The Washington herald., 1911-03-09
A WOMAN'S CLUB
IN FRENCH CAPITAL


Eiysee, ito take the third turning to the
right, the dignified Rue de Penthfevre.
Proceed along this thoroughfare as far
as No. and gaze at that tall and stately
mansion, with its princely frontage, be-
fore which extenis a large courtyard.
protected from curious eyes by high
white wall, with immense carriage gates
of oak, carved. varnished. and fanked
by two side doors. This magnificent
house, which really deserves to be called
chateau. with its fine grounds and
century old trees, with its fine "perron,'
its lofty windows, its concierge, and its
lackeys in livery, is not, as you might
imagine, the palace Of a duke or the
home of an American millionaire; il is
something more, something better. it is
the Paris Temple of Feminine Thought
and Art; it is the French Lyceum Club
If you do not belong to the Lyceum
Club of London, or If you have not the
good fortune to number among your
Paris acquaintances a friend who is a
member of the club and who will act
as your guide, do not from vain curiosity
try to cross the door of the temple; it
is forbidden, and the concierge, plus his
waXed ebony moustache, is a vigilant
Cerberus.
Before entering the new "Cercle des
Femmes." a few words about the his
tory of the Lyceum Club of Paris 1t
was a manifestation of the feminish en-
tente cordiale. At the moment when
some years ago. the Lyceum Club. the
mother of all the lyceum clubs of the
world. was opened in London, a little
feminist association was formed in Paris
But in spite of all their efforts they could
only gather about $50 adherents among
the women of the upper and middle
classes who cultivated literature and
the arts. The enterprise come to nothing
Funds were wanting. the club had no
fixed abode. and the members could only
assemble at uncertain periods. either at
the house of one of their number or in
a hall hired for a trifle.
Propaganda was difficult, and the ad-
jective feminist" at that time excited
little sympathy. 1t was then that Miss
Alice Williams came from London full of
a fixed purpose to found a Iyceum club
modelled after that of London. Coura-
geously she set about the task She knew
she would find in the Parisienne. who
l.
beauty and charm. an excellent ally
Miss Williams was not mistaken In a
few months she had gathered into the
movement all the elite of society. and
all Frenchwomen who were interested in
literature and art responded to her ap-
peal. Capital was quickly found. and
Miss Williams, whose purse was not lin
tied. three years ago set on foot the
French Lyceum Club.
When the club was founded It was first
installed at IS Rue de la Bienfaisance. a
pretty and charming home. with its
panels and wainscot and fine staircase of
carved oak. 1t was a little paradise, but
in three months the membership OF the
club. which at its formatio was about
300, had made fine progress. There are
now more than 500 ladies in Paris who
can say II am going to my club and
how charming that is, What a need of
the PariSienne has thus been filled.
For some time the Lyceum has been
organizing musical evenings. receptions,
and conferences, and the apartment at the
Rue de la Bienfaisance, with its pretty
little rooms, was far too small to hold
the ever-inCreaSing number of members
and guests at these gatherings. 1t was
liltI Nlldl lllt DUNlltSS ut I ZtS, III agree
ment with the members of the commit
tee, leased as a permanent home for the
Lyceum Club the magnificent mansion at
S Rue de Penthievre. The rent is 5000
francs a year and the decoration and
the cost of furnishing represent a small
fortune. But is anything too costly or
too fine for a woman, and especially for
a Parisienne?
ho ~ ie ~
facade of the mansion harmonious. After
mounting the superb flight of steps shell
tered by a canopy. a valet of irreproach-
able appearance, with a grave air, ushers
you into a great hall paved with marble
and wainscoted with oak. All around
the vestibule are aTmchairs, lounges. and
sofas, upholstered in old green tapestry,
which harmonizes with excellent effect
with the old oak paneling. Hanging from
the ceiling by a long stem of iron is a
large bronze chandelier, and on the right
a wonderful staircase of carved oak leads
to the upper story of the mansion. The
carving of this staircase is a veritable
work of art, and is one of the charms of
this delightful palace.
The smoking room is a great room with
a thick, dark carpet and an abundance
of comfortable chairs, armchairs, soft
lounges, and little tables. On the walls
are some old engravings, and a mirror
is over the mantelpiece in a frame of an
tidue porcelain, which has a very fine
effect. But it is a smoking room-a real
smoking room-a smoking room where
one can smell the smoke.
On the right is the drawing-room, a
magnificent, spacious room, with walls
painted in white and gold, and ceiling
maryelously decorated. 1t is in this
room that the concerts are given, and
the debates organized by the club are
held On one side is the tea room, a
lightly and freshly decorated room with
pretty carved panels. Farther to the
right, opening out of the tea room, is
the dining-room, the richest and hand
soonest of all the club rooms. 1t is a
perfect dream. paneled nearly from floor
to ceiling with carved oak
Mounting to the first story by the grand
oak staircase, we find another reception
room, decorated in \ quiet style, evident
ly the room reserved for thought for
meditation. Beside it is the library,
where all the masters of classical and
contemporary literature, the newspapers,
and reviews are found side by side. with
a number of little tables for correspond
ence-
The other rooms are bedrooms, of which
there are no less than twenty-four. But
must not forget to mention the !'clou"
of the Lyceum Club; 1 mean the bath
room, which is in the second story. 1t
is indeed the height Of luxury. The floor