The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-07-04
CLUBLIlr.E, GEC CONOlIIES
POOR MEN TfiE SWELL oRoANl.
. % zAT'oNs or NEW YORK,

Re-, k8 Z X T-- &eN ME Il
A Democrocy Where All, neaardIess
OF Bncoine, Ase q uaI-- Mem bershtp |
In " First Rate Club Regarded fts a
Profitable Investment.
"A good many country visitors arc
when they learn the sober
truth that New York has no clubs COM
posed exclusively Of millionaires. 1t
Is harder still to make country folk
believe that hundreds Of men join tho
50 called swell clubs in large part from
motives Of economy.
There are scarcely three clubs in tho
city that do not include IL considerable
number Of poor men in their member-
ship. The average income Of tho whole
membership OF the ten best known
clubs in the city is probably nearer
$4,000 year than $4,000 year, und
almost every one Of these clubs III
cludcs some scores Of men with incomes
well below $4,000 and good many
with Incomes well below $4,000. "
There Is a real democracy Of New
York club life. Youths in their early
twentics and just beginning their CO.
reers Oh very moderate salaries fire.
Quent truly palatfal clubhouses, break
fast i'll rooms such rs few princes ever
use ana lounge before tireplaccs that
are to be matched only IN the most
splendid buildings OF Europe.
| The poor mans credit at the club Is
as good rs tho rich mans, and both are
lmpartlally posted when they neglect
| to pay their bills in good season. There
nrc good many Instances also in
which the monthly bills Of tho Door
man are higher than those of his rich
fellow member, for tho frequenters of
clubs are apt to be the poorer rather
than the richer members
| Many q man Of small means regards
his membership in first rate club in
the light of profitable investment.
Such Il man, If Il confirmed bachelor.
has probably lived for twenty years
2 within hnlf Il block OF the club paying
n few hundreds year for small
bedroom and finding all his luXurics In
= The apartments OF the clubhouse.
Without being in the least mean he
} makes of the club money saving in
stitution for himself. It's comfortable
lomging rooms save him annually
. from $500 to $1,000 n year In rent, ac-
| cording to the location In which he has
lis modest lodgings. After that he
saves fair percentage OH everything
ne eats and drinks at the club.
His simple breakfast costs him per
lnps 10 per cent less than it would cost
ut any restaurant he would DO likely
to frequent, and the same ls true Of his
dinners If lie takes threc-fOurths Of
his meals ut the club he saves annually
about 500 In tips.
If ho drinks wine at dinner he saves
from 10 to 25 per cent upon every bot
tlo. IF he permits himself tho luxury
: OF II cab hc saves u handsome per-
ccntAgc by ordering 1t through the club
and avoids all possibility Of Il row
with the cabby over the amount Of tlo
faro. Many a man writes nll his lot
ters Of Il social character and some Of
Il business character at tho club, and
thus saves from SIS to $40 year IN
stationery.
lie need buy no books, nor need he
subscribe to n library, for there Is the
club library free for his use. He never
need buy periodical or even Il news-
paper save when he travels, for all
that he reads are freely supplied by
the club. And the enjoyment Of all
these things imposes upon him no con-
siderable expenditure for cxtravngant
luXuries. He Is sure, especially In tho
college clubs, to find plenty Of men
} with like modest incomes and simple
tastes as himself, and he may sit for
hours with crones over the cafe table
without spending money that he can
not afford and without giving offense
to the servants Of the house committee
Most club members probably do not
Keep debit and credit account with
the club. but the man Of modest means
and moderate habits would find the ex-
ammunition Of such IN account q matter
or great satisfaction. Such man,
, paying $3.50 as an entrance fee and ST5
year In dues, Is likely to find himself
Mt the end Of twenty years long way
ahead Of the game. The club In twen-
~ years has cost him rather less than
S2,o0o for entrance fees, dues and con-
tributions to the Christmas box. and
his savings by reason Of the club have
been from $4,000 to $10,OOO.-New
York Sun.