FOREWORD When the Manhattan Club determined to celebrate the semi-centenary of its existence, it was deemed appropriate to the occasion, in the view of the Anniversary Committee, that the history of the Club for the past fifty years should be written. With that end in view, Colonel Henry Watterson, the editor of the "Louisville Courier-Journal," was approached upon the subject by the representatives of the Club. Colonel Watterson had been a member of the Manhattan Club since 1882. He had been the personal intimate and associate of almost all of the founders of the organization. He was more familiar than any other living man with the circumstances and conditions which brought the Club into being; for over a quarter of a century, when in New York City, he had made it his home. He was personally acquainted with all of the distinguished men who, for half a century, had been numbered among its members. His reputation as scholar, editor, wit, and citizen of the world was international; while as a commanding figure in the later history of our coun try he was well known to the public. The words which had flown for a lifetime from his trenchant and graphic pen always commanded attention, sometimes engendered fear. So that, on the whole, if Colonel Watterson could be induced to write the history of the Manhattan Club, that institution, as well as the readers of the volume, were indeed to be congratulated. Colonel Watterson had for years been besought from many quarters to write his Manhattan Club memoirs, but had persistently declined to do so. When the request of the Club was presented to him, however, he immediately expressed his willingness and pleasure to undertake the work— but upon one condition only, and that was that his effort should be a labor of love and a testimonial of his interest in and appreciation of the Club, of which he has been so long an active member, and which he loves so well. In the following pages Colonel Watterson tells the history of the Manhattan Club for the first fifty years of its existence, and has succeeded in giving us not only an interesting study of its life, traditions, and achievements, but has presented, in his own vigorous and delightful style, some personal reminiscences of a number of the most celebrated men whom our country has produced, and who were members of this organization. We feel confident, therefore, that this history will be interesting and entertaining not only to the members of the Manhattan Club, but also to those outside its circle who may have the leisure and opportunity to peruse its pages. These few lines are written as a public expression of the gratitude and affection which its members feel toward their scholarly and distinguished fellow-member, who, in this volume, becomes the historian of the Manhattan Club. New York, November 15, 1915. Philip J. Britt, President of the Manhattan Club. |