Twenty-sixth Street, from that date, at a rental of $24,000 per annum, free from taxes. In the opinion of the Board, it was plain that the enormous expenses incident to the Stewart house could not be maintained-a fact by this time universally conceded by the Club.

The premises of the University Club were considered a great improvement as to location, convenience, and comfort. The expenses would be moderate enough to permit of a reduction in the annual dues from $100 to $75.

"Resignations have thus far been few," the committee reported, "while the payment of assessments has been, in promptness and cordiality, beyond our expectations. But no effort in the way of judicious economy or improvement in actual or prospective conditions can maintain the high standard of the Manhattan Club without the continued and generous co-operation of our members. If they believe that the Manhattan Club has been in the past a useful instrumentality for the promotion of sound Democratic principles, they may, with scarcely an effort, place its success in the future beyond any question. The future is in their hands. The Club has survived political defeat, financial depression, and party dissensions; it has always been firm and zealous in the maintenance of Democratic principles, and its influence has been felt wherever these principles were imperilled. It now needs only the same loyal support that it has heretofore received to assure it a useful and brilliant career.”

So satisfactory appears to have been the response to this, that a statement was issued, January 16, 1899, showing that the finances of the Club had weathered all storms and showed a strong balance.

In the latter part of May, 1899, the Club left the Stewart house, and for something over a month was the recipient of courtesies from other New York City clubs. July 15 of that year it took possession of its present quarters.

There is still in existence a record of the first bar-check

issued. It bore the signature of Judge C. H. Truax, called for twenty cents, and was marked "A-1080, July 15, 1899." The first wine-check was made out, July 14, 1899, the day before taking possession, on an order from the Moving Committee, composed of Augustine Monroe, Theodore Rich, and Thomas R. Fisher. It was marked "D-1," and called for one quart No. 240 (old rye), $1.75, and two quarts No. 427 (Poland water), $0.40, making a total of $2.15, and was signed "A. Monroe."

The officers at the time of the removal were Judge Truax, president; John Hone, vice-president; Sylvester J. O'Sullivan, treasurer; David B. Gilbert, secretary. On the House Committee were William S. Rodie, John Hunter, Jr., and Pierre F. MacDonald, all of whom continued in office until 1906.

The finances of the Club from the day of its removal adjusted themselves satisfactorily, and continued along the line of prosperity; for on March 19, 1903, we read of the treasurer triumphantly announcing that the Club had not a dollar of indebtedness, but rather $46,000 surplus, as a result of living in a club-house suitable to its revenues. "We have money in our boots," said Sylvester J. O'Sullivan. From then onward until the present day we hear no more of financial entanglements.

On January 13, 1910, Judge Victor J. Dowling, president, stated that it was the Club's wish to secure a site on which to erect a suitable building for its permanent home. Mention of plans for this purchase of Club property was made January 12, 1911, and eventually the present site of the Club was purchased for $500,000.

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH

Final Proceedings-The New Century-Purchase of a Permanent Home-Celebration of the Club's Semi-Centenary under Happy Auspices.

HE Club in 1900 celebrated its Thirty-fifth Anniversary by a banquet, and gave its famous dinner, January 10 of that year, to Judge Truax, in recognition of his services toward the restoration of its prestige and prosperity.

Mr. W. S. Rodie, December 12, 1901, proposed a reunion of non-resident members scattered throughout thirty-eight States. The purpose he had in mind, he said, was an attempt to revive the interest of the people in the fundamental doctrines underlying our Democratic form of government. He held that, since the Manhattan Club had been founded, at a critical period of the nation's history, for the advancement of these Democratic principles, it was an appropriate time, by such a reunion, to counteract the effects of the policies of the Republican Party, then so subversive of those same principles and doctrines.

The Club agreeing, Washington's Birthday of 1902 was chosen for the reunion, Messrs. W. S. Rodie, John Hone, John G. Carlisle, and Perry Belmont being named a commit

tee to arrange for the guests, and the secretary, treasurer, and House Committee being authorized to solicit subscriptions to defray the expenses. The reunion was a great

success.

"Of all the many attractive and pleasant banquets given at the Manhattan Club," says Mr. Dufour, in his interesting narrative, “one of the most notable and historical was that given by Mr. John B. McDonald to his engineers on the completion of the Subway. It was remarkable in every way. Mr. McDonald, it will be remembered, was the famous builder of the Subway. The table was profusely decorated with all the necessary adjuncts of an earth-digger's trade. It represented a diminutive Subway. The menus were works of art, showing the best skill of the engraver. Each menu contained pictures of the most difficult obstacles that the engineer encounters. On the front cover was a photograph of Mr. McDonald, and the name, in gold, of the engineer in charge of that section. Mr. McDonald, by his amiability, gentleness, and thorough good nature, had won for himself the affection of his brother-members of the Club. Men of all professions and callings were at this dinner, and vied with one another in paying tribute to the man whose genius created the means of relief which New York had been so long crying for."

Other affairs of these later years have been the subscription dinner to the justices of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, May 9, 1908; a reception to John A. Dix, October 4, 1910; a dinner to Governor Dix, March 23, 1911; and a dinner to Senator O'Gorman, April 22, 1911.

On September 14, 1901, President McKinley died from the effects of a wound received at the hand of an assassin at the Buffalo Exposition, September 6. The Manhattan Club at once passed resolutions, drawn up by Charles W. Dayton, expressive of its horror at the unprovoked tragedy, and of appreciation of Mr. McKinley's services to his country, of

his unblemished character, of his personal and official life, "so typical," said Mr. Dayton, "of Lincoln's immortal aphorism, 'With malice toward none, with charity for all.'"

The Club further expressed its deep sympathy for Mrs. McKinley, and an attested copy of the resolutions was ordered to be sent her, the club-house to be draped in black for thirty days.

In 1904 Democratic hopes revived in the nomination of Parker and Davis. The Club at once appointed a committee of one hundred to aid in campaign work, and a reception, proposed September 29, was arranged in honor of Judge Parker for October 5, 1904.

In 1908 Judge Parker became vice-president of the Club, Morgan J. O'Brien then being president; and in 1910 Judge Parker succeeded him, Charles W. Dayton becoming vicepresident. During Judge Parker's term as vice-president the Club passed resolutions regarding the Democratic League, and he, seconded by Mr. McDonald, proposed that the League be invited to hold future meetings at the Manhattan Club, a copy of the resolution to be sent Hon. Thomas M. Osborne at Albany.

Judge Parker, seconded by Mr. O'Sullivan, further proposed that the Club, as an expression of its sympathy with the purposes of the Democratic League organized at Saratoga on September 9 and 10, arrange for a subscription dinner to its executive committee, a committee of five to be appointed by the President to attend to the details. At the same meeting Mr. O'Sullivan, seconded by Judge Parker, proposed that the hospitalities of the Club be extended by formal invitation to the officers representing foreign navies and that of the United States, and to all foreign visitors to the Hudson-Fulton celebration.

It was Judge Victor J. Dowling, president of the Club from 1911 to 1914, when the present president, Mr. Philip J. Britt, was elected, who stated at a regular meeting, January