30 The Newspaper World. which is the Bristol and West of England Newspaper Press Fund. Instituted in 1868, it has a roll of about 90 members, and had from its commencement to the end of 1888 made 102 grants and loans to the amount of ;^ 1,303. Other similar Societies are the Press Benevolent and Superannuation Fund of South Wales and Monmouth- shire ; the Essex Newspaper Press Fund ; and the Lower Thames Valley Journalists' Association. The bodies mentioned in the preceding sentence have not done more than make a good start, and it would seem highly desirable that some modus vivendi might be arrived at by which the Newspaper Press Fund of London might incorporate such bodies and afford the facilities in the shape of super- annuation and annuities these aim at providing, which only a society with a large invested capital (;£20,ooo) can attempt with any prospect of success. For social intercourse flourishing Press clubs exist in the metropolis and some large provincial centres. The London Press Club has a present income of ;^3,ooo a yean and has developed in a remarkable way in the last tew years. The Birmingham Press Club is the pioneer among provincial clubs. It has five classes of members— journal- ists and heads of commercial departments in newspaper offices, with a guinea subscription ; district correspondents residing five miles or more from the Club, 5J. sub- scription ; honorary members, chiefly literary men, a guinea subscription ; life members, those connected with or prominent in the learned professions, a contribution of five guineas, or payment may be altogether dispensed with ; temporary members connected with the arts or sciences, 7.s. 6d. subscription. The Sheffield and District Press Club has recently entered upon new premises, and has also five classes of members, though the qualifications are somewhat different from those just enumerated. Man- chester has a well-established Press Club with three classes
