The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
LOVELY MEMORIES LINGER OF OLD PHOENIX CLUB

LOVELY MEMORIES LlNGER
 OF OLD PHOENIX CLUB
 No matter how I try, somehow never can think of club in any other fashion than It is delightful grown-up playhouse.
 When I was a little girl, every home practically had a big attic, or a spare room. or a spot in the barn where the children could make playhouse.
 And what excruciating delight to our souls-boys and girls, alto flee to this spot where we could do as we lightsomery pleased!
 How we literally adored the care free society of one another!
 And. oh. how short was that time though it be an entire day that our mothers called at dear friends house. Ind how calam- itous those moments if we were summoned from the playhouse to go home; or to be put. at treble sing ing before eXclamatory guests; or, following our unusually hilarious screeches. to be sen. Tor and set down in the library with book and private instructions from headuuar- ters that we were. going to be a LADY for the balance of the aft ernoon. and not a WILD INDIAN
 Sympathy of Childhood
 Gloriously do I yet remember the secret, uplifting joy of that sneak ing sympathy then offered through fraternal pieces of candy slipped to me by all the other ab- breviated members of the little hoodlum gang. Though I am dead, yet will I remember. No grownup sympathy could be ever quite SC dear as this I am positive that the secret, fun damental reason for building the first club was this: Folks needed a grown-up playhouse. It could be cluttered up and left. The weight of striaghtening it would not lie upon their souls.
 When they came in sight of it, they could feel:
 Here I am free,"
 "Here I can play to my hearts satisfaction. ,
 q can have hot waffles and Hawaiian music every meal if wanta."
 q can get away from the things that bedevil me-"
 "I can enjoy every friend Eve got-invite strangers and acquain- tances, too-and the house will hold 'em."
 Herein I can be joyful. No collar button agents or anything"
 In other words, club was a place where unhappiness wouldn't even be allowed on the back stoop.
 Clubs, filling this demand to joy really figure nowadays as build CTS of great public morale and strength.
 Old Days Gone And so that's why it's sad to chronicle that Birmingham this week has lost one of it's most at tractive playhouses-the Phoenix club. The lovely interior of the handsome brick building was swept by flames. and rendered shell Not even the exquisite and expen- sive furniture was saved. Fire from an overloaded furnace started the blaze.
 No matter if tho structure is abandoned or rebuilt, always, at somebody's heartstrings, there will be that tug at remembering things connected with its "usedto-be' ' days.
 For Is years, in the city's life, this club had been great gathering point and play place for many thousands of folk.
 During the war, it's d. l.s were thrown wide to the soldiers from every section of the state; and any great conventions that came to town were always offered the de- lights of its great lobbies, and the laat, least bit of hospitality it al ways proffered so abundantly.
 Practically any time of the day during these years, the clubs roof sheltered tired business men who had slipped away from duty for an hour with a good book, for a friendly card game. or only t.at they might rest.
 It's dining room held coteries of ladies' luncheon parties each week.
 The clubs presicent now is Leo Kayser, brilliant and capable man, who is serving his second term. Of quick repartee. and with broad com nonsense. he is an enviable leader, ever jealous in the organization service and for it's healthy prog ress.
 Large Affairs
 The old Phoenix has been the set ting for many gorgeously brilliant affairs. It's opening balls in No vember and at the Jew Tear have been two of each seasons most an ticipated events, assembling, from far and near, immense throngs of several hundred persons.
 Most frequetly have these dances lured baC young business men ana matrons who have married and re- moved to other cities. Being pres ent meant that they would meet ag:sn their circle sf friends and