Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-25

vorable recollections of their reception by
members.
! incidentally, il might be said that on g
1 big night at the n. S. c. only one-third
of the spectators are members. but they
, can obtain tickets for their friends. these
being sold on occasions at extraordinary
prices.
Representatives of every kind of sport
are members. Naturally there are many
| hundreds who can be seen racing regular
| ly, members of the principal racing clubs.
owners, boOkmakers, hackers. trainers
and Jockeys. 1t always is certain. there
! fore, that one will see many hundreds of
| familiar faces. AS rule, they have just
arrived from good dinner. and should
say that over 50 per cent wear evening
| clothes. AS champion fighter said to
me once 1T makes one feel good and
like an actor to see so many smart peo-
pie present. We like the gallery, es-
pecially when they are 'swellS, and men
who would give helping hand if we ran
men in white vests. white cravats and
tail coats can shout louder than the
others up in the gallery there.
1t may astonish those familiar with box
ing exhibitions in America to know that
| smoking is rightly barred, and therefore
| the atmosphere is better than might be
expected from casual glance at the
small theater. 1t was a wonder to me
! W lien seeing cert 4>tN va "
last August how men could spar in such
an atmosphere. 1t would tend to choke
a nOn-SmOker.
But the clubs'I have seen in this coun-
! try have an advantage in size, although
it must be said that at the Nationa
Sporting Club in London every available
inch of space is made use of. and Sc
cleverly that the house holds "a sight OF
| money. 1t is genuine Club TOO use.
for social purposes, but. of course. is NOT
! of the same status as the important club:
| of London, and l doubt If half OF the
members ever go inside its doors except
when boxing is held. usually Mondays.
| The y. S. G.. has its place. for. THANKS
to the efforts of many spor snen. headed
| by Lord Lonsdale, the lighting always is
, on the level, and no man as rule set'
second chance at the club il he tries
to work any tricks off on it. SeVera
men have enGeavored to bluff the spec
| tators. but they are too discriminating
and know exactly what man is doing
| have no hesitation in saying that ont
or two of the fights l have seen since
have been here would have been stop
ped by the English referee
! 1t may be expected that some day thu
| club will remove to more conVenlen
premises. but in many ways one would
regret to have the historic building va
Gated.
Before it was club this house wa:
known for many years as Evans sup
per rooms. Before the days of earl'
closing the bioods went there to ea1
chops and kidneys and deviled bones
There was a celebrated choir Of boy:
known as ''JOnghman's choir" These
| youngsters, all with beautiful. highly
trained voices. used Mo sing the oil J.
fashioned glees and madrigals. There
was small pen at the hack of the
hall, where for some years before il
closed women were admitted.
Many suburban husbands. affecting t.
be rakish, would threaten their madame:
that if such and such a thing happened
again they would go off to Evans" anc
the women We're duly aWed by thu
threat. AS a matter of fact, however
Evans supper house We're quite harm
less place, for do not read that tn,
immortal Col EewcOme took his sol
Give there?
The choir of boys was frequently en-
gagged for private or public entertain
ments and many middle-aged men wht
knew London in the los may recall re
markable theatrical production at Gov
ent Garden called "Babil and Bijou,'' OF
which cert ain nobleman spent nearl,
half a million dollars to exploit lad,
of amaZonian proportions. She wa
. certainly one of the most beautiful WON
en- possible, and "Babil and Bijou'' as
production marked new era in stag
effects Jonghmans choir used to g
over from Evans and sing the mos
popular song of the day, Spring, Gentl
Spring.