Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-07
ALL ABOUT THE PEANUT CLUB.
A Peculiar Institution That Has Been in Existence for Twenty Years.
 T n.norc, ali

HI Amos J. Cumm ogs' Lette-l
 A week ago nearly every prominent news paper in the land contained paragraph about the Peanut club. It was handled as though it was something new. The new club has been in existence nearly twenty years Its first president died last spring. He was MT. Amadee Vatable, a we'll known French shipping merchant. MT. Vatable was quite wealthy and one of the most geni- al of men. He was president of the Iron Pier company and was interested in the Iron Steamboat company and similar enterprises. He was as rotund fall pippin, but by no means as seedy. He dressed in exquisite taste and was great favo1ite with the la dies His face, fringed with gray whiskers, was the personifcation of good humor. He caught the idea of the Peanut club in Mar seilles, where, when young man, he was a member of an organization idlly as unique. He organized the club in this city. Its mem bers all cary ivory peanuts inscribed With their names, Whenever and wherever they meet, if one exhibits his peanut the other must follow suit, under penalty of five dol lars fine The fine was formerly only one dollar, but so many Wall street men became members that five years ago it was raised to five dollars. At any hour of the day or night, under any circumstances, If one pea nut is shown all members within hailing dis tance must return the compliment The fines are booked and collected at stated in- tervals, and are spent in recherche banquets. Snch men as James R. Keene. Wash. E. Con nor, Frank Osborn, Charley Bemeisler, Chauncey M Depew, James W. Husted, Charles B. Loew, Casimer Tbo1on, Napole- on L. Thieblin, the wicked Senator Gibbs, Hermann Oelrichs, Rufus Hatch, Buck Hous- ton, Frank Allen and G. K. Lansing are among the members of the club.
 rI,a smart for the cherry old French gentleman. For years his fines furnished exquisite enter tainments. All sorts of games were played on him. He went to Washington in 1876 to secure legislation in favor of commercial scheme. At a. m. he was quietly sleeping in Willard's Hotel, when there was ringing er7 of fire at his door. He bounced into the conf idor in his nightshirt There stood foxy Rufus Hatch alrayed in evening dress. With charming grace and nonchalance he showed an ivory peanut under the nose of Vatable. The French gentleman of courJe could not respond and submitted to his fine with Chi istian resignation.
 One day Charles E. Loew invited MT. Vat able to 1ide. He had a spanking team of trotters Vatable wfs as crazy over fine horses as General Grant. He took the Iib- hons and the span sped along at two-min- ute gait. At the height of their speed they took fl ight at Jerseyman. Vatable braced bimse1f against the dashboard and see sawed 1.ght gallantiy. At the acme of his tribula- tions, however, the inevitable peanut ap- nee ed under his nose. He dared not drop the reins and his Christie1 resignation again came into play. The fine oozed from his r ocket without murmur.
 Wssh. Connor once took him on short cruise on his yacht. Vatable was in ecstacy. In an evil hour, however, he was inveigled aloft. The dancing masts swung him hither and thither over the foaming waves. He clung to the rigging like coon in a hurri- cane. At this awful moment Connor placed peanut before his eyes. It was effective. Vatable dared not lose his hold for a second and afterward paid his fine with silent re- gret.
 On Evacuation day MT, Yatable got caught