CONSTITUTION OF THE ROSALIE CLUB, OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, ADOPTED DECEMBER 7, 1857

Natchez, Miss.: Printed at The Courier Office, 1857. 11, [1 blank] pp. Disbound, minor toning. Good+.
[offered with] AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. [Natchez: nd]. Pages [13]-16. Disbound rather roughly, irregular upper margin, two separated leaves. Good+.

We have not located any record of these imprints. The Rosalie Club was formed in December, 1857, and had nearly 150 gentleman members at its inception. It was named after the area of Natchez which was dubbed 'Rosalie' about 1700 by a French soldier, D'Iberville, after the Countess de Pontchartrain, wife of the French chancellor. The Natchez Weekly Courier reported that the rooms of the Rosalie Club were opened at the City Hotel on December 15, 1857, where a large portion of the lower story was occupied for this purpose. Major Stephen F. Power, a veteran of two wars and the proprietor of the hotel, had been selected as the steward of the club. In Power's book on Natchez history, he described the rooms of the Club as "magnificently furnished, with all the appointments that could be suggested by elevated culture and refinement."
The Club held horse races in its early years which were described by Power as "the most brilliant known in the American States" and "trained many horses that would become world famous: Lexington, Lecomte, Highlander, Arrow, Hard Heart and others." The club was very involved with baseball by the 1860s, and Natchez newspapers printed articles about the games between rival clubs. [Power, Major Steve: THE MEMENTO OLD AND NEW NATCHEZ, 1700 TO 1897. Natchez: 1897, pp. 23-24, 63; "The Rosalie Club", THE NATCHEZ WEEKLY COURIER, 16 Dec 1857, p.1; "Base Ball", NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT, 16 Apr 1867, p.2.]
The Club's mission was "to promote social intercourse among its members, by establishing an elegant and orderly resort, combining the advantages of a reading and drawing room, billiard and card tables, &c., for the accommodation of the members. The number of the members shall not exceed three hundred-- two hundred from the city, and one hundred from the country." At the time of Power's book, he reports the number of members at 370. The Constitution establishes the usual structure of the organization and rules of membership. Although billiards is allowed, "There shall be no games of Hazard, Faro, Loo, or round games of any kind." Rules concerning "Strangers" are printed. The amendments concern terms of operating the game room, charges for refreshments and various activities, and elaborate rules for Billiards.
Not located in Owen or on OCLC as of January 2022.