SOCIAL SYDNEY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 9

SOCIAL SYDNEY

TWO NEW CLUBS SYDNEY, Sept, 28. Two new clubs have been established ii. Sydney. They are both of tho sociability order. Both aim at the one ideal —getting peoplo hi know caqh othfir better and to enjoy each other’s company. They arc not alike in likes, but alike in difference. One is the Royal Bridge Club, on London social lines—the first of its kind m Sydney, perhaps in Australia, though a club with similar aims was recently started in Brisbane with a ladv secretary. Ino Sydney club luis been started with 100 foundation members, who, though they are not the only players who frequent the rooms, have absolutely exclusive rights. Thero are both lady and gentleman members, and within the nails of tlie club they find that exact lefresliment of mind and sociability that subs their temperament, as well as having a city meeting place. -lust now cards and card parties are playing a very prominent part in our social life; the dance has lust most of its votaries, the theatres provide very little but pictures, and there is not the old-time joy in the days at home or the 4 o’clock receptions. When night falls hotels are not the places for mixed meetings, and so the Bridge Club has started a new form of entertainment.

It is not a one-room affair, as so many social clubs are, but a series of apartments, with its lounge, in which fountains play, and tho scent of tho lilies in the pond, and the swish of the goldfish give a restfulness to those who desire quietude. There is a ladies drawingroom, a gentlemen’s smoking room, a diningroom —for meals are provided from a well-equipped kitchen with a chef in charge,, and the food served on exclusive hand-painted china from, the j sunny shores of Spain.” The bridge 100 m 'is a scene of contrasting color, ill which a soothing green predominates, and soft lights give a soothing effect to play, which goes on in silence. The play is merely for social enjoyment—there is no plaving for stakes. There are also rooms for private parties, and for those who prefer it a mah-jong room. It is a restful club, in which kindred spirits meet in quiet enjoyment rather than in talkative argument or tiring conversation. The idea is sure to catioh on. NUDE BATHING The other club? Many people have never hoard of the Nakt-JxuUur —that is lho German title for tho nude bathing clubs which have been causing nui a little excitement, and much talk on tho European Continent. .Nude bathing mis arrived here, but the cult is exclusive — for various reasons —ono of them being that tho organisers are afraid the police might get hold of the meeting place, and a surprise visit by Sergeant Chuck and some of his Taran-ta-ras, who raid cafo chanlants and other places in search of contraband, might lead to a prosecution under tho Police Offences Aict. Not that they are ashamed of 'being seen in the nude, but because a visit of tho police might mean the end of an oiganisation which claims that only good health can come to mind and body by going entirely naked. Both sexes bathe together, sun bake together, dance together, exercise together, and aro geneially sociable to each, other, while in that condition of body that clear old Trilby used to refer to as “the altogether.” Tho cult has tried put its theories of innocent and healthful nudity on a secluded beach on the south coast —in all probability getting dangerously near to the extreme north-east corner of Victoria. The locality is an absolute secret to tho members. But since it was announced the cult has had addressed to it something like a thousand letters a day, inquiring for the' strip of sand where the members disport themselves like images cut out of mother of pearl. Of course these would-be members all cow that tho nakt-kult is doing tho right thing in throwing off the trammels of an over-dressed society, and going back to the days when Adam and Eve had not even thought of fig leaves Meanwhile testimonials, which read like letters generally found wrapped round a patent medicine bottle, are being. circulated. tolling the great value in health derived from nakedness. But the idea is not now. Long beforo surf bathing became the rage tho . beaches at Newcastle and the south coast lia.d some rare sights. ‘