The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-12

John Hunters paper on London CLUBS
and Coffee Houses '
NIrr. Hunters absence prevented tho
previous reading OF this paper before the
history class OF the club. for Whioa 1t
had been prepared. It was listened Ito
with tho greatest pleasure yesterday,
showing, rs it did, scholarship, accuracy
and thorough research on Mrs. Hunters
part. 8
Going back to the tnverns that pre-
coded the London coffee houses and clubs,
Mrs Hunter began with the Mermaid, Z
famous long before 1861, the date when
the use OF coffee and tea was introduced
into England. From this beginning the
development Of the tavern as the resort
OF IIngllshmen OF letters, politicians.
beaux and wits Of the day, into>thc coffee
houses, Mrs. Hunter went on to the
separation Of; tthe coffee and tea houses
into resorts for all the different classcs
of English society, there being, rs SHE
explained, literary political. religious,
sporting and social Adjustments, where
each man might find company congeninl
to his Individual tastes. Finally she
came to the rise of what Is known as tho
modern club house and the consequent
passing Of many Of the features of good
comradeship that rendered the old tav-
ern and coffee house life SO picturesque,
Instructive and gay.
Il Many Of the most famous Of the early
London clubs were mentioned by Mrs.
Hunter in association with tho great
laen who made them Fashionable, the
names of suc.: resorts as the Kit-Kat
Club, the Breed Street or Friday Street
Club, the Literary Club and later, Whites
anu Brooks, both Of which were estab-
l,shed nearly at tho same time, Whites
being founded In 1908, being brought into
account G53s sg7 53g 1 WI
Reference was made to Addison's paper
IN the clubs OF his day, published in
TIE SLectator. Tho Bread Street Club
meeting at "Merma!d Tavern, and
founded by Sir Matter Raleigh, had,
Mrs. Hunter Informed her hearers,
among its members. Shakespeare. Beau.
mont, Fletcher and others equally nota-
bic. Prominent among the Ilt-Kat Club
such mon us Addison, Steele, Congrere,
Mainwaring, Wnpole and Putteney were
given and the fact OF Sir Godfrey {uell-
cr's forty-two portraits adjoining the
walls Of tho villa where, In latter days,
the club held Its meeting, was cited. Sir
Joshua Reynolds connection with the
Library Club proved interesting.
The paper was enriched with wealth
of incident linking personality and place
together, and with lively pictures Of tho
roaring fires, the brilliant wit, tho good
cheer, tho political discussions, and tho
high play In which London cubmen OF
former days INDUCED. e
Closing, as II did. an unusually brilliant
year in thelterary history OF the Wo-
mans Club, Mrs. Hunters paper was
most appropriate, and ,nerited the very
Hearty expressions OF praise and con-
graduation which 1t elected.
1 r. / ID go d. e & . II
Miss Bloomberg Sails.
Miss Florence Bloombcrg. Of this city
VIII sail tomorrow for Europe, where
she will spend tho summer, Miss BIoom-
berg has spent the heated months abroad
| for The last six years and has included
IN her travels nearly every point Of III,
terest. She Will pny short visit this
year to Norway, Sweden and Denmark,
after which she will 10 to the University
OF Marburg, In Germany, where snc Mil
attend q course of lectures on German
| lileraturo. Before her return In tho
| autumn, she will visit friends and rela-
| tlvcs In Berlin.
Mr.. Charles strauy and Miss Kate
Dunkle will sail with Miss Bloombers.
General Mc;sting.
A general meeting or the Association
4 for the Preservation Of Virginia Antiql.
\ tics Will be held to-day at noon In the
| rooms OF tho Virginia Historical Society.
lakewood Memorial Meets,
4 The lakewood Memorial Assocolation
will meet this afternoon at : o'clock In
| ST.. Johns Schoolhousc FOR the purpose