New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-10
LONDON CLUBS ARE
BEHIND THE Times
Buildings Are Not Kept In
to Date and Habitues
Are UnsOciabIe.
SOME LACK MEANS
TO SMARTER lid
Junior Army and Navy, Whitehall
and Travellers Show Decline
in Membership.
fFrom The tribune Correspondent,

~
London. May There is stu rnue.
talk in the London papers on the sub,.c,
OF club life London generally seems "a
believe that the hotels and restauram,
have caused havoc among the clubs. a.
pecially the older ones. existing. as the.
do, merely for social intercourse
THE reason" said a member o, "A.
house committee Of a famous PiccadIly
club. is that the clubs are behind a.
times Their buildings are not kept u,
TO date, their furnishings are dowdy, tAe,
members lack that sense OF responsba,ty
that goes such a long way 70 make a,
popular club, and they have not Il.
means to smarter up their club premise,
owing TO the rapid decrease in memt.e
ship and the thinning out Of the vaitlns
lists. There was A time when every yoqrz
aristocrat was put on the waiting lis, q
his fathers club. just as he was enteru
for the public school, while ne was In ks
cradle, II was an essential thing in Il.
life OF young man. especially II he LIVED
In the country. that his club should h
one Of good standing. for the reason thai
TO all ntents and purposes his club va.
his London address. And for that priv.
lege he was willing 20 pay an entran.
fee of from $50 TO 800 and an annual sgh.
scription Of sos.
Ho.els Are More Cheerful.
"Of late y,ars, however. the you,s
man has become more businesslike. ua
has asked himself whether, all thi,r
considered. residence az hotel is no,
better investment. A club is not 4
cheerful abode for a young man, as L.
older members resent noises and esr-
versation. and he will go where th.u
are more cheerful There is no re. |
however, TO anticipate that the Lon!n |
club is doomed relaxation Of u
strenuous conditions Of membership |
the best clubs will soon see them filed
up. The club must become more Gen, |
ocratic. and in that IL must follow Ii,
trend of the life Of the aristocracy L
London"
Some of the younger members Of he
clubs seem to regard the older ones al
perfect sphinxes.
There is too much of an atnosphs,
OF gloom about the clubs nowadays
said one young member. silence is en-
Joined as vigorously as in the resdia,l
room of The British Museum. and whsI
one begins 10 tell a friend the latel
funny story there is chorus of dsses
from the readers. / rarely go TO nj
oil I har wrl
subscription for years, and | am thirtl
ing Of sending i'm my resignation"
Meals are cheaper and gayer in hote
and restaurants than In the clubs. In !
hotel one may speak 10 another nal
without the Formally Of an introductio,
but in some clubs such an action wOuE
be regarded as improper. and resentmesi
Of it would be manifested by a cold star
or a snub.
Some Specific Gases.
The Standard" has gone so far as b
find out the condition OF some OF d.
best clubs in London. and reports on Il ~
follows:
Carlton Club-Membership quite W b
normal.
Aero Club-Membership increasing.
Alpine Club-Waiting list numeroI 4
whitehall Club-Membership not Y
large as ten years ago.
United Service-Slight decline in mem
bership.
Athen@um Club-Membership well mali
tanned.
Turf Club-Membership up to limit es
waiting list declining.
Public Schools-Decline in Membership
Sayage-Waiting list.
Travellers'-Decline in membership.
Union-Decline in membership.
Brook's-Slight increase in numbers
Garrick-Very prosperous.
Junior Army and Navy-Decreass 2
membership.
The National Liberal Club, IL 10 ssid'
losing ground. Some OF the older mem
bers are thinking about getting out ~
cause they cannot conscientiously foios