Brooklyn Life from Brooklyn, New York • Page 24

BROOKLYN LIFE. 18 i 1 I i 4 If i I i i i them, and never return what they take, there is but one term to apply to such. It is short, and of Anglo-Saxon origin. ONE is particularly impressed with the exterior beauty of the new home of the University Club, at Fifth avenue and Fifty-fourth street, Manhattan, which was formally opened on Wednesday evening of this The building, which is constructed of pink granite, is architecturally both beautiful and imposing. It is ten stories high, but, by a unique as well as attractive arrangement of the faqade in grand tiers, it possesses the grace of a structure with only half that number of stories.

Of the rich embellishments in the way of carvings in stone, the most striking are the seals of the various colleges. Of conspicuous beauty also are the three sets of keystones over the windows that mark the grand tiers. Heads are carved upon all of these, one set comprising mythological characters, another poets, and the third animals. On the roof is a garden, with stone floor and coping. The entrance, on Fifty-fourth street, leads into a lobby, sixty by fifty feet, and with a ceiling twenty-five feet high.

Sixteen columns of Connemora (dark green) marble, with bronze capitals, are conspicuous features of the decorations. This in turn leads into an immense lounging-room, occupying the entire Fifth avenue frontage of ninety-five feet, richly decorated, and furnished in deep red velvet and gold. On the Fifty-fourth slreet side of the same floor is a handsomely appointed cafe. Ascending the broad staircase of marble, the billiard-room floor is at the first landing. Then come in turn the bedroom floor, the library floor, the "pipes and beer" and cardroom floor, another bedroom floor, and the huge dining-room.

The latter is finished in English vale and has a stone floor, the apartment being after the style of an old baronial hall. On the same floor is a council chamber. Still higher up are private dining-rooms and also the kitchen. The building lacks nothing in the way of comfort or luxury, as befits the home of a club in "which membership is an honor that men covet beyond that of any other club in the United States. ANEW patriotic order h'as been added to the already numerous list.

It was incorporated last week, Friday, under the name of the "Settlers and Defenders of America." The qualification for membership is a triple one, the three requirements being that one shall be descended from a settler in one of the original thirteen colonies during the first genera MR. GEORGE G. BROWN, SECRETARY OF THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF EDUCATION. FOR over twenty years Mr. George G.

Brown has acceptably filled his present position, and since his first election has been unanimously re-chosen for each succeeding term. Mr. Brown was born in Cambridge, and has lived in Brooklyn since 1861. He was bond clerk in the Comptroller's office of the former city, under Comptrollers Semler, Brinckerhoff and Livingston, resigning to accept the position he now fills. He is a member of the Oxford and Aurora Grata clubs.

show for the benefit of the women relatives and friends of members. THE new National Arts Club, of Manhattan, which was recently organized, with Mr. George B. Post, President of the Fine Arts Federation, as its President; Mr. Charles de Kay, Secretary, and Mr.

Spencer Trask, Treasurer, promises to be one of the most attractive and successful clubs in which the privileges are shared by men and women that has yet been tion of its settlement, also from an ancestor who rendered either civil or military Colonial service, and again from someone who served similarly during the War of the Revolution. It will thus be seen that it has for its excuse for entering a field already well filled, the desire to give those who do not feel like incurring the expense of maintaining membership in several societies to which they are eligible, the opportunity of covering the ground of all in a single society. Mr. Walter S. Carter, of this borough, was the prime mover in the organization of the new order.

The other Brooklyn incorporators are Hon. William B. Davenport and Mr. Robert D. Benedict.

They are also members of the Board of Managers for the first year, which body is further represented in- this borough by Mr. Elijah R. Kennedy, Mr." Edward H. Hobbs, Mr. Frank Squier, Mr.

Walter L. Wellington and Mr. Win-throp M. Tuttle. The society is intended to be a national one.

THE Hanover, which is distinctly the, representative club of the East End, would seem to be on the eve of the period of its greatest prosperity. During the ten years of its existence it has steadily grown stronger, but latterly its advance seems to have been accelerated. These conditions, I need not say, have been entirely due to the. fidelity and loyalty of its early members, who have worked steadfastly from the beginning to advance its interests and clear it of indebtedness. Its latest benefactor is Mr.

R. P. Lethbridge, who last week paid off the balance of $3,600 remaining due on its original bonded indebtedness of $20,000, all of which has been paid up by voluntary subscriptions and the turning in of bonds by members. The note representing the amount of the last installment was ceremoniously burned on Tuesday evening of last week at the clubhouse, amid much rejoicing. Recently the club has gained a large accession of new members, especially of the younger element, which is so necessary a factor in the permanency and club7At "the last meeting of the Governors, no less than sixteen candidates were admitted.

This week, Thursday evening, the club minstrels, who made such a hit a fortnight ago, repeated their set on foot in New York. Although art is its prime object, it is more on the lines of a social club than most such organizations. Its new house, 37 West Thirty-fourth street, formerly the residence of Mr. Richard V. Harnett, has a cafe and grill room in the basement, decorated in the old Dutch style.

The first floor comprises an assembly and general reading room and cafe, with a gallery in the rear, all of which will be at the disposal of the ladies as well as the men. The second floor is reserved exclusively for the ladies, while the third floor, containing billiard, smoking and committee rooms, is reserved for the men. Thus the men and women of the club may mingle or find seclusion among themselves, as they mav feel inclined. The distinctive feature of the clubhouse is the fireproof art gallery in progress of completion, where fine arts or industrial arts exhibitions will be held from time to time. Mr.

Samuel T. Shaw is Chairman of the House Committee, Mr. Charles R. Lamb, of the Art Committee, and Mr. Richard Watson Gilder of the Library Committee.

A club of this kind would seem to possess the constituents of success. It is questionable whether a club of men and women otherwise planned can be made a success socially, at least. The main attraction of club life is its freedom from restraint, and there is always some restraint on both sides where men and women are obliged to meet unconditionally; but where the choice is afforded, the opportunity of meeting is the more fully appreciated, The Governor..