Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
Bohemian Clubs of London
RY LEWIS MELVILLE

BY LEWIS MELVILLE.
TT is not easy now TO find the way to Be-
hernia. for that happy land Is slowly
but surely being efraced from the map.
The Bohemia of today Is not the b.
hemia OF the forties and fftles The
modern Bohemian wears on occasion the
''boiled shirt that was an object of dis
gust to his predecessor; as likely as not he
Sits IN the stalls of the theater. and, in all
probability IS q member of at least one
club. Though Bohemians of a byegone age
were not necessarily all addicted to the
use Of oaths TO drinking or to going bone
IN the latest of the early hours. yet the
disappearance of these habits has effected
Bohemia, and has changed its character
almost beyond recognition. Today the man
who swears Justify is regarded with sur
prise. and the heavy tipbler Is looked at
nskance by all save few beardIess youths,
who aspire to be "blOods" Late hours, too.
have perfOrce gone out of fashion Tor the
ger eraL In this era OF a greater London
when many live IN suburban or country VII
las. and come UP 10 town every morning
there are last trains to catch, and, even
though his club may close late. the most
hardened reprobate VIII not frequently go
home 10y the milk train. AS q matter or
fact. most London clubs close comparative
~ early, and lights OUT at two Is the rule
rather than the exception. A good story Is
told of a sporting club which does not
close early II happened that a country
clergy man was proposed and elected a
member. Probably this was due to a mis-
understanding on both sides. The sequel,
however, IS amusing. 1t was not for many
ytrrs after his election that he came up to
town Then he repaired to his club engag-
ed bed room and retired early. The next
morning, about half-past eight, he made
his way Into the dining room, and saw
sleepy servants clearing the tables. He was
q little surprised for he had not thought
that clubmen breakfasted SO early. A walker
Cime TO him, and he ordered coffee and
eggs and bacon. Beg pardon. sir" the
man said respectfully. but we don't serve
supTCrs after seven!'
Even as all Gaul WAS divided into three
parts. so all clubland falls naturally into
the three divisions of political, social and
Bohemian. OF the latter section there sur
Niva only the Sublime Society of Beef
steaks. which dates back TO the eighteenth
century. and IS commonly known as the
Beefsteak Club and the Savage Club,
founded in the fifties. The Press Club, the
Yorrlck Club and the Eccentric Club are
OF more recent origin. The Garrick Club
has cast It's skin. and Is q social community.
though at one time 1t was the headquarters
of Bohemia. I'VE. the happy initiated,
never speak of 1t as the Garrfck, to bs 1t Is
sthe little G.-the little. G.. the dearest place
in the world" said that lnveterate club
IMAM. Thackeray, at a house dinner when
THE club was situated In King street, CO.
went Garden. In the days before 1t removed
TO Its new home close by In the street called
after the actor from which the club has
taken its name. Yet even for Thackeray
there was rift in the lutte. There was
member of the Garrick, Dean Hole has re-
lated, whose presence and speech seemed to
,irritate him, and who found pleasure In ex-
erCising his power as gadhy on thor
oughbred horse. One night in the smoking
room ThaCkeray was in the middle of
most interesting story, when his enemy en-
tered. To every ones establishment Thack-
cray hesitated and stopped, on which his
prosecutor assuming an air OF the most gen
erOUs patronage, blandly encouraged him
with. Proceed sweet warbler, thy story
,IS Mill iA6
by ThaCkeray as "Foker'' In "Pendennis.
He subsequently had his tlt-for-tat with
the great novelist, when the latter, after
delivering one of his lectures on THE Eng
thought of it. Very good entertainment,
Thack, very good indeed" he reph~d
genlally, but it wants a pian-ner.' GER
tain Bohemian SAVIOUR still clngs to the
Garrick Club. The giants have departed
Thackeray, Dickens. Douglas Jerrold. Mac
ready. Matthews and the others; but the
Saturday night srppers after the snow
are still attended by many literary and
theatrical notabiNttes.
There is little formality for the members
Of a Bohemian club save that which is con-
cerned with their election, 1t is not easy
70 enter. In a club where the members
may De counted by thousands, SO long as q
man is respectable he is not likely to inter
fere with the comfort of his Fellow mem
bers. In such an INSTITUTION as lhe beei-
steak. however, where no inttroductons are
needed and where every member Is sup
posed ex oficio, to know every other mem
Der and to be entitled to address him, 1t Is
quite another matter. The qualification for
the Beefsteak Is purely social Its tnde-
peudeuce with regard to rank and fortune
IS notorIous-the witty and agreeable bar
rister runs less chance of rejection than the
dull and well-intentioned peer with sixty
four quarterings Like the Athenaeum. the
Beefsteak has the rule, so comforting to
members and so irritating to their friends,
that no visitors are admitted Occasionally
Il welcomes a distinguished foreigner as an