The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-08

the name. Most of them suffer from the fact that in the beginning, the member ship committee has admitted some one who proves undesirable. This one error leads to others. Ons bounder in the be- ginning may wreck any club. Thus, though many clubs are large and prosperous, they are merely large bodied of com mercialized individuals without distinc- tion or social form. At one time, it was said that a member oA the New York athletic club dropped into a barbers shop one Saturday noon. After some de- sultory conversation the barber said:
 "Off for the afternoon?"
 Yes replied the customer. Tam gH- ing to the Athletic club"
 Then I'll see you later,''
 When the now famous Dutch Treat club, of which I had the honor of being
 one of the founders was first formed. we were so unfortunate as to let in as
 member an offensive young man. who came near destroying the whole club by his presence. He had been regularly
 elected and there seemed no way of get
 tmg rid of him as he paid his dues with
 great promptness and though requested
 to resign, declared that he would not do
 so. There was clause in the constitu-
 tion of the club which stated that if any
 member should absent himself for four weeks from the meetings his name would be dropped. At one of the weekly meetings the offensive member failed to appear. The glad news quickly spread that he was laid up with the grip Pray CTS were offered for a song Illness. There after for three weeks, the members gath cred at each meeting with bated breath. The prayers were answered. The member was too weak to crawl over the bars 1 at the last meeting. The executive com mittee dropped the name and a notih- cation was sent. Two days later the | offending absentee called upon me badly damaged but furious threatening to sue !, But his words were vain. And from that /, day the club grew to it's present pro-
 portions.
 The success of any club, so far as its claim to distinction is concerned de
 pends entirely upon it's atmosphere; And this atmosphere is acquired very slowly In the beginning it is due to the almost incredible caution taken, against admitt- ing undesirable members. An immense amount of business is done in New York
 clubs: lawyers meet prospective clients
 Brokers corrall future customers. Merely to be a member of certain clubs may
 affect a mans standing in particular profession or business to such an ex- tent as to determine quite largely the amount of his income. Tor this reason there is a constant struggle going or between those on the outside of certain clubs trying to get in (who use every possible means to run the gauntleD and those on the inside who stand guarl over the atmosphere of the club. Often times it happens that man, who is q
 good fellow, with nos blemishes, is turrl- ed down by particular club because he cannot fit into the atmosphere of that
 club. Thus, a few New Yorks leading
 clubs, as they advance in years and mem e,Yafl flxs .f.x-a
 conservative, and more difficult to enter.
 Although the governing board largely
 determines thef question of new mem
 bership as soon as their names are post ed, become objects of suspicion ana close scrutiny, and the slightest flaw in
 their disirability is brought-to the sur
 face. Most conservative clubs adopt the
 method of discouraging the proposal oi
 names of membership until the club IS
 satisfied that the candidates are accept
 able. Thus much pain is spared those
 whose names. after having been put up,
 may have to be withdrawn. In one or
 the most exclusive "highbrow clubs
 of New York. in which it requires several
 years probation before anyone can expect
 to become a member, admission largely
 depends upon the number of letters in ccmmendation of particular candidate received by the governing board from members: one disparaging letter (unless due to some personal animus) may easily 1 destroy the candidates chance. l Know several multi-milIionaires, who have tried l for years to get into certain exclusTt clubs in the Metropolis, without success Some of the most exclusive clubs oi New York, each with its own atmosphere are the Century, the Racquet, The Brook the Union The Metropolitan and the Players.
 The Player is to me the most delight | full because apparently the most demo cratic and easiest of access, 1t contains | the greatest diversitly the most demo l cratic and easiest of access, 1t contaps | the greatest diversity of mind, and while appearing to bar nobody from its friend' lily doing, yet continues to keep it's atmo- spbere without any of what one may call club prudery. | Here are authors, artists, editors. arcS-' tects. actors engineers, bohemians-ir ! fact practically every shade of the met ] raj apolitan mind--a quite remarkaole eA hibit of the American professional Tn hl' 1 off moments at play. Here are som snatches. boswellian fragments or con versation caught up from the Players as revealing what some New Yorker 1 talk about in their natural habitat.
 | A new guest is brought up to one mem Der by another who says:
 Meet here What he says is son<e times interesting but not" important l Another breaks in;
 | .you have that wrong. What say ,is sometimes important but never in Iteresting. ,.,
 Whereupon the clubs wit, putting m arms around the group says softiy
 "Gentlemen, you are both wrong. Wna
 says is neither interesting nor in, portant ,
 ! This matter being settled, they sit dow to the round table and conversation pro ceeds. A famous artist says:
 l "B a friend of mine was at the eeac conference in Paris. It was during tn critical dav when everyone was brough m to the highest pitch or excitement
 Ar mbassador was speaking Durin
 tha sneech Lloyd George leaned over i the man next to him anu "n,speie something intently. A qulver went tnrous the assemblage. The man 6eorse WE pered to nodded his head empnaticahS while his brow grew stern. Then the prime minister got up delioerateiy an , stealthily made his way over to the Jap lanese minister. That genteieman snoo , his head. Then Lloyd George tiptoed ou | of the room. The excitement was intense i, The sneaker halted but finally went or , Finally George came pack ana LII 1. great moment passed"
 "DonuARAswhh .,Acwcwhosoe din aDon't take so long" said some one inc table Just what did the old DO say7" - ,s
 "oh, replied the artist. he said
 my friend was quite near and hear [ hin-he said to the first man "Beastl