SAVAGE CLUB STORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1939, Page 6

SAVAGE CLUB STORY

HOW A CHINESE, DRAGON WAS DONATED. Along a narrow lane off Collins street is the home of the Melbourne Savage Club, a fine building with a charming and restful interior. The rooms are decorated with knickknacks gathered from all parts of the world, most of them presented by grateful guests. Occupying a prominent position on .the mantelpiece in the lounge is a relic from Old China. It is a beautiful piece of work, and represents a most fearsome dragon with several heads and .yards of tentacles, One reads of people in delirium tremons seeing such things, and, perhaps this one was designed By a slit; ferer after his recovery. This is the story of how it came to the club. During the . visit of the American fl'eet, to Melbourne many of the officers visited and made free use of the club rooms, where they were welcomed and royally entertained by the mernbers. Upon the eve of the fleet’s departure the club entertained the sailors at a farewell evemrig, jvhich they.. thoroughly enjoyed, many of theni leaving in a merry and hilarious mood. Next day the dragon arrived, with an explanatory’ . letter as follqws:— “After leaving the club last night a number of these things followed us home. We surrounded one, and after a struggle captured it. We now return it to the club, where it rightly belongs.”