A FAMOUS LITERARY CLUB.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1107, 19 May 1893, Page 11

A FAMOUS LITERARY CLUB.

Everyone has heard of the Athenseum Club, London, but not many persons, perhaps, are aware of how closely it has been connected with the literature, science, and professional eminence of the present century, An interesting account of the institutipn, with .many amusing stories of some of its 'most distinguished members, is given ul a recent number of the Illustrated Londori News. The club was founded mainly by John Wilson Croker, who is chiefly known as the editor of the Boswell and the object of one of Macauley's most scathing critical articles. The preliminary committee meeting was held in February,' 1824, when among those present were Sir Walter Scott, Tom Moore, Sir Humphrey Davy, Sir Thomas Lawrence, and many other famous men, and since then the Atheneeum has been one of the most prosperous and successful clubs in London. The premises which it occupies in Pall Mall cost, including the furnishing, ■£43,000, and a dinner to celebrate the opening was given on February 6, 1830. The total number of ordinary members is not allowed to exceed 1200, and as one black ball in tec excludes it is considered no small honour to be elected. Many incidents of almost historic importance in English literature have occurred in the Atheneeum Club. At the foot of the staircase took place the reconciliation between Dickens and Thackeray, who had for some time been estranged. Dickens had passed his brother novelist without speaking to him, whereupon Thackeray hurried after him; and insisted on their shaking hands, saying'that he could not bear that there should any longer be ill feeling between them, Here, also, the two great writers met foip the last time a few days before Thackeray's death. The drawing-room has always been a favourite resort of literarj men, and, on one • occasion, Anthony Trollope overheard two clergymen discussing his novels, and complaining that he introduced the same characters over and over again, Mrs Proudie being specially referred to as a case in point. Troilppe found it impossible to remain quiet;, he got up and acknowledged that he ..was the culprit, at the same time declaring that he would go home and kill Mrs Proudie before the week was over, which :he did. There is one particular spot: in the dining-room which has been known as ' Temperance Corner' for over half a century. The explanation of this name, is amusing. The brilliant wit, humorist, and practical joker, Theodore Hook, used to sit there, and he had a habit of calling the strong beverages in which he. indulged by very harmless names. Thus he would be heard asking the waiter for','a, little more toast and water,' ' another tumbler of lemonade,' or ' a cup of tea.,' On one occasion, it is said, he objected to paying for ten glasses of brandy which were put down in his bill, declaring that he had nine. 'But, sir,' explained the waiter, ' you forget the one you hid before you sat down.' Hook was so great an attraction at the club that, according to the Quarterly Beview, after he had disappeared the dinners fell off to the extent of 300 a year. Charles Kemble, the actor, used to dine there, and might often be heard calling in his most theatrical tone for ' bread, with a dash of black tay.' In his later years he became very deaf, and had a habit of speaking very loud. Meeting Thackeray on one occasion, he shouted to him, ' Come and si<; <iosra;' I want to tell you something in private; nob,6dy but you'must krtow of it.' jje then proceeded, in stentorian tones, which were heard by everybody, to pour out to his listener lamentations of the most confidential nature respecting his family affairs. It was in the Athenpum that the -great landscape -painter Turner, when told of the suicide of Haydon, the painter, startled Maclise by the mysterious question,' Why did he stab his mother ?' and that Macaulay delivered his famous rhapsody on Eichardson's 'Clarissa.' Crabb Eobinson tells us that he made it a rule to fast one day every week, in order tfyat he might the better enjoy his feasts at the club on the other six days, and the Rev Mark Pattison thoUght the library • the most delightful place in the world — especially on a Sunday morning.' A full account of the Athenteum Club, of its members, and of the books written there would be, to a large extent, a history of English literature during the last 60 or 70 years, ■'