The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-10-28
CELEBRATION BY
THE AUTHORS CLUB
ANNIVERSARY ELABORATELY
OBSERVED TUESDAY EVENING
AT THE PLEASANT VILLA
HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION.

HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION.
The anniversary of the organiza-
ton of the Authors Club, Pleasant
ville's most exclusive social organiza-
ton, was celebrated in most elabo-
rate style at the Pleasant Villa on
Tuesday evening last. Shortly after
seven o'clock, the members with their
husbands and invited guests were
ushered into the dining room, where
the festivities began with the serving
of a bountiful dinner, prepared and
served in the delightful manner for
which Mine Host Lake is noted. Fol
lowing this, Mrs. Hugh Collins read
a historical sketch of the Club, and
Miss Helen Collins favored with a
piano solo. At this point an unknown
fortune teller appeared, and amused
all by the cleverness with which she
revealed the future of her subjects.
The house was attractively decorated
in keeping with the Halloween season
and added much to the pleasure of the
occasion. Enjoying this happy event
were: Mrs. William Wright and Miss
Marion Wright, of Albany, N. Y; Mrs.
j. L. Langford, of Fort Worth, Texas;
Mr.. and Mrs. John F. Ryon, Miss
Lydia Magee, Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel L..
Collins, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles T. Col
Inns, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert L. Race,
Mr.. and Mrs. Jerry Carton, Mrs. l.
G.. Adams, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Ire
land, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Steb-
bins, Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Collins, Miss
Helen Collins, Mrs. Charles A. Camp
bell, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles S. Adams,
Mr.. James Ryon, Mrs. Peter B. Reed,
Mr.. and Mrs. David R. Lake, Mrs. B.
F. R~utledge, Miss Mertie Lake and
Mr.. and Mrs. Bertram E. Whitman.
The members of the Club are as
follows: Mrs. Hugh Collins, Mrs. Dan
iel L.. Collins, Mrs. Isaac Collins, Mrs.
Charles T. Collins, Mrs. J. B. West
colt, Mrs. l. G. Adams, Mrs. R. l..
Race, Mrs. H. F. Parker, Mrs. John
F. Ryon, Mrs. Charles Stebbins, Mrs.
Charles S. Adams, Mrs. Samuel Ire
Jerry Carton, Mrs. Lewis Ryon, Mrs.
D. R. Lake.
History of the Club.
In 1891, "The Shakespeare Club"
of P%leasantville, N. j., was organized
at the home of Mrs. Hugh Collins,
who then lived at the corner of Wright
st. and Shore Road. Mrs. J. B. Vest
colt organized the Club. The follow
ing ladies were the charter members:
Mrs. j. B. Westcott, Mrs. Hugh Col
Inns, Mrs. Ewalt R. Hates, Mrs. w. l.
Newell, Jr., Mrs. Alvin Risley, Mrs.
John Ryon, Mrs. Robert Race.
These ladies felt the crying need
of a club of some sort for the Bor-
ough. 1t was decided to organize
and call the club "The Shakespeare
Club, and it was further resolved to
meet fo%rtnightly at the homes of the
members on Tuesday afternoon. At
ter meeting a few afternoons, the lad
les decided to admit their husbands
as honorary members and to change
the time of meeting to evening. The
first play taken up was, The Mer-
chant of Venice, and a very profitable
and enjoyable winter was spent in
the study of this wonderful work. At
the close of the evenings study a
banquet was served by the hostess,
each one trying to Guido the other as
is usual with the ladies. About four
years were spent with Shakespear-
can works and then the gentlemen
dropped out. Hugh Collins and John
Ryon said they were afraid to go
home in the dark and as Robert Race
and Alvin Risley and the other gents
were of the same mind they were per
mitted to leave the organization, pro-
vided they would permit their wives
to remain in the afternoon just as
late as they wished. After this
change the ladies concluded to
the club and invite some more ladies
to unite with them. The Club was
renamed "The Authors Club, which
name has chung to it ever since. This
Club has the unique distinction of be-
ing without officers. No President or
Treasurer exists. 1t is the wish of
the organizers and charter members
that it so remains. The new men,
bers who came in at the time of the
remaining were: Mrs. Edward Ryon,
Mrs. Pardon Ryon, Mrs. w. l. Newell,
Mrs. James Ryon, Mrs. Isaac Collins
and Mrs. Daniel Collins.
Applications for membership came
in so fast that the ladies kept wait
ing list and each year admitted those
selected from that list. The first few
years were devoted to reading from
the various authors the first hour of
the afternoon, the second hour being
devoted to fancy work and social in
t~ercourse. The Club was then chang
ed to a weekly Club, meeting as us
ual on Tuesday, and then it was de-
cided not to study any further but
just meet for social purposes and it
has so continued. This Club is the
oldest social organization in Pleas