One may fairly say, therefore, that what the Germans call Damen Gesellchaft is an unknown thing in Sofia, and, this being so, the men can hardly be blamed if they seek such entertainment as they can find at the clubs or restaurants. Under any circumstances Sofia would be an ungrateful soil in which to cultivate social relations, to start a salon, or to try and set a fashion. The genius loci is eminently unfavorable. Apart from the cafds, the only place where Sofiote society congregates is at the Union Club, the one club of the city.
It is a pleasant, cheery resort, established by the efforts of our popular British representative, Mr. Dering, and, as foreign clubs go, is by no means a bad imitation of its British original. It contains a reading- room, where there is a very fair supply of German, French, and English papers, but, in as far as I could perceive, no Russian publications; a billiard-room, which is very little frequented; and a dining-room, where breakfast and dinner are provided daily for all members who like to subscribe for their repasts, and which is almost exclusively frequented by the younger members of the Consular body who, not being married, have no homes of their own.
News room
Neither the news-room, nor the library, nor the dining-saloon are much resorted to by the native members. If you want to find them you must look for them in the cardroom, which forms the real raison d’Stre of the club. Every afternoon this room is filled with the leading political and social notabilities of the capital.
Baccarat and bizique are the games most in favour, and I have at times seen a good deal of money change hands. The play goes on till about half-past eight, when, as a rule, the party breaks up. But about once or, at most, twice a week, there are late nights. The players on these occasions have some sort of supper served up for their own party at nine, and play begins again at ten, and goes on sometimes till the small hours of the morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment