The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-09
NATIONAL ARTS CLUB OPENS.
HOUSEwARMTNG RECEPTION IN
GRAMERCY PARK HOME

huden and Potion Houses and q NJ story
studio Building q Up . Unique
FstabiIshmon Men and womcn on an
Equal Footing Evans Collection shown
The new studio clubhouse Of the National
Arts Club, composed OF the old Tilden and
pelton homes at Il and Is Gramercy Park
and the new fifteen story studio building
facing on Nineteenth street. was formally
opened last night by q reception to the
governors OF all the other clubs in the city
and TO men and women Of note in profess
sional life.
The two old houses, which form the new
clubhouse proper. fitted 90 we'll into the
plans Of the club hat few changes were
made. The two buildings were so con-
structed that they could be thrown into one
big house. The new studio building con-
nests directly with the clubhouse. Its loca-
ton is most advanta geous for its purpose.
The restrictions prohibiting the erection OF
business buildings along Gramercy Park
insure openness and light on the north. On
this side OF the building, accordingly. are
placed the studio workshops. The living
and other rooms face the south.
The old Tilden house. which was unusual
IN its design for a private dwelling. forms
LILO . R04v VI t'0 70 ANo
old high stoop has been replaced by an
entrance on the street level. The parlors
now form q general reading room. The
library 10 also preserved intact and now
contains the famous Drake collection Of
copper. brass and rare glass work. This
room was particularly well fitted for the
use to which il has been put. Upon remov
sing the old book cases it was disco vered
that all the walls were vain scoted to a
height OF eight or nine feet. making a besuti-
Sul back ground for the copper and brass
pieces.
The old dining room IL now the art gallery.
where was shown last night the W. d. Evans
collection Of the best American works OF
art. This room has been done over, the
walls now being covered by a brown burlap
that sets of the gilded frames s~plendidly.
The second floor is given up largely to
OK ecutive offices. The upper floors have
been turned into sleeping apartments.
The Pelton house has been given over
to the women and is fitted up according
to the most approved clubhouse ideas.
The parlors are fitted out in birds eye
maple and plush. TIL women have a
separate entrance as well rs the entrance
through the main clubhouse.
The studio building contains thirty stu
dos, all Of which are already let. Each
studio has a suite Of six rooms: There is
L0o SluukO pIODtIV . - No. tBIC11hNuly bibtN
room, with a large balcony, a workshop
which looks its name, and a retiring ROOM.
Above are three bedrooms TO correspond.
Each occupant furnishes his or her apart
ment, and some OF these studios are works
Of art themselves. Especially tasteful are
those of Miss Pomeroy and the Misses
Ripley. The studio building is provided
with elevators and pneumatic mail chutes.
Another feature OF the club is the grill
and billiard room in the basement OF the
Tilden house. This has been completely
changed. The rooms along one side OF
the house have been turned into one long
room, with high greenish oaken wains-
coting, wall benches to match and tables OF
the same material. One half of this long
room will contain the billiard tables, the
other half the grill, a screen separating
the two apartments. At the head OF the
grill room, also, are the old casks in tiers,
tinted to match the new woodwork, that
were a feature in the old clubhouse at 81
West Thirty-fourth street.
There are two dining rooms in the COM
bined buildings. One ia a large general
dining room IN the studio building nat
opens upon the old Tilden library; the
other is a private dining room, where mem
hers may entertain friends.
The entire cost of the new club is close to
$3.50, 900, This includes the cost OF the new
studio, the plot on which IL stands and the
purchase price of the two old houses, to-
gether with the cost of renovating.
The opening OF this new clubhouse marks
q new epoch in New York club life. For
the first time men and women are on an
equal footing in the same club. There are
about 1900 members. Spencer Irask il
the president. and the board of governors,
who received last night, is composed Of Mr..
TrasA. Richard Watson Glider, Emerson
NIcMillin, George B. Post, John Dewitt
Warner, Chester Loomis, Frank V. Du
Mond. William 7. Evans, John La Fargo,
Douglas Volk, Robert W. Vonnoh, Charles
Henry Babcock, John G.. Agar. James G.
Bayles William B. Rowland, James Ed
ward Sague, +. Benedict Herzog, francis
G.. Jones, Charles r. Laub. Frederick s.
lamb. Alexander r. McKim and Charles
DeKay.
The aim Of the club is to have not a
society composed of members of one par
iic,lar profession, but a broad membership
including artists. musicians, authors, jour
ralists. actors, physicians. clergymen and
professional men and women generally.
Three thousand invitations were issued
for last nights reception. Among those
present were Carl j. Blenner, the Rev. Henry
Blackjack. Mr.. and Mrs. Kenyon Cox, Sir
Gaspar Purdon Clarke. Mr.. and Mrs. John
Corbin, Thomas Shields Clark, Mr.. and Mrs.
Walter Damrosch. George \. Daniels,
Charles Melville Dewey, John Ward Dims-
more, ". G.. Filter, Chancellor MacCracken,
Prof. and Mrs. A. d. Hamlin, Alexander c.
Humphrey. J. Scott Hartley Gustav KobbA,
Mr.. and Mr.. Robert Olyphsnt. Sir Percy
sanderson. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry W. Tint