A CLOVER CLUB.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3785, 1 September 1883, Page 4

A CLOVER CLUB.

There exists in Philadelphia an organisation called tho Clover Club, which is a somewhat curious institution. It is a sort of Bohemian Club, and in its peculiarities bears a strong resemblance to tho local body of that name. Its membership is formed of professional men and good fellows generally. It entertains celebrities, and gives its guests a good time on principles of energetic novelty. At their dinners they sit down to a table built in the shape of a four-leeved clover. In tho room, and shading some of the guests, is an orange tree full of fruit. Every now and then during- the dinner one of tho club shoujs "Now!" Then all hands repeat the cry, and the guests learn that "now," when translated means "take a drink." Whoever happens to bo tho latest member of the club is called tho baby, and has to sit in a high chair, with a ribbon about his neck, suspending an infant's rattle. Tho proceedings begin by passing around the board a, lingo silver cup filled with punch, from which the guests drink standing, while the club cheers. After dinner toasts arc in order, and woe be to the man who undertakes to do tho regulation thing by way of thanking the club for its hospitality and that sort of business. The minute anybody starts it on a set phrase, tells an old story, or cracks a hackneyed joke, everbody shouts "chestnut," and down ho comes. (Tho Bohemian Club docs this more effectively by a good solid " Auld Lang Sync " chorus.) There arc other amusing customs in existence at these convivial greetings, and fun and good nature reign paramount in tho Clover Club of Philadelphia.