The youngest of the architectural societies of the country is the Cleveland Architectural Club.  It was organized in November last with a membership of fifteen, which number has been rapidly growing and bids fair to grow much further.  In this instance, as has been the case in all the other large cities where similar clubs have been formed, it is the better class of draughtsmen who have felt the need of an organization that would bring them together socially, and give an opportunity for organized study and mutual improvement; and it is a most encouraging symptom of the generally diseased condition of the public mind in relation to architecture that these clubs have become so numerous in the last few years.  Aside from the direct influence upon its own membership, the manifestation of a progressive and aggressive spirit cannot help provoking curiosity and discussion outside, if it accomplishes nothing further.  It is somewhat surprising that with the unusually active interest which Cleveland has always evinced in matters relating to art, such a movement has not been started before.  We shall have occasion before long to refer more in detail to this new and flourishing society.

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The Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects announces the second annual competition for a gold medal, to be open to members of the Chicago Architectural Club who are not practicising architects of over two years’ standing.  The problem is the design for a memorial building for the study of botany, zoology, and mineralogy, and is to be finished on April 29.

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The Chicago Architectural Club mingles work and play in a thoroughly Bohemian fashion.  A recent invitation card bid its members to attend a “Rip-Snorter at the Club House,” stating that “provisions and provisos would be provided and Frou Frous be on tap.”  The exact significance of this cabalistic description is known only to the members and their guests.  The same card announced that the new Constitution and By-Laws would be finally voted upon at the same meeting, and further announced the conditions of a forthcoming sketch competition.  Things move rapidly in Chicago.

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The Chicago Architectural Club will hold its eighth annual exhibition of works of architecture and the allied arts at the Art Institute for two weeks beginning May 23.  For further particulars, address John Robert Dillon, secretary, 274 Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

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The Buffalo Chapter of the A.I.A. will hold its second annual exhibition in the Art Gallery, Library Building, in connection with the exhibition of the Buffalo Society of Artists, from March 18 to 30.  For further particulars, address J.H.  Marling, 15 Morgan Building, Buffalo.

[Illustration:  VIII.  The Palazzo Pisani, Venice.]