There are in Jersey City over fifty clubs of various kinds. A few own
handsome club houses, others meeting in hired rooms or at the homes of
the members. So far as I can learn the Everett was the pioneer club of
the city, and therefore justly gives precedence to the literary clubs.
In 1865 the "Everett Literary Union" was organized, and met in a room
over a store on Newark avenue. Debates and essays on various topics
were the order of proceedings. Judge Dixon started it, and he, Judge
Collins, Mr. William Brown and Mr. Walker were among the twenty-five
gentlemen who composed the society; most of whom now belong to the
Cosmos Club. The Cosmos Club was founded some years ago by the Rev. Dr.
Stoddard, with the original intention of a "Membership from different
professions and employments, that each might speak with authority upon
the particular branch of work in life to which they were devoted." For
many years they met at houses of the members, but of late years their
method is to meet once a month at the Washington Hotel, dine, and,
after dinner, have a special speaker upon some stated subject, followed
by a general discussion. Washington's birthday is their High Festival
occasion. A few years ago they made an innovation upon their former
custom by inviting ladies to their annual festival. In February, 1897,
the Odd Volumes were their guests--a red letter occasion in Jersey
City club life. In April, 1898, the Odd Volumes enjoyed the pleasure
of entertaining the Cosmos Club, at an "Authors' Reading" by Mrs. Ruth
McEnnery Stewart.
The Æsthetic Society, a literary club of ladies and gentlemen, was
founded by Mrs. Erminnie A. Smith. In the records of Jersey City no
name stands higher than that of Mrs. Smith, whose home was at 203
Pacific avenue. She was a woman of wonderful magnetic and personal
influence, of rare culture, great ability and scientific attainments, a
profound student along many lines, an expert in geology and mineralogy,
an authority upon "Indianology." Her talents were widely recognized.
In the interest of the Ethnological Bureau she made personal
investigations into the history, legends and folk-lore of the Iroquois
Indians, and prepared a dictionary of the Tuscarora language. She was
an honorary member of the British Archeological Society, a member of
the American Archeological Society; the first woman elected a member
of the New York Academy of Sciences; not only a member of the American
Society for the Advancement of Science, but also Secretary of the
Section of Anthropology. Withal she was a most womanly woman. Jersey
City owes to this gifted woman a debt of gratitude, not alone for her
influence in awakening a love for science and literature among the
young people, but for forming the Æsthetic Society, and in bringing
hither the most celebrated people of the day, both American and foreign
visitors, to our shores. She developed an interest among Jersey City
women in intellectual pursuits which has grown and deepened with the
years. May her memory ever be held in loving remembrance. The Æsthetic
Society was composed of women and men, many of whom were prominent
in literary circles. The younger members of the society studied
history and literature, and, aside from the lectures from celebrities,
interesting essays were prepared by the members. At the death of Mrs.
Smith, in 1886, the society ceased to exist. A short time after a few
of Mrs. Smith's friends, principally ladies of Jersey City, raised a
sum of money to create a prize and presented it to Vassar College, the
interest of which is to be given in two prizes each year for the best
work in geology and mineralogy. A fine portrait of Mrs. Smith was also
presented to Vassar. This was considered a most fitting memorial to one
who was always helpful to others.