The sun., 1912-07-14

Nine. Dieuafoy.
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the origin Of the London sociable though
unrocial club.
For many years af,erward all London
clubs were proprietary, either owned by
an individual or by a private syndicate.
In the early part Of the nineteenth century
began the organization Of the big clubs
that now own magnificent palaces III
Pail Mall and its immediate neighbor-
hood. Most Of them. such as the United
Service. were founded strictly for econ
omy's sake. in this particular case be-
cause after the close of the Napolconic
wars host Of British army officers had
been retired on half pay. and many had
little more than enough to live on. Indeed
every one in England. outside OF the
army contractors. was more or less poor
in those days and economy was the order
OF the day. The aristocracy. for instance.
was 80 hard up that il could not afford
10 entertain. Hence tho origin of the
famous Almack subscription dances.
Upon the lines OF these early eighteenth
century London clubs were founded the
first clubs in New York, such as the Union.
hut the question of economy did not come
up. Since then the New York club has
developed on lines quite different from
those of the London clubs.
The Englishman first seeks substantial
comfort in his club. He needs comfort
able arm chair, where he may sit and
read undisturbed; loud talking in a club
is frowned on. The clubs are salons of
silence. The furniture of the build
10 inl, l,tt. mt icti
are almost unknown. The cuisine was
very simple but good in former davs.
Howadavs it ID more complicated. The
wines are usually of the best and great
fatten'ion has been raid to the ccla-s.
|, would have becn impossib, for
London clubhouse 10 be built. rs was
the New York University Club. without
accommodation for casks. t, allow the
wine 70 improve in the wool
Me;Gbcrs over were and still are
strangers 10 one another. and although
they msy meet in the same town laY
after dav and night after night for vca~,.
thcv remain strangers 4 nan is npt
even expected TO nod to friends in his
club. Such an individual as n president
To be found in every American club, j.
unknown to the English club
And there being no president. there is
no lis. TO take the initiative in trying 70
make the club more social and mere
popular. One or two minor clubs in
London devoted TO the fine arts give
: excellent exhibit ions. hut such cvh,hi-
, tions as arr he'll in the Union Inacuc
the Loto5 and other we'll known New Nor.,
clubs woGld I've irconCeivabla in clubs
, occupying a similar rank in London.
The political clubs, which are inucl
more important in London than thoy arc
, here the Carlton has fund ont Of which
. it assists poor but deser' ing candi
dates to stand for Parliamc M in the Con
y servative interest do sometimes enter
. tain a Bcaconsfleld. n Gladstone, Il Bal
y -four or Lloyd George; service club,
: have given dinners in honor of "Bobs
:. and N. Of X" Brooks's re!ecoratcd Il.
: dining room TO do honor to the Duke O.
u Wellington after the battle of Waterloo
and in the same London season bal
o was given at Whites to the allied SOW
d erigns and their suites.
= That ia about the sum total Of public
e entertaining that the great London club
y have done in the last hundred years
g They were bitterly averse to strangers
e and they don't care for them much ever
t now. though they are less bitter if the,
,. happen to be foreigners, 1t used 10 b,
II "A serious matter for man who was a
d all nervous to have a card on a membe
l. Of the United Service.
S He was admitted jus. within the portals
, and while his card was being delivered
he was watched as il h" were a dangerou
lunatic or n notorious burglar by TN
suspicious eyes of every servant in TIN
hall II his friend was in he could tall
Ito him only where he stood; no seat wa
offered him, The club now admits tn
stranger into a small reception room.
John Drew was in London when h
received a notification that he had leel
elected to the Refsteal Club, who's
membership is restricted 10 300 memlors
l!c WIS delighted. and as he was hastenin
to leicester Square to take a first meal u
his new club he met Dick Tobin of Sa
Francisco. Tho actor impaired the new
and invited the president of the llilsrni
Bank tn dine with him,
They arrived at the Beefstcal; and ra
across Stuart Wortley. the arr list, win
was Mortified when he learned what .loh
Drew had done He had committed
dreadful offence. He had brought
stranger into the sacred confines of In
l,eefsteak Cub! Something Ind to b
done to save him from the stain Of havir
broken one Of the clubs must saCro
traditions. stuart Woriley and one u
two other old mcml~rS put th.I head
together Al lcnuth il was roca He'd IN,
il WIS the privilege Of the club oent"rtai
,c dist ingu'shot foreigners, ani n "a dis
q
.c mi,,rd tn have the privilege nf dining
the club. although II would have bee