New-York tribune., 1907-09-04
WHERE ALMACK REIGNED.

one BY one the old landmarks of London dis
appearing. and now WiIIis's Rooms in King street.
st Jamess Square, are TO be down. to make
way for buildings OF a more modern date. Il was
in Wils's Rooms that Almacks held social sway
throughout the greater part OF a hundred years.
that is TO say, from the beginning the reign Of
George III until some years after the marriage OF
Queen Victoria and the birth Of the present King.
During all that time Almack's. IN Wlllis's Rooms.
the temple OF fashion the ark and the sanctu-
AIRY OF society During twelve weeks in each Lon
don season weekly subscription ball took place
there. The subscription ten g1Iineas-s5o-
but not ten thousand guineas would have avaied 70
secure admission unless the candidature had re-
ceved the approval Of that board OF lady patron
esses who welded tho most arbitrary and despotc
sway over the English great world Smaller In
number but equal in power. 70 the Venetian Council
OF Ten this feminine oligarchy exercised the most
Jealous watchfuIness 70 prevent what the Hon.
Grantlcy Berkeley describes IL his memoirs as the
intrusion Of plebelan rich untitled vulgar" and
they drew UP n code OF laws for the elect who re-
ceived admission which We're as unalterable as
those Of the Medes and Persians.
The lady patronesses were not necessarily all
English nor were they all titled. Thus. in 1914 they
consisted Of Lady Castlereagh. Lady Jersey. Mrs
DrImmond Burrell Princess Esterhazy. the Aus
trian Ambassadress. and Princess Lieven. the Rus
sian Anba assadress. on one occasion these fair
ladies issued solemn proclamation that no gentle
man should appear the weekly Alnack dances
without being dressed in knee breeches and black
sill stockings. great Duke OF Wellington. ig-
noring this rule was about enter the ballroom
one night dressed in black trousers, whereupon he
was Immediately stopped. and. in spite OF his
quest to the lady patronesses TO make exception
In his favor they refused. and he was turned away
at the door.
The Almacz dances owed their name William
AImack who TO London valet of the
enth Duke Hamilton. and. retiring from the lat
ters service invested his savings in a coffee house
in st. James's. which eventually he TRANSFORMED
into the Thatched House Club A little later he
moved 60 ST James's street. and there found
ed the club famous In the annals Of Whiggery :
Brookss. and which 1ourishes to-day: while in 1855
he opened the assembly rooms known Will
is's Rooms which in those days bore his name.
Horace Walpoe describes the stately grace with
which old AlmHck. with powdered head and silk
stockings. welcomed his guests. his wife, Mrs. AL
mack hoop and Tufes, making tea for the great
ladies' while their daughters dancing.
For many years after Almack's had passed out
existence. and throughout the greater portion
the reign Of Queen Victoria, the rooms were used
for dances and for public banquets. and whenever
the rooms let for entertainment II
always stipulated that only lights should be
used-a tribute to the past During the last two
decades unsuccessful attempts have been made to
run the place as a restaurant But the glory of
the place had departed II. Few OF its fire.
ouenters even knew that It had been the scene OF
those famous Almack balls which enjoyed alto
qetber international celebrity hundred years ago.
and SO thoroughly is this forgotten that the de-
struction OF the rooms is creating little It
tention.