The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-17
CLUB SNOBS,
The DepIorable Influence of Club Life or
the Home and the Man.

Why, why did and Wagley ever dc
so cruel an action as to introduce
| Sackville Maine into that odious "Sar.
cophagus"p Let our imprudence and
! his example be a warming to other
gents; let his fate and that of his poor
wife be remembered by every British
female. The consequences of his en-.
tering the club were as follows:
One of the first vices the unhappy
wretch acquired in the abode of frivol.
ity was that of smoking. Some of the
dandies of the club, such as the Mar
quis of Macabau, Lord Doodeen, and
fellows of that high order, are in the
habit of indulging in this propensity
upstairs in the billiard-rooms of the
"Sarcophagus," and partly to make
their acquaintance, partly from a
natural aptitude for crime, Sackville
Maine followed them and became an
adept in the odious custom. When it
is introduced into family | need not
say how sad the consequences are, both
TO the furniture and the morals. Sack
vile smoked in his dining-room at
home and caused an agony to his wife
and mother-in-law which do not ven
ture to describe.
He then became professed billiard
player, wasting hours upon that amuse-
ment; betting freely, playing tolerably,
losing awfully. He played matches OF
hundred games, and would not only
continue until or 5 o'clock in the
morning at his work, but would be
found at the club of forenoon indulg-
ing himself to the detriment of his
business, the ruin of his health, and the
neglect of his wife.
From billiards to whist is but a step
and when man gets to whist and G5
on the rubber my opinion is that it is
all up with him. How was the coal
business to go on and the connection of
the firm be kept up and the senior
partner always at the card table?
Consorting now with genteel per-
sons and Pail Mall bucks, Sackville be.
came ashamed of this snug little resi-
dence in Remington Oval and trans
ported his family to Pimlico, where,
though Mrs. Chuff, his mother-in-law,
was at first happy, as the quarter was
elegant and near her sovereign, poor
little Anna and the children found a
woful difference. Where now were her
friends who came in with their work ol
a morning? At Remington and in the
vicinity of ClaphamP Where now were
her children's little playmates? On
Remington Common. The new uart-
ers contained no friends for their socia-
ole little Anna.
And, we gods! What difference
that was between Sackville's dreary
French banquets in Pimlico and the
jolly dinners at the Oval! No more leg
| of-mutton, no more of the best port
4 wine in England; but entrees on plate
and dismal two-penny champagne anC
walters in gloves, and the club buck:
for company-among whom Mrs. Chuf
was uneasy and Mrs. Sackville quite
silent
Not that he dined at home after. Tht
wretch had become perfect epicurt
and dined commonly at the club will
the gormandizing clique there. Here
you might see the wretch tippling Sci
lery champagne and gorging himsel
with French viands.
And there were other beings presen
to my repentant thoughts. Where hi
wife? thought 1. Where's poor, good
little Anna? At this very moment-it'
about the nursery bedtime, and whilt
yonder good-for-nothing is swilling hi
wine-the little ones are at Annals kne
lispinc>their prayers, and she is teach
ing them to say, pray God, bless papa.
When she has put them to bed he
days occupation is gone, and she is ut
terly lonely all night and sad and wait
ing for him.
Q, for shame! o. for shame. G.
home, thou idle tippler.
How Sackville lost his health; how h
lost his business; how he got int
SeraDeS. how he crot into de ht. how h,
} became railroad director; how th
Pimlico house was shut up; how b
went to Boulogne all this l could tell
only am too much ashamed of M
part of the transaction. zHGc6erdg.