
With Cupid disportipg among banks Of real
flowers, the bit Of scuipture having been
executed in Paris
In the basement there 70 q swimming
pool with marble columns, with Venetian
mirrors at the sides n an arbored ceiling
above. There are also dressing rooms, a
lounging room and fourteen resting rooms.
Every sort OF bath is provided for as well
as massage. manicuring and other things
Most Of the interior Of the building is
to be finished in white woodwork with
mahogany doors and glass knobs. The
stairway will have cut glass newell posts
and a plush handrail with wrought iron
and brass spindles.
The second floor is occupied by the
gymnasium and the assembly room; the
latter being Louis XVI. in design, although
it will be furnished In Colonial style. 1t Is
rs feet in length and two stories In height,
and has a great carved white marble mantel
AT bdUu 0uu' " Luhy 10 ubSu LOT u uauC6,
a reception, q lecture, private theatrioals,
r~ecitals, or CLUB meetings, for this room
may be rented by other women's clubs.
The second meZ1anine 10 given up to
servants rooms. Gu the fourth floor are
eleven bedroom suites, each including bath
and an ample closet. These are for MEM
bers, for whose maids there are rooms near
by. The sleeping rooms will be one in
English chintE. On the same floor are two
squash courts: 1t is planned also to occupy
two floors Of an adjoining building for
tennis courts.
in yellow. There win also be a cold buffet
always ready. Adjoining this room, with
removable partitions, is a general restau-
rant where members may ever entertain
their men friends. There is q separate
entrance for all such guests. There will be
a roof garden separated by a vine-covered
wall from more Of the servants quarters.
The initiation fee for resident members
will be $50 and the annual dues will be
t1O0. For non-residents the initiation will
be the same, but the dues only $50.
The club will be managed by twenty
governors. The officers are; President,
dent, Mrs. Richard Irwin; second vice
president, Mrs. John Jacob Aston; secre-
taFy, Mrs. W. 8. Rainsford; treasurer,
Miss Anne Morgan. Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
gan, Mr.. Charles T. Barney and Mr.. Frank
Polk will constitute the advisory board,
treasurer. Miss Elizabeth Marburyi IL chair
nan Of the house committee. Mrs. Walter
Damrosch is chairman Of the art and litera-
ture section.
The Colony Club will not follow the
English women's clubs in one respect.
There will be no billiard or smoking room.
He Wouldn't Rot the Bishop.
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