The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-06-20
CLUBLIFE ECONOMIES
POOR MEN IN THE SWELL ORGANt
CATIONS OF NEW YORK.

A Democracy where All, Regardless
of Income, Are EIuaI-Membership
In a First Rate CIub Regarded as
Profitable Investment.
A good many country visitors are
disappointed when they learn the sober
truth that New York has no clubs com
posed exclusively Of milliohaires 1t
is harder still 10 make country folk
believe that hundreds of men join the
so called swell clubs in large part from
motives OF economy.
There are scarcely three clubs in the
city that do not include a considerable
number Of poor men IN their member
ship The average income OF the whole
membership of the ten best known
clubs IN the city is probably nearer
$4,000 year than $4,000 year, and
almost every one of these clubs In
eladcs some scores Of men with incomes
we'll below $4,000 and a good many
with incomes well below $1,000.
There is real democracy Of New
York club life Youths In their early
twentics and just beginning their ca
reers on very moderaE. salaries FIRE
quent truly palatial clubhouses, break
fast in rooms such rs few princes ever
use and lounge before freplaees that
are to be matched only In the most
splendid buildings Of Europe.
The poor mans credit at the club Is
rs good as the rich mans, aud both are
impartially posted when they neglect
10 pay their bills IN good season. There
are good many instances also In
which the monthly bills Of the poor
man are higher than those Of his rich
fellow member for the frequenters OF
clubs are apt to be the poorer rather
than tine richer members.
Many man of small means regards
his membership In first rate club Ia
the light of a profitable Investment,
Such Il man. If n confirmed bachelor.
has probably lived for twenty years
within half II block of the club, paying
a few hundreds u year for small
bedroom and finding all his Injuries In
the apartments of the clubhouse.
Without being In the least mean he
makes OF the club money saving in
stituti0u for himself Its comfortable
lounging roonls save him annually
from $500 to 900 year In rent, ac
c0rding 10 the location Ia which he has
his modest lodgings. After that he
saves fair percentage ON everything
he eats and drinks ut the club.
His simple breakfast costs him per
haps 10 per cent less than 1t would cost
AT any restaurant he would be likely
to frequent and the same Is true OF his
dinners If he takes three rourths of
his meals at the club he saves annually
about SloO in tips.
II he drinks wine at dinner lac saves
from 10 10 - per cent upon every bot
tie. If lie permits himself the luxury
Of II cab hc saves ii handsome per
centage by ordering 1t through the club
and avoids all possibility of II row
with the cabby over the amount of the
fare. Many Il man writes all his let
tcrs Of social character and sOme of
n business character ut the club, and
thus saves from $l5 10 $40 year in
stationery
Ilt htth ihN nv ppbhHi lpi htth Nv
subscribe to Il library, for there Is the
club library free for his use. lie never
need buy a periodical or even II 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 eXtraVagant
luXurles. lie is sure, especially in the
college clubs to find plenty of men
with like modest Incomes and simple
tastes as himself, and he may sit for
hours with cronies over the cafe table
without spending money that he can
not afford and without giving offense
10 the servants of the house committee.
Most club members probably do not
keep Il debit and credit account with
the club, but the Iuan of modest means
and moderate habits would lind the ex-
animation of such an account matter
of great satisfaction Such II man,
paying 500 rs an entrance fee and SO
year In dues. Is likely to find himself
mt the end OF twenty years long way
ahead of the game. The club la tWen-
~ years has cost him rather less than
$1,000 for entrance fees, dues und con
tributions To the Christmas hoN, and
his savings by reason OF the club have
been from $1,000 To $1,000. New
York sun