New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29
The Cosmopolitan in Rupert
Street Is Largely American.
ONLY TWELVE MONTHS OLD
Vaudeville Artists and Peers
(Under Mons de Nuit) Rub
Shoulders in Small Hours.

initiated wayfarer I'm search Of food or
entertainment finds ii a wilderness Of in /
hospitabe doors. Starting with the idea
OF opening a club i'm which members OF
the theatrical and music hall professions
could meet after the labors Of the even
ing and in congenal company eat
well cooked meal and spend social
Eour, he finds himself now the head OF
an establishment which is undoubtedly
unique I'm the history Of London and bids
fair to become more famous than even
the greatest Of the Bohemian resorts OF
Paris.
The place referred TO is the Cosmo-
politan club, in Rupert street, which
turns off Shaftesbury avenue. leading
to Leicester Square, and is right in the
heart Of theatreland. This club is per-
haps better known to Americans than Il
is to Englshmen. for though it has been
established only little more than year,
scores, perhaps il would be more correct
to say hundreds. Of visiting Americans
have found their way there since last
May. AS 10 the way IN which it is run,
and its attractions IL has been in
spected, from information received" BY
representatives of the New York police,
and it is pretty certain that il Barney
Flood or his young colleague Reilly were
asked their opinion of It they would
admit that IT was some club
Where Ragtime Is Played.
Really IT ought to be called the Rag
time Club, for there Is probably more
ragtime played, sung and danced there
than in any place in the world; certainly
than any place I'm Europe. The public
rooms of the club are three, each long
and fairly wide. The lowest one. in the
basement, has long benches and tables
It either side, and on its walls are quaint
inscriptions and many clever, fantastic,
chic and grotesque charcoal drawings.
At one end of the room is an imposing
array OF generous looking barrels, hu-
morously labelled. and at the other end,
on a raised platform, piano, to the
accompaniment OF which, while the CLUB
members and their guests drink and sup,
any one who feels moved 10 contribute
to the gayety of the hour may let him
self-or herself-go.
And how they do let themselves go!
a
Naturally, with the ragtme invasion OF
England now Al its height, nearly all the
songs are ragtime and the dances when
are started with the most surprising ana
pleasing spontaneity by those OF either
sex whom the spirit moves, are all rag
time.
The room above the basement is the
supper room proper, but here also Us
piano on a platform Smal suppeI
tables are the feature Of this room ana
with more than two thousand members
the majority Of whom are regular VS.
itors. there - no certainty Of getting on
of these tables unless by reservinS II oE
telephone or telegram early in the even
ing
Charm Of the Unexpected.
Here also is the charm Of the uncy-
pected 20 be found. over the hum Of
voices and the rattle Of plates, knives and
forks voice suddenly rises. The first
note heralds a ragtime song, and smiling
faces are turned expectantly in the direc-
ton Of the singer to find that one OF the
ragtime stars has moved out into one OF
the aisles and is giving the assembled
company, out OF sheer joy of heart ana
good fellowship, a song whose drawing
powers with the public have led his man
ager to pay him a headliner's salary. The
singer may be one Of the Two Bobs, one
OF the Hedges Brothers and Jacob
son trio. one Of the Three Rascals,
member OF a ragtime quartet. seXtet or
octet Gene Green even; whoever he IS,
one hears his name at once whispered al
over the room. The composer OF the
rag" may be sitting at one OF the tables
Lou Hirsch. Melville Gideon and other
ragtme composers sup frequently at the
Cosmopolitan.
Though dancing is apt 10 break out nj
any moment IN any room. the upstairs
room. with its raised platform and piano
is the one particularly reserved for H.
Here no suppers are served, but there
are small tables set about the room for
the comfort and convenience OF spec
tators or dancers who want to refresh
themselves between dances. From
o'clock Til on week nights and from
70 till on Sundays every inch Of floor (
space here is covered by merry, wen
dressed crowd of dancers. the girls re-
cruited from the musical comedy COM
ranies. though it Is fact that more thah
one society lady curious TO see this In
terestirg place Of which there Is Just
now so much talk by the young men
about town. has extracted an hour or
two's amusement, incognito, by letting
her partner guide her through the 'tur-
kew trot' or the bunny hug.
IL is by no means an easy thing nova
DAYS to get admission 10 the Cosmopoh-
tan-that is. for one who is not a mem
her. Members. of course can always
bring a friend but six hours notice OF
this must he given. Ladies are admitted
at any time on the introduction OF
member. who. however, is required 70
vouch for the professional standing o.
his guest.
There is no possibility, as in The case
OF some of the clubs which open M nisN
in the same district. Of getting lon oy 'e
administration OF palm oil. Were 1t other
wise the Goorkeepers could have MADE
small fortunes ere now. They 40 NeF
well, by the way. legit.matcly.
TO say that the Cosmopolitan Club j.
success is to state the case very miI'''
| indeed AS matter OF fact, IFS pfoSies'
must have far exceeded tho Wiiu'',
dreams OF its founder. 10 whose soo'
management is due the fact thai. IN spy
of its prosperity. II has lost nothing o
! its bohemian atmosphere or OF It's gehe'"
spirit of bonhomie Among it's visitors
can number at least one duchess, le"
lords. a score or so Of miilionaires' S0''T
of whom are now members, ana seVc'"'
sprigs of nobility who have yelled the"
Identity under mons de NUT.