The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-30
OLD GAhDLI.,;u;J ;JLjBS
Famous Resorts of the Betting
Fraternity In London.
THE WAY FOX WAS TR!cKED.
A Scheme Taat Allowed Hin, 20 30
Cheated sy Lord Sarryrore-Wa-
tior's, commende! by Lord Byron
and Patronized by Beau Seumnel.


Cheated sy Lord 6arryrore-Wa-
tior's, commende! by Lord Byron
and Patronized by Beau 8eummel.
In America such thing as L propri-
ctary club owned and managed by one
man IS almost unknown. In London Il
Is the usual thing. and almost all the
medium sized clubs which are devoted
TO some specia! purpose. such as card
playing. are proprietary.
In the old days this was :. money
making enterprise, and some immense
fortunes were piled up by the proprie-
tors Of London card clubs. But now
whenever q club shows signs OF un-
usual prosperity the members get to-
gether and insist Oh forming some so7,
Of governing body which shall have
power to pass upon the proposals for
membership. They also see &c It that
the proprietor spends proper proper
ton OF his profits on the comfort OF
the members instead Of putting every
thing In his pocket.
The fashions IN the card clubs con-
finua!ly change with the years and
with the games that are the rage. 4
century ago i, was against the rules
In many Of the best clubs 10 play
cards before dinner, whereas nova
days the principal play IS between
the hours Of :: and :. The income Of
the proprietor today IS from the an
nual subscriptions and from the fixed
fees for card money. In the old days
the largest source OF revenue was
from the counters picked mp from the
floor after the game was over.
George Rasgett. the owner o:
Whites. one OF the most famous gam-
bling clubs In the world. situated Oh
St. James street. made 1t his rule to
attend to his guests IN person when
ever exceptionally high play was in
progress. knowing tha, he would be
we'll repaid for his time. Upon one
occasion. after picking up counters to
the value Of nearly $1,000 from the
foor. be received Gift Of almost as
muc!, from Harvey Colcbe. who had
beep playing from Monday evening
until j O'Clock or Wednesday morn
ing. Sir John s:alcolm. Tippoo Smith
and Ward. the member Of parliament
ror London. being the other players at
the table.
Some Of the proprietary clubs adopt
ed curious rules to attract and keep
their customers. One OF the chief diff
Ecui.les then. as now. was TO insure
game from any one that might happen
to drop In at odd hours. One OF these.
nicknamed the Nerve Ending club. had
q bylaw that no player should quit
table ant!l fresh arrival was ready
TO take his place.
One very popular feature was to pro
vide light silken curtains which could
be drawn between the faces OF the
players so as 10 conceal from an ad-
versary any ursuarded expression OF
disappointment or OF triumph upon
picking up . hand or following the
course Of play.
Il was at this club that Fox lost
large sun Of money TO Lord Barry
more, who took advantage Of the con-
ceaimenG Of his own face TO study the
reflection Of Fo1's cards IN the large
polished steel buttons which be wore
upon bis coat
AZ the corner Of Bolton street and
P!ccadilly was Waters club, which
Byron records was q superb club" IN
1915. Beau Brummel played here reg
ularly for ten or twelve years. but the
club eventually fell into dis-epute
through the wene Of proper superb
sion Of the admissions to membership.
SwinburDe says In his Courts OF
Europe" that It was in this club that
player upon seeing the witty Lord
Al7aIIey enter the room and, dreacins
his satir!cal tongue, laid down his
cards and pulled out . pair OK pistols,
which he laid on the table beside him.
The only comment Of A,ranley was:
~ hope yor don't expect your ad-
Yersay to follow suit!"
Every visitor TO London who has
passed down PiccadIlly has probably
remarked the imposing home OK the
Devonsh!re club at the southwest cor
ner Of st. James street. Within this
building the highest gambling in the
world has probably taken place. the
SUNS won and lost at Monte Carlo be-
ing nothing to those that changed
hands here. The entrance was o7is!.
nally FROM the Piccadi!y side. end
many changes have been made IN the
interior arrangements. but somo OF the
gilt chairs that were used by the high
rollers Of seventy years ago are stll
preserved in the clubrooms.
The proprietor Of this club was orig
snaliy small fshmonSer named WI
liam Cpockford. who had shop near
Temple Bar. His first venture In club
proprietorship was TO take Waters
old house. where hazard. the Amert-
can game Of craps. was the chief at
traction. In this ha had 4 partner
named Taylor. and they both made
money, but ut the end Of year they
separated, and Crocktord went to ST
James street. where he p-oSpered so
well that he instructed the Wyasss 10
prepare plans for new building.
This was opened in 1927. and. al
though Il was proprietary club.
Crocktord was sLrewd enough to IN
vest a committee with the right OF
election to membership. move 10
which many persons attribute bis i'm
nense success. Among the first OF the
names presented was that Of the Duke
OF Wellington. and almost every man
OF note in England was either mem
Der or a guest at some time or other
chicago Record. Herald.
Good health is impossible when there
IS any deransemen. OF the digestive or
cans. Foiev's Orino Laxative IS a nat