The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-05-23
In .Nezc York
Bx PAUL HARRISON

New York-The Union Club has nicired up its fat leather chair and its copy of the New York Times, and is moving to a new $S,OOO,OOO home on Park Avenue.
 Colonels and Commodores, paun- chy masters of finance, brtstiy- mustached diplomats-gentlemen all. scions of centuries-old lines or blue-bloods. They're deserting, with sigh, the gloomy high-vaulted Italian palazzo where for 30 years they have dined, and talked, ana lounged before the broad windows on Fifth Avenue and Fifty-First street. And now, for the nth time in the organizations 97 years. ns members must accustom tnemsei- yes to new and modern grandeurs. and a new view.
 The Union is the oldest social club in America, as well as the most socially exclusive. In the old days sons of New York's first families were enrolled on its long waiting list, which often contained A thousand names, as soon as they were born. Lately, though, the waiting list has dwindled, but there has been no tonal lowering of its membership. On the roster are names like J. Pierpont Morgan, Ogden L. Mills, Clarence H. Ma ckay, Nicholas Murray Butler, WI. liam H. Woodin. Members of old families like the Cabots, Van derbilts, Iselins and Biddles are elected as a matter or course; Ihe clubs secretary, Charles K. Beck man owns the Social Register.
 For Men Only
 Sternly masculine, the union Club has never had a ladies day. In fact, the only women ever ad- mitted to it's cloistered halls were the widows of ex-presidents,, es- corted there to view their nus bands portraits. Gambling games are drowned upon, although mem- bers generally find something on which to place bets-such as the number of negroes who will pass window during a given time. or the number of kittens that will be born to the basement cat.
 Contrary to conjecture, mere membership is not expensive. Tn, itiation fees are $500; annual dues $200. Cigars and refresh ments are sold at wholesale prices, and there is no tipping of
  divide a subscribed Christmas fund which usually runs between $l2.0oo and S15,0OO. Dinners in the clubs private dining rooms are likely to be expensiVe. Union Club terrapilT famed for more than half a cen tury among epicures, costs $3.oo a portion.
 Unhappy Memories Not always has the Union Club pursued its placid way. Dissention has disturbed its studied calm. Ira dition has it that the Brook Club was founded by two Union mem bers who were expelled for putting poached egg on the bald dome of mapping brother.
 In 1882 Count Joseph Loubat called Joseph H. Choate liar dur ing a heated argument. Expelled forthwith, Count Loubat went to court with an array of bitterly elo- quent legal talent that won him reinstatement. 1t was humiliating precedent that has made expulsion Q difficult process ever since. Across the street at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a throng of Irish one day were attending a service for hero martyred in the Free State fight. Emerging from the church they saw the British flag. honoring a famed English visitor, flying from the Union Club. They saw it. and charged. bricks and stones shattered every downstairs window of the club. The mob forced its way into the lower lounges. there en- gagged in combat with members. The flag wasn't pulled down. either. But ever since then waggish club men have been fond of saying that the Union was Just stones throw from the cathedral.