The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-06
The Bachelors of Piccadilly Is
the Most Exclusive of All
Social Organizations
BANKRUPTS AND OUTLAWS
NEVER PASS ITS PORTALS
Dice and All Hazards Are Barred
in GamesOf Chance, and Cards
Are InnOcuOus


generally known. not even in London,
II il none the less true that there is
one club In London in which tips to
servants are forbidden. gambling In
restricted to card games in which the
hazards are kept down 10 an unem-
barrassing minimum and the dogs Of
the members are excluded from Its
inner precincts. The Bachelors club
In Piccadilly, although not much
more pretentious than its neighbors
in an architectural way, Is neverthe-
less the most unique and ultra
fashionable OF the social centers OF
this metropolis. II Is an exclusive
of the exclusives. as It well must be
to sustain its character and to per-
petuate the idea and purposes for
which It was organized.
It's membership includes royalty
and nobility and the elite OF the old
county families Of Great Britain
and Ireland, the blue-bloods of the
empire. No one can gain entrance
to its massive portals upon whose
escutcheon faint or even suggestion
of faint rests. Its requirements Of
membership are SO infexible that
none seeks enrolment who cannot ex-
hibit an immaculate record OF per-
sonal honor and convincing proof
of strict adherence to the highest
code of individual ethics.
The Bachelors club is 33 years old.
Active membership is limited to 500,
but there are also honorary members
those who have forsaken the life OF
single blessedness, members OF the
royal family Of both sexes and the
ambassadors and ministers accredit-
cd to the Court of ST. James. In the
case Of the diplomats 1t Is provided
that their membership shall cease At
the termination OF their respective
missions, but 1t may be continued
subject to the approval OF the club
committees.
A third class Is known az super
numerary. They are those who are
absent from the United Kingdom dur
Ing the whole period for which an
annual subscription Is payable. Upon
hts return to England the super
numerary IL entitled to all the priv
leges Of the club. But before he can
be fully restored he Is reminded that
he cannot stick his aristocratic nose
inside the reception hall until he has
paid his subscription for the current
year In full. Even then he 10 not o
fullfedged member and must wait
until vacancy occurs In the mem
bership for his readmission without
the formality of ballot. or such Is
the hard and fast material from which
no rryla ND In ~( a
Bachelors club are made.
But this is only a sample. The fea-
ture Of exclusiveness which domi-
mates the whole social structure Of
the club is carried to the extent Of
excluding foreigners from member
ship. Since 1886 no one not British
subject has been eligible to election
as q permanent member unless he
has been an ambassador or minister
accredited to the British court.
Yet with all Of its overpowering ex-
clusiveness the fees are nominal for
an institution of its class--about 1852
for initiation, $3.50 for annual dues
and 50 a year for the supernumeraries
or absentee members. or course, Il
rarely II ever has happened that q
member becomes DELINQUENT, but
should that happen prompt expulsion
Is the order.
In one special way the Bachelors
club, with all of its distinguishing
characteristics, sets the pace for
other institutions Of It's kind. Tips TO
funkeys or other servitors are taboo
mo member" one Of the rules
reads, shall give any money or
gratuity to any Of the servants of the
establishment upon any pretense
whatever" II that or similar rule
were enforced In other London clubs
and hotels, living In London would be
far more pleasant and economical
than II Is now.
Gambling, as It Is popularity under
stood, and as It Is practiced in some
Of the other fashionable clubs, Is