February 22, 1917 
LAND & WATER 
iq 
The Union Jack Club 
Suggestion for the Creation of a Permanent Literary Fund 
By the Editor 
Hall of the Union Jack Club 
ENTER the swing doors of the Union Jack CUib 
in Waterloo Road, and the civilian passes into 
the atmosphere of war's activity. It may 
perhaps be the time of day when members, 
whose leave is over, are getting ready to return to France, 
or, a happier occasion, when a trainload of those whose 
leave is just beginning have arrived, or possibly when 
these two tides meet. There is a scene of bustle in the hall ; 
here kits are being adjusted or discarded ; the Comptroller 
of the Club welcomes the coming, speeds the parting 
member. Evidences of good comradeship abound, 
and whether it be on arrival from or return to the firing 
line, everything is accepted with imperturbable good 
humour. If j^ou strive to disentangle individual remarks 
from the general clamour of conversation inevitable 
to such a busy scene, you become conscious that on your 
ears fall more dialects and brogues of the British language 
than have probably e\er before been heard under a 
single roof. 
It is one of the strong points of this Club of fi\e million 
members that the King's uniform, whether in navy blue 
or khaki, is the sole qualification. No men have received 
a kinder welcome or found the Club of greater service 
than soldiers from Overseas Dominions. They appreciate 
the solid comforts which they find there amid surroimdings 
of perfect individual freedom. There are no irritating 
restrictions, everything is done to make members feel 
thoroughly at home no matter to what station of life they 
may have belonged before they answered the call to arms. 
The Club is their Club ; its reputation and well-being are 
in their hands ; they alone have the power of exalting 
or degrading it. And exalted it has been, until to-day 
membership of the U. J.C, is a fact all are proud of. When 
the Duke of Connaught visited it the other day, he was 
delighted with the spirit of independence and honest 
pride that prevailed. Presently the Club House will be 
extended, and though it is possible that before that work is 
completed peace may be restored, yet the increased accom- 
modation will be none too large for the housing of all its 
members. To-day, of course, the Club is terribly 
cramped for room ; in the day-time every available corner 
is occupied. But after the war, the Club, with its new 
buildings finished, should be able to house comfortably, 
though without any excess of room, those of its members 
who may happen to be in London at any one time. 
Readers of Land & Water have displayed such lively 
and practical interest in this splendid institution that it has 
seemed well we should place before them a further 
opportunity of rendering permanent assistance to this 
London home of our gallant sailors and soldiers. There 
is a weakness in the internal organisation which it is not 
possible to rectify at the present time when the demand 
on the Club's funds are exceptionally heavy for more 
urgent needs. The supply of newspapers, magazines 
and current literature generally is smaller than it should be, 
and the suggestion has been put forward that a permanent 
fund of £5,000 should be created. It is an excellent 
suggestion. This sum of money would be invested and 
the interest on it devoted annually to this one purpose. 
The annual income would enable the Club to keep itself 
supplied with the best current literature and the reading 
room of the Union Jack Club would become a very 
valuable source of information for sailors and soldiers, for 
they would find there magazines and periodicals which 
would not otherwise be available to them. At a time 
like the present when better education is being so much 
advocated a proposal of this nature is bound to find 
fa^'our.J At the same time it should be mentioned that 
