New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-16

Most Exclusive Womans Society America Has One of the
Homes the World.

New York. the paradise Of the wOman's club
has woman's clubhouse at last.
Next Wednesday, February 20 is the day set
for the housewarming of the superb new home
which the Colony Club has been building for it
self at No. 100 to 124 Madison avenue, near
Both street. The Colony Club is not only the
most exclusive woman's club in the country,
numbering. It does, among its members such
women Mrs. John Jacob Aston, Mrs. J. Bor-
den Hartman ana Miss Anna 9. Morgan. but it
Is the most expensive, the Initiation fee being
$780, with annual dues 500 Membership Is
limited to 700 II has now erected the finest
clubhouse of its kind on this continent, and it is
doubtful If London. with Its dozen more
women's cIubhouses-the Lyceum, Bath and En-
press. notably-or Paris, with it's French coun-
terpart OF the London Lyceum, can boast any
thing in the way Of a woman's clubhouse 50 com
plete. artistic and beautiful
The Colony Club house owes its existence to
Mrs Hartman Miss Morgan and Miss Helen
Barney, who at Newport about five years ago
first talked Of the desirabiIity of having COM
mon meeting place for women such as a we'll
appointed clubhouse offers to men. The Colony
Club was really formed in order to build and
own the clubhouse II was the natural and
legitimate outgrowth Of the increase in country
life the expansion of the city. the multiplication
Of social and business obligations and the large
number of women who live for the greater part
Of the year a considerable distance from
town and are constantly fitting back and forth
modest little house where the members
could stay overnight meet friends. leave par
GELS or take luncheon was the first idea Of the
founders Gradually their conception grew. and
the present magnificent institution, adapted to
meet the social. literary and athletic tastes of
group Of the citys most influential women, is
the result To Mrs John Jacob Astor is cred
tied the suggestion that the scheme should in
Clude some provision for athletics
The late Stanford White. Of the firm of Nc
Kim, Mead & White was the architect of the
clubhouse, which is in the severest Colonial
style Many an old Colonial inn and mansion
was studied by Mr. White for the completion Of
his design. and it IS interesting to note that he
regarded the building. both inside and out, as
one Of his most successful efforts Six stories in
height with two Of the floors mezzanine. the
clubhouse --9nds distinguished from it's brown
stone fronted neighbors not only through its
pure Colonial architecture. but because Of the
dark header" brick on a pale reddish ground
Of which il is constructed to the fve-foot
Veranda, Enclosed by high wrought iron fence
which separates 1t from the street The trim
nings are Of white marble. The building has q
frontage Of seventy-fve feet in Madison avenue
Is one hundred feet deep and occupies three
ings $4,000 ANi -'40i'
A hospitable Colonial doorway gives upon a
Nhte marble entrance vestibue, and that IN
turn upon another larger hall 80
On this floor the strangers recan+,or
tOoH' the once, reading and writing rooms the
tea room and the "trellis room Csanerr,T liz
speaking the building is finished in white wood