London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
THE WORK OF THE HALL-PORTER.
When the are exchanging courtesies the value of the hall-porter is fully felt. This useful official is expected to know every member by sight, and to be particularly on the alert when his gentlemen are guests. At one time I belonged to some thirteen clubs-in the days of the long ago when the latch key was more in requisition than at present-and some of those I visited not more than once or twice a year. And yet I was always known. Since then gigantic have sprung up, with three times as many members as the normal total of a large Westend club of the first class, and yet the subscription payers are recognised and passed. It may be taken that two thousand is the outside total of a recognised At two large places, one in | |
91 | and the other on the Thames Embankment, I believe the number is doubled if not trebled. Fancy a hall-porter being expected to know and recognise as belonging to members of his club six thousand faces! And yet I believe this is not only a possibility but an actuality. There is only one story on record of a non-member gaining admission to a club and using it as his own. The enterprising individual, however, on attempting to change a bogus cheque, was discovered and promptly arrested. The club in which he was run to earth was, of all places in the world, the Guards-the smallest and most select spot in all clubland! |
