Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/77

CLUB. 59 CLUB. of 1400. and is Lil)cral; the City Liberal, estab- lished in 1874, has a membership of itOO, and is Liberal. . iong the liter.ary, nnisical, artistic, and ■ scientitio clubs stand out preeminently the Athe- nipum. founded in 1824 by Sir Walter Scott and Thomas lloore, its members numbering 1200. It is devoted to art. soienec. and literature. The I'ress Chib. established in 1882, is strictly jour- nalistic: the Garriek, established in 1831. is the home of actors and of the patrons of the drama : the Royal Societies, established in 1804, is composed of 1700 memlH-rs belonging to the learned associations. The principal clubs pat- ronized by military and naval oflieers are as follows: The Army and Xavy (established in 1837). w-ith 2400 members; and the Junior Army and Xavy (established in 18(59). with 2000 mem"- bers, including among them officers of the army, nav^', marine, yeomanry, and militia. The two principal conunercial clubs are: the City of London (established in 1832), with a membership of 800, the home of mercliants and bankers; and the Gresham (established in 1843), with a membership of 47.1, and with a like clien- tele. Some of the leading athletic and sporting clubs are: The Alpine (established in 1857), devoted to mountain exploration; the Automo- bile (established in 1807), and interested in motor locomotion, with a membership of 1036; the Hurlingham, whose members number 1200, devotees of polo and pigeon- shooting. The M. C. C. (Lord's) Club (established in 1787) is the headquarters for cricket, and has a membership of 4700; the Prince's Racquet and Tennis (es- tablished in 1833), with a membership of 1500, devoted to the jiractice of these games ; the Renelagh, devoted to polo, golf. etc. (established in 1894 ) . w ith a membership of 1000. The Lean- der and the Thames are among the principal row- ing clubs in Kngland. The Xew Oxford and Cam- bridge, composed of the members of those univer- sities, was established in 1884 for the purpose of bringing graduates of those institutions into closer social relations, and has a membership of 900 ; the I'nited University, also composed of Cbcford and Cambridge men, has the same aim in view; the University for Ladies (estab- lished in 18S7) is composed of women educated at universities and medical colleges. These are the principal university clubs of England. The Saint James Club, established in 1857, has a membership of 050, and is the rendezvous for diplomats. The Royal Yacht Squadron is the leading yacht club, and is a very exclusive insti- tution. These clubs are all housed in buildings that are remarkable for their architectural mag- nificence and for the conqileteness of their inte- rior appointments. They combine the comforts of a homo and the service of a hotel without the re- sponsibility of the one or the publicity of the other, and are conducted at a comparatively moderate expense to the individual members. Attempts to introduce clubs in Continental Europe long met with little success. In Ger- many, siich associations were discountenanced by law. The first club estaldislied in France in 1782 had politics for its main object, and went by the name of 'Le Club Politique.' Among the clubs that played an important part in the French Revolution may be noted the .Jacobins; the Feuillants; the Montrang, of which Mirabeau and Latouthe were prominent members; the Cor- deliers, and others. Purely social clubs have also been established in I'aris. First among them are the .Jockey Club and the Cercle Roy- al, the most fashionable and exclusive clubs in Paris. The Club de Boston was established in 1885, In the United States clubs were first intro- duced in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury. The lloboken Turtle Club, organized in 1707, is still in existence. Sucli a club was, how- ever, of sliglit impoiianoe in the social life of the town. In the city of Xew York the pioneer club, in a modem sense, is the Union Club, estalilishod in 1830. It is one of the oldest and most exclu- sive in Xew York City. Its membership is lim- ited to 1500, and its object is purely social. The Century Club, organized in 184(). has the i)ro- motion of art and literature in view. Jlember- ship is limited to authors, artists, and amateurs in letters and the fine arts, and must not exceed 1300. The Union League Club was founded in 1803 for the purpose of discountenancing any attempt to impair the integrity of the L'nited States. The Xew York Universitj- Club, com- posed of college and university graduates, was incorporated in 1805. Xone except <legree-hold- ing persons are eligible for membership. Its aim is literary and artistic. One of the most exclu- sive clubs in Xew York, t'le Knickerbocker, was organized in 1871. Its purpose is purely social. The Lotus Club, organized in 1870, is the home of journalists, author.s, artists, musicians, and friends of literature. Resident membership is limited to 500. The Catholic Club of the City of Xew York has for its ])rimary interest the promotion of Roman Catliolic interests in Xew York, and has existed since 1803. The Calumet, a purely social organization, was established in 1870. "its membership is limited to 500. The Manhattan Club is a powerful factor in Demo- cratic politics of XcAV Y'ork. Its membership is limited to 1500, and it has an actual enrolled membership of 1200. It was organized in 1804, in opposition to the L'nion League Club, The Re- form Club has for its object the promotion of good government and the abolition of the pro- tective taritr. It was organized in 1878. The United Service Club was organized in 1889 for the promotion of military science. Membership is limited to military and naval officers. The Players' Club was organized in 1888, to pro- mote social intercourse betw-een the different members of the dramatic profession. This club was founded by Edwin Booth, who left the house, with its furniture and pictures, to the associa- tion. Social clubs have also been formed exclusively for women. It would seem that these should have u raison d'etre, especially in the United States, where ladies' luncheon-parties, at which the com- pany of no man is expected or desired, are so ])opular. Women's clubs are, however, ancient in- stitutions. There were a number of them in an- cient Rome, among them an assembly of matrons known as the 'Minor Senate.' This institution re- ceived imjierial recognition. It was chiefly occu- pied with questions of etiquette— -such asthekind of dress tluit ladies should wear, according to their social position; the question astowhomight be driven in carriases drawn by horses and who should be compelled to drive mules ; whose sedan- chairs should have ornaments of ivory and whose