Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Formal Opening of the Home
Club With an Attrac-
tive Program.
BEGINS WITH RECEPTION,
CLOSES WITH DANCING
Organization of Interior Department
Employees in New Quarters.
Building Is Inspected.

Democracy was personified last night
at the formal opening Of the Home Club.
IA jackson place when employees OF tho
Interior Department, from the highest
official to the messengers. gathered and
mingled for four hours of good time.
With the exception OF q jam in the cor
ridors just before the guests were started
on the move past those in the receiving
line. everything proceeded smoothly, and
Secretary Lane OF the Interior Depart
ment-president OF the Home Club-was
congratulated upon the success OF the
movement. The club is composed entire
ly Of employees Of the Interior Depart
ment, and was organized to promote So
cial intercourse between the officials and
employees OF this great department 1t
gets its name from the department,
which was called the homo department
when It was first established.
When the last person had gone and the
lights were dimmed the register had
clicked 1.s05 persons past the receiving
line. all OF whom received a hearty hand
shake from President Lane and other
officers OF the club. In tho receiving line
were Secretary and Mrs. Lane, Mr.. and
Mrs Van II. Manning. Harry Under
wood. Mr.. and Mrs A. H. Thompson,
Miss Helen Harding. Judge and Mrs.
John McPhaul. Mr.. and Mrs. J. T. New
ton. Mr.. and Mrs. E. J. Ayres and Mrs.
George L. Pope.
Long before the time set for the re-
ception the corridors and stairways from
the entrance to the red room on the
stood, became damned with humanity.
and the line. three abreast, stretched
down Jackson place nearly to Pennsyl-
vania avenue, and the line of guests
rivals. It was after o o'clock before the
last Of the guests had gained access to
the building and had passed the receiv-
ing party.
Guests Inspect Building.
Following the reception the guests scat
tered about the building on tours OF in
spection, thus relieving the congestion OIL
the lower floors. Members OF the fire
department. who had been assigned to
the building. were constantly busy keep
ing the exits open.
The club quarters were beautifully dec
GRATED with palms and cut flowers. Music
was furnished by a section OF the United
States Engineers Band from Washing
ton barracks. whics was seated behind
palms In the assembly ROOM When the
guests began to thin out the younger set
took the floor in the assembly room and
tangoed. fshwalked and engaged In other
of the numerous present-day dances.
while the older guests, from points OF
vantage. looked on and discussed the
waltzes. Virginia reels and cotillons OF
days gone by.
The democratic spirit, which Is the
keynote of the clubs aims. prevailed
throughout the evening. There was no
ofhcialdom or formality-it was just club
1taAFc nnf tYaty fhA rItlI
club plane.
Office Duties Forgotten.
For the hour the duties and dignity of
the day at the office were completely
thrown aside and forgotten. and every
body seemed to be having a good time.
There was only one fault. and that was
the scarcity Of men for dancing partners.
ushers at the entrances to the room In
which the dancing was going on fairly
pleaded for men to come inside and take
a young woman Tor fishwalk around the
hall, "even If only for one turn once
started, you couldn't get 'em out, to give
others chance.
The quarters are roomy and well suited
to the purpose of the club. On the ground
floor are the reception nall ana IA
rooms. On the next floor are the green
ROOM the red room, back Of which is the
spacious assembly hall or ballroom. ad-
joining which is the billiard room The
kitchen also is on this floor. On the next
floor are six large rooms used for games,
for reading rooms and other purposes. On
the top floor are other game rooms, and
,specia room for the woman she e o.
the club and their guests. The club was
well fitted out with games. such as check
ers. chess and cards, last nj hit
The lighting system is well arranged
and altogether the building Is cheerful
rest place where the membrs may take
their families. relatives and frienus.
officials Attentive Hosts.
Many of the officials last night took
part in the dancing with persons who
are their subordinates in the daytime
and they also undertook personally con-
Quoted tours of the building with large
parties of employees from the various
bureaus of the department Among the
heads Of department present were a. \,
Jones. first assistant secretary: Lewis
G Ilaylin, assistant secretary; James j.
Parker, chief clerk of the department
clay Tallman. commissioner OF the gen
erai land office: George Otis Smith, di-
rector Of the geological survey; Dr.. Jo-
seph A. Holmes. director OF the bureau
of mines, and Thomas Ewing, commas
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