The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-03
UNIQUE INSTITUTION.
THE PEANUT CLUB AND ITS PECU.
LIAR PENALTIES.

Victim of His Associates Under |
Startling Circumstances.
The New York Peanut Club has been |
in existence nearly twenty years. Its
drst President died last spring. He was
Mr.. Amadeo Natable, a we'll known |
French shipping merchant. Mr. Natable !
was quite wealthy and one of the most
genial of men. He was Treasurer of the
Iron Pier Company, and was interested
in the Iron Steamboat Company and
similar enterprises. He was as rotund
as a fall pippin, but by no means as
seedy. He dressed in exquisite taste
and was great favorite with the ladies.
His face, fringed with gray whiskers,
was the personiication of good humor,
lie caught the idea of the Peanut Club
in Marseilles, where, when young man,
he was member OF an organization fully
as unique. He organized the club in
New York city. It's members all carry
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 dollars
fine. The fine was formerly 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 peanut is shown, all members within
haiIing distance must return the compli-
ment The fines are booked and collected
at stated intervals, and spent in recherche
banquets. Such men as James r. Keene,
Wash. +. Connor, Frank Osborn, Charlie
Bemeisler, Chauncey NJ. Depew, James
Hunsted, Charles E. Loew, Casimer
Thoron, Napoleon L. Thieblin, the
wicked Senator Gibbs, Herman Oelrichs,
Rufus Hatch, Buck Houston, Frank
Allen, and G.. X. Lansing are among the
: members of the club.
~ The Yankee members quickly proved
too smart for the CHEEKY old French gen
tleman. For years his fines furnished
exquisite entertainments. All sorts of
games were played on him. He went to
Washington in 1876 to secure legislation
in favor of a commercial scheme. At 1
A. NJ. he was quietly sleeping in Will
lard's Hotel, when there was a loud cry
of 'Fire" at his door. He bounced into
the corridor in his night.shirt. There
stood foxy Rufus Hatch arrayed in even
ing dress. With charming grace and
nonchalance he showed an ivory peanut
under the nose of Vatable. The French
gentleman of course could not respond,
aud submitted to his fine with Christian
resignation. One day Charles E. Loew
invited Mr. Vatable to ride. He had
spanking team of trotters. Vatable was
crazy over fine horses as General Grant.
He took the ribbons, and the span sped
along along at a two-minute gait. At
the height of their speed they took fright
at Jerseyman. Vatable braced himself
against the dashboard and see-sawed
right gallantly At the acme of his
tribulations, however, the inevitable pea
nut appeared under his nose. He dared
not drop the reins, and his Christian res
ignation again came into play. The fine
oozed from his pocket without q muir
mur. Wash. Conner once took him on a
short cruise on his yacht. Vatable was
in ecstasy. 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 hurricane AT this awful
moment Conner placed a peanut before
his eyes. 1t was effective. Natabe dared
not lose his hold for a second, and after
ward paid his fine with silent regret.
On evacuation day Mr.. Vatable got caught
in a crowd on Broadway. Hc was wedged
so tight that his feet scarce touched the
pavement His hands were pinned to
his sides. He could hardly breathe
much less move. He was discovered by
Jake Hess. In an instant Hess produced
his peanut, with sarcastic smile. The
old Frenchman struggled in vain. He
was forced to nod his head in acknowl-
edgement of the fine, which was booked
with remorseless vigor. Five years age
MIR. Vatable was spending a hot summer
day at Long Branch. Warren Leland
persuaded him to go in swimming The
temperature of the water was delightful
The Frenchman swan hand overland
tried it dog and frog fashion, and finally
turned upon his back and drifted toward
Sandy Hook in dreamy languor. Sud
denly he heard noise like the spouting
of a porpoise. 1t was no porpoise. Il
was Warren Leland. His fat hand -four
ished peanut in the air within foot o1
Vatable's head. Warren had carried his
own ivory pod in his mouth, and hao
swan out to Vatable for the express pur
pose of imposing a fine The genial Gaul
exercised his usual Christian resignation
and was docked as usual That nigh
the Frenchman returned to rest filled
with good cheer and virtuous resolutions
At midnight there was a knock at hi
door. A telegram Of unusual importanc,
was announced. The messenger wa
shown into the parlor. Within a few
seconds Natable appeared, clad in a fan
mel nightcap and a Crittenden chemise
The telegram was produced. 1t was bo
gus. But there was nothing bogus abou
the peanut. That called for five dollars
and it got it. The amiable Yatable agar
retired but his cheerful temper and vir
tuous resolutions had vanished.
Some years ago there was jam at tn
elevated railroad station near Hanove
Square The cars, station stairs, street
ticket-agents, and conductors were full
Vatable stood at the foot of the stairs
Within two hours he reached the Mat