2080 Gentleman Member
How special is this charity auction organized by Alexander Hamilton? What is the significance of Renly choosing such an occasion as the stage for his return? What special significance does this have to the internal struggle of the Hall family? This is obviously not a hasty decision, and the meaning behind it is far more complicated than imagined..
First of all, we need to pay attention to one thing: this charity auction is held at the Garrick Club, which itself means that only 10% of the top elites can enter it. Other outsiders will definitely not be able to enter without an invitation letter. Not allowed to enter - even the distribution of invitations must go through layers of review, this is not a joke.
The Garrick Club is a private club and one of the oldest and most prestigious private clubs in London..
The concept of private clubs was first born in England in the seventeenth century. The world's first modern private club should actually be called a gentleman's club. It was the "White's-Club" established in 1693. The translation can be more straightforward. )", it started as a cafe owned by Italian immigrants and gradually evolved into England's first gentlemen's club. In the heyday of the White Club, more than half of the British aristocracy was gathered here..
In the eighteenth century, Britain was still a men's world. As the literal translation of "Gentlemen's-Club" implies, in its early stages of development, all its members were men; in the nineteenth century, with the new era of Britain's With the passage of the Voting Rights Act, more and more men from different classes have obtained the right to vote, which also means that the new class must seek a new identity, and joining a gentlemen's club is often the first choice. After all, birds of a feather flock together. points, to advance from the lower class to the upper class, they all need to re-expand their life circles.
It's like the cigar club or whiskey club in "Titanic".
The traditional function positioning of gentlemen's clubs is not entertainment venues. In fact, most top gentlemen's clubs have the ultimate goal of being a "second home" for elite men. Therefore, these top clubs are often equipped with restaurants, libraries, leisure rooms, Bedroom, bathroom, study room, etc..
So, why is it set like this?？
One theory is that it is a continuation of men's early life, because boys' and girls' schools were very common and mainstream at that time. After leaving school, they also needed a place to continue their previous life style in boys' schools. Gentlemen's clubs are like this. came into being.
Another way of saying it is an extension of men’s family life. Gentlemen at that time were mainly men with aristocratic status. They often owned their own manor and held parties in the manor. This was also their main way of socializing. The newspaper industry in the eighth century was very developed. Banquets and parties of nobles often became the object of gossip and voyeurism. Those parties would become the focus, and then faced the dilemma of having their private lives exposed. This also made gentlemen's clubs a pure land reserved for noble men. last position.
Gentlemen's clubs are not open to the public, away from the glare of the spotlight, and away from the pressure brought by large families such as wives, children and servants. This allows men to "be themselves" here, and even do slightly extraordinary things. It doesn't matter - this is not specifically referring to the third party who destroys the family, but... gambling.
The gambling record books of top gentlemen's clubs may be one of the most bizarre records in human history. One of the most famous and typical events occurred at the White Club.：
At that time, two nobles made a bet on the famous arched glass window in the club to see which of the two raindrops on the window would slide down from the top to the bottom first..
It must be noted that the seats in front of the arched glass windows of the white club are not available to ordinary members. They are the most prestigious seats in the entire club and are often designated for the most influential members of the entire club, that is, among the top nobles. of top people. And their life is "betting on raindrops"”.
In daily life, it is absolutely impossible for them to show such a side of themselves, because they need to remain dignified and perfect; but in a gentlemen's club, they can be themselves as much as they want, and everything that happens in this space is kept in Here, no one will talk much.
In the early days of the development of gentlemen's clubs, politics was an integral part that could not be ignored. Different clubs could be seen as the main bases for different parties, and they were also informal discussion venues for important issues. The gossip and rumors in them were definitely not street gossip. Side news often has important purposes, and the underlying issues that the public cannot see may become the key to influencing the direction of national policies..
Of course, as time progresses, the situation has also undergone many changes..
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, clubs focused on women began to emerge, and most gentlemen's clubs began to accept applications from female members. "Gentlemen's clubs" gradually transformed into "private clubs"”.
Of course, there are still some clubs that maintain the tradition of "gentlemen", such as the White Club. The only woman it has welcomed in more than 300 years was the Queen's visit in 1991; another example is the Carlton-Club, where Thatcher Mrs. Alfred was once their only female member, and it was not until 2008 that applications for female membership were fully opened..
Among them, the White Club is undoubtedly the top private club in the UK. The current British Prime Minister David Cameron is a member, and his father was once the chairman of the club; Prince Charles married Princess Diana Bachelor parties were held here and Prince William is currently a member of the club.
It can be seen from this information that private clubs are a very, very important social platform. Although the political overtones have gradually faded away, every member's joining must still be reviewed at all levels; and every member They are all the most elite members of British society, and they control the main lifeblood of this society..
Nowadays, the types and styles of private clubs are diversifying. For example, the London Arts Club, established in 1963, is a gathering place for top people in the British literary and artistic circles. It is the power center behind the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Joining the club often means With a breakthrough in their career, authoritative artists from all fields of art in the UK gather here.——
By the way, Renly officially received an invitation to join the club in March this year, and after a year-long review period, he can officially become a member..
The Garrick Club is another top private club. This club was founded in 1831 and is located in the West End of London. All activities and members are closely related to drama, stage, theater, etc. It is famous for its large art collection, and even Owning a theater library, the collection of theater-themed collections is said to be unique in the world, which makes every theater lover eager to join it..
Charles Dickens, William Thackeray and others were members of the Garrick Club.
However, the membership review system of the Kerry Club is very strict. It must be jointly recommended by three or more members, and then more than two-thirds of the members vote. Only after reaching a certain proportion of votes can one become a member. This also ensures that Kerry Club Elite level of club membership.
Renly is not yet a member of the Garrick Club - this time he returns to London, Renly has been jointly recommended by three members and has been nominated. Next, there will be a member vote; even if the vote is passed, he will have to wait until the earliest You will not be able to officially become a member of the club until the beginning of next year..
Among Renly's friends, only Alexander Hamilton was a member of the Garrick Club; of course, they were all members of the United Club of Oxbridge.
Alexander chose to hold the charity auction at the Garrick Club after careful consideration. This is undoubtedly the best place to promote Renly. At the same time, Renly is also waiting for the review to join the club, and the charity auction is also for Renly. An important option for Renly to add points; moreover, the Garrick Club is not as arrogant and rigid as the White Club. They are willing to open their minds to accept the joining of emerging nobles, instead of adhering to the ancient tradition of three centuries ago and refusing to defend, which is very important for the auction. It is undoubtedly very important for guests to be invited.
In addition, part of the reason is that the Garrick Club in London's West End has a performance stage, which can be the best venue for the auction..
But like the White Club, the Carlton Club, etc., not just anyone can enter the Garrick Club - it is an honor for the members, even if they are relatively open and relatively liberal members of the established clubs. , but it still doesn’t mean they can allow anyone to come in and visit.
Not even for a charity auction.
Therefore, Alexander held a charity club, and all guest lists needed to be reviewed by the Garrick Club. Even Red Cross officials also needed to be reviewed. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Every guest must undergo an identity and net worth investigation to ensure Every guest who enters the club can match their social status, rather than just donating millions of pounds to get a ticket..
Neither the initiative nor the decision-making power is in Alexander's hands.
This once again proves that this charity auction is rare. Even if you are invited by Alexander, you may not be able to enter; or in other words, many people have no chance to join the Garrick Club and are looking forward to being able to enter with the help of Alexander's invitation. Among them, a glimpse of the true face.
It is precisely because of this that if Renly showed up wearing a hooded T-shirt and jeans, it would be a high probability that the Garrick Club would refuse Renly entry..
That's why Renly made such a joke; that's why the charity auction sparked so much discussion.
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