Many clubs allow each member a certain number of visitors a year; in others visitors are unlimited.  But in all city clubs the same guest can not be introduced twice within the year.  In country clubs visitors may always be brought in by members in unlimited numbers.

As a rule when a member introduces a stranger, he takes him to the club personally, writes his name in the visitors’ book, and introduces him to those who may be in the room at the time—­very possibly asking another member whom he knows particularly well to “look out” for his guest.  If for some reason it is not possible for the stranger’s host to take him to the club, he writes to the secretary of the club for a card of introduction.

Example: 

    Secretary,
    The Town Club.

    Dear Sir: 

    Kindly send Mr. A.M.  Strangleigh a card extending the privileges
    of the Club for one week.

    Mr. Strangleigh is a resident of London.

    Yours very truly,
    Clubwin Doe.

The secretary then sends a card to Mr. Strangleigh: 

      The Town Club

    Extends its privileges to

      Mr. [HW:  Strangleigh]

    from [HW:  Jan. 7.] to [HW:  Jan. 14.]

    Through the courtesy of

    Mr. [HW:  Clubwin Doe]

Mr. Strangleigh goes to the club by himself.  A visitor who has been given the privileges of the club has, during the time of his visit, all the rights of a member excepting that he is not allowed to introduce others to the club, and he can not give a dinner in the private dining-room.  Strict etiquette also demands, if he wishes to ask several members to dine with him, that he take them to a restaurant rather than into the club dining-room, since the club is their home and he is a stranger in it.  He may ask a member whom he knows well to lunch with him in the club rooms, but he must not ask one whom he knows only slightly.  As accounts are sent to the member who put him up—­unless the guest arranges at the club’s office to have his charges rendered to himself, he must be punctilious to ask for his bill upon leaving, and pay it without question.

Putting a man up at a club never means that the member is “host.”  The visitor’s status throughout his stay is founded on the courtesy of the member who introduced him, and he should try to show an equal courtesy to every one about him.  He should remember not to obtrude on the privacy of the members he does not know.  He has no right to criticise the management, the rules or the organization of the club.  He has, in short, no actual rights at all, and he must not forget that he hasn’t!

=CLUB ETIQUETTE IN LONDON, PARIS AND NEW YORK=

“In a very smart London club” (the words quoted are Clubwin Doe’s) “you keep your hat on and glare about!  In Paris you take your hat off and behave with such courtesy and politeness as seems to you an affectation.  In New York you take your hat off and behave as though the rooms were empty; but as though you were being observed through loop-holes in the walls.”