Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10
Grown From Gambling Rooms.

All of the old clubs OF London are the
outsrowth of the ancient coffee house sys-
tenn and the taverns and gambling rooms.
Originally apartments in the coffee houses
and taverns were reserved for certain peo-
pie who were in the habit of associatng to-
gether. Then, to secure greater exclusive
ness. the entire house was leased and
hnally the management passed into the con-
troll of committees of the habitues Whites
Boobies Brooks, Arthur's and the Cocoa
Tree were all originally gambling houses or
taverns. The oldest and most exclusive
club In London is The Sublime Society of
Beefsteaks,' which consists of only twenty
four members, nearly all noblemen, who
dine together off beefsteak every Saturday
from November until the end of June in
their headquarters In the Lyceum Theater
They have q suite of four or five rooms
only, a reading room, smoking room, dress
ing room and a dining room, in which is a
large grill! where the bee4steaks are broied
by the members of the club In the pres
ence of their guests. At the Saturday din
ners each member may invite one friend.
The dining room Is considered one of the
noblest apartments in London, being lined
with carved quartered oak and suspended
over the table from the ceiling is the grid
iron upon which the first steak was broiled
at the first meeting of the club, when 1t was
organized in 1885, by several actors and
artists in room connected with the Ly-
ceum Theater. The building has been de-
stroyed by fire several times. The present
one dates from 1884. On the shelves and
in the eupboards are many precious relics,
spoons. plates mustard pots and other table
dishes which have been presented from
time to time by members. The Prince of
Wales since the time George " held that
rank has always been an honorary member
of the club. and Edward VII before his
coronation was one of Its most regular at
tendarts The other twenty-four members
are elected by unanimous vote.
Old and Celebrated
The original Beefsteak Club, of which
Peg Wellington, DR.. Johnson. Sir Robert
Walpole and other famous men were menu
bers, was organized in 1909 and held its
dinners at the Bell tavern, Houndsditch,
bat 1t lasted only few years
The Dilettante Society, which is also a
dining club dates back to 1874, and to
qualify for membership an applicant must
have travelled Or lived in Italy. Its mem
bership is limited to slxty-four. IT has no
house, but has rooms at the Clarendon
Hotel. The list of members has included
the most famous artists, ambassadors and
public men in the history of the last two
centuries. and 1t has a collection of pic
lures unsurpassed in the world. Livery one
of them painted by member and
presented to the club.
The literary club OF the world is the Lon
don Athenaeum, organized in 1873, which
has house in Waterloo place, near the
Carlton Hotel, erected in 1920. 1t is q
copy of the Parthenon The membership
is limited to 1900, and is composed of the
most eminent literary. men, statesmen, &C.
clesiastes, scientists, artists and members
of the other learned professions. Among
the organizers were Sir Humphrey Davy
and other famous scientists, and the ia
nous Professor Faraday was It's first sec
rotary.
The johnson is another literary club, and
although 1t is older, 1t Ia not so wealthy
or so famous It was founded in 1IS4 hy a
group of nine men, including Sir Joshua
Reynolds, DR. Johnson, Burke. Hawkins
and Waipole. Oliver Goldsmith was elected
later. but was at first objected to because
he was "a mere literary drudge" Garrick
was one of the most active members. and
his portrait which hangs on the wall, is
famous. The secretary of the club Is the
dean of st. PauPs Cathedral I IVES orig
inally q club of poor struggling authors
and actors At present its forty members
are all wealthy peers or eminent ecclesias-
tics and statesmen.
The Cocoa Tree was the first political
club. 1t was q tory headquarters In Queen
Anne's reign. It was originally a tavern and
coffee house. but in 1T46 was converted into
a club IN order TO preserve the heads OF the
members. It became the headquarters of
the Jacobite party In parliament. and tile
sayings and doings OF it's habituss We're fire.
quently reported by spies.
The Famous Almack's
Almack's, now known as Brooks, was the
original club of London, the first social or
gaEization of men in the world. It was for
many years q gambling house on Pail Mall,
kept by man named Aimack and the rem
devious of the ACKNOWLEDGING noble
men and other swells who got their nick
Ing the fashions of italian handles. 1t was
the popular place for registering wagers
and depositing stakes, and the old betting
book, which is still preserved shows the