The Washington herald., 1908-03-22

Members OF the Metropolitan Club who
spent St Patrick's Day in their new
home are much pleased with the COM
forts and appointments OF the building st
Seventeenth and H streets. Indeed, this
building is everywhere recognized as a
model clubhouse whether II is judged
from its slightly exterior or from the gen
eral arrangement and ornate finish and
furnishing Of its interior.
The building was designed by Hines &
La Fargo. Of New York. who made a
special study OF the best clubhouses OF
the country before evolving the plans Of
the home Of Washington's most exclusive
Society" as It is called in the incorpora-
ton papers. Richardson & Burgess, the
well-known firm OF Washington contract
RS. constructed the building, and their
work. as we'll as that of the architects,
has been much admired during the brief
period the clubhouse has been under gen.
eral inspection
House Is Five Stories High.
The building is five stories high. with
basement. The exterior is simple, but i'm
posing The material is stone with con-
siderable detail worked out in the plain
lines of the walls. bay windows. and
other parts Of the design. SO that, while
the building might be called severely
plain. it has distinctive character which
speaks Of great architectural taste and
richness.
On the interior every convenience that
an exclusive club OF rich men could wish
has been furnished. The building stands
ll2 feet on II street and 80 feet on Seven
teenth street The main entrance is on IT
street This leads into a large central
hall with mosaic floor and richly dec
GRATED ceiling. opening in turn upon the
principal rooms Of the first floor. The
feature Of this floor is the billiard-roOm.
extending two-thirds Of the width Of the
house on Seventeenth street The walls
and ceiling are Of dark wood, the furni-
ture very heavy and upholstered in black
leather.
Has Fine Morning Room.
Opening from the billiard-room. in the
corner Of the building Is the morning
room. A feature OF the hall and rooms
Of the first floor are three handsome fire
places done in wood 10 the ceiling, in
keeping with the wall paneling.
From the entrance hall wide stairway
leads 10 a landing on the second door
The steps are Of mahogany. while the
sides are Of Siena marble. On the second
floor the parlOr is the conspicuous fea-
ture. This room. 80 by S4 feet in size. ex-
tends along the entire Seventeenth street
side Of the building. II is finished in
French walnut. on this floor are the
lounging-room, in curly birch: a central
hall. reading and writing rooms, the
buffet. and an open terrace. The third
floor contains the library. readinE-room.
ohessroom, two cardrooms and the room
for the board Of governors.
show Room on Fourth Floor.
On the fourth fOor is found the show
room Of the whole house. the main dining
room. Like the parlor, It extends the
length Of the Seventeenth street side, but
is two stories high. The ceiling is vaulted.
On this floor there is as complete a
culinary outfit as can be found IN the
largest hotels. Excepting two private
dininE-rooTns. the rest OF the floor is de-
signed as one great kitchen. It Is not
one room. but divided into serving-roon.
kitchen. scullery. chefs room, butcher
shop. cold storage room linen and silver
room. and other adjuncts. The fifth floor
is used for storage purposes.
. The basement contains three wine cell
lars. separate white and colored servants
quarters. the boiler-room, and dynamo
oonl. All supplies are received from the
liley IN the rear. A service elevator near
the rear entrance is used 10 promptly dis
tribute these-as they are received. There
is also a passenger elevator opening from
the hall.