New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-31
Clubs for MONDAY Use
Only on the Increase

Manhattan, on AID st. Chauncey M. Depew
was its first president. Planned for railroad
men gathered in the Grand Central district. its
constitution was so broadly framed that any
desirable person could be included. Its prox-
unity to the theatre district has made il popu-
ar as dinner resort AZ well as lunch club.
The Luncheon Club had been running for
some time before it was formally organized
in 1898. In opposition to the theory OF the
Recess Club of later date it had every con-
venience installed for carrying on business dur
ing the lunch hour II is frankly brokers
resort, and its rooms are on the seventh floor
OF the Stock Exchange 1t is deliberately fitted
for an excellent luncheon service and equipped
with telephones, tckers. pneumatic chutes and
speaking tubes, so that its members may be
summoned instantly and keep in touch with
what is going IN on the floor
The Midday Club was organized in 1901,
partly to take care OF the overflow from the
Downtown Association and the Lawyers Club
and to supply peaceful ssnctum for men OF
various professions who would hnd crowding
distasteful 1t has long been favorite resort
and for time bore the reputation OF being
the headquarters OF the heavy lunch contin-
gent who adopted the Western habit OF
square meal at noon. Among its members
are Frederic Swift and ]. Ogden Armour. Also
Theodore p. Shonts, Edwin Hawley. James
Speycr. +. A. Vanderlip, Mortimer L. SchiH
and Otto Kahn
Among the youngest and most interesting
lunch clubs is the Recess, which was in
corporsted in 1911. and Of which only very
wealthy men are members. Its membership
list includes the names OF Morgan, Hartman,
Astor. Gould, Rockefeller. Perkins and Gary
In its rooms. on the twenty-hrst and twenty
second floors OF the Knckerbooker Trust
Building. all business talk is practically forbid
den. II is fitted out in an artistic manner, dis
playing many old antiques, paintings and rare
tapestries. Some OF its stools and chairs came
from famous old English coffee houses. One
OF its members imported eighteen old Dutch
paintings, which are used as panels set in
cream white walls. Its membership is limited
to 300, and il is more OF Peace Palace than
the Hague.
Among the most attractive and modern lunch
clubs is the Whitehall Club, on the top floor
OF the Whitehall Building, commanding a won
derfu view OF the bay. river and harbor. Every
incoming steamer passes beneath its windows.
Primarily lunch club il has well equipped
gymnasium and squash courts. Its members,
who include men Of practically all professions.
come there frequently for recreation and ex-
ercise. There are several automatic cxercisers
in the gymnasium that appeal to them. There
is horse whose speed is regulated by a
lever, and stomach exereiser. on which the
seeker after muscle lies on his face while a
ball of considerable size is rolled against his
solar plexus.
Another lunch club, started two years ago, is
the Carpet Club, whose headquarters arc at S
West oath st. II vas organized by 32S carpe,
men, and many OF the big drygoods houses and
department stores are represented in its mem
bersh'p' There arc many more.