Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-16
CLUBS IN LONDON
Famous Resorts Where the Play Used
to Be High.
HOMES OF THE HIGH STAKES
Most Of The Conducted ON the Pro-
prietary system-FOrtunes Made
by Their Owners-sOme
Nicissitudes.

LONuOA y AullOAH Aab n 4
existence to become the tail OF a
enterprise recalls the discussion
OF some years ago as to the respective adj
vantages Of the English and the American
the proprietary and the social
club.
In America such a thing as a proprietary
club owned and managed by one man is
unknown, the Knlckerbocker Ath-
letic club being the most conspicuous ex-
ample of its failure as a system. In Lon
don it is the usual thing. and almost all
the medium sized clubs which are devoted
to some special purpose, such as card
are proprietary.
In the old days this was a money making
enterprise, and some immense fortunes
were piled up by the proprietors OF London
card clubs. But now whenever a club
shows signs Of unusual prosperity the
members get together and insist on form
ing some sort OF governing body which
shall have power to pass upon the propos-
ais for membership. They also see to II
that the proprietor spends a proper proper
tion Of his profits on the comfort OF the
members instead OF putting everything into
his pocket.
The fashions in the card clubs continually
change with the years and with the games
that are the rage. A century ago 1t was
against the rules in many of the best clubs
to play cards before dinner, whereas now
adays the principal play Is between the
hours OF 4 and Z. The income OF the
proprietor today is from the annual sub
scriptions and from the fixed fees for card
money. In the old days the largest source
Of revenue was from the counters picked
up from the floor after the game was over.
George RaSgett, the owner OF Whites,
one of the most famous gambling clubs in
the world, situated on st. James street,
made it his rule to attend to his guests in
person whenever exceptionally high play
was in progress, knowing that he would
be well repaid for his time. Upon one oc-
casion, after picking up counters to the
value Of nearly $1,000 from the floor, he
received a gift of almost as much from
Harvey Combe, who had been playing
from Monday evening Until II o'clock on
Wednesday morning. Sir John Malcolm,
Tippoo Smith and Ward, the member of
Parliament for London, being the other
players at the table.
Some Of the proprietary clubs adopted
curious rules to attract and keep their
customers. One of the chief difficulties
then as now was to insure a game for any
one that might happen to drop in at odd
hours. One Of these, nicknamed the Never
Ending club, had a bylaw that no player
should quit a table Until a fresh arrival
was ready to take his place. This re-
uuired the whist players to knock out, as
a signal that they would be the first to
retire. instead of the familiar process OF
knocking in, which signifies a desire to
play.
One very popular feature was to provide
light silken curtains which could be drawn
between the faces of the players so as tc
conceal from an adversary any unguarded
expression of disappointment or of triumph
upon picking up a hand or following tbs
course of play,
1t was at this club that Fox lost a larg,
sum Of money to Lord Barrymore, VIII
took advantage Of the concealment of hi
own face to study the reflection Of Fox
cards in the large polished steel buttons
which he wore upon his coat.
Raggett was a keen man of business an
lost no opportunity of keeping his client
together so as to prevent their becoming
attached to rival clubs. He opened
smaller club on st. James square, wher
the Portland now stands, which he calle,
the Roxburgh, to accommodate those VIII
did not wish 1t to be known tina the
gambled at Whites. In order to accommo
a date those who went out Of town h
. started another club at Brighton, whic
, was formerly called Brightselmstone an
this was the club in which Lord Byron FIRE
, quently played. AS a reward for his fore
? sight and industry Raggett died extremel
rich.
Another enterprising proprietor opened
q club house at Richmond for the accommC
dalton of the aristocracy who wished
spend their week ends in the country. TIL
house was believed to have been No.
q on the Green ard was long known as IL
q London Coffee house. It is worthy of no
I that in 1880 quadrille, ombre and viii
II were always advertised as among the sp
n cial attractions of the spa at Richmond
q At the corner Of Bolton street and Picc
"a dilly was Walters club, which Byron 7
cords was a superb club" in 1915. Bee
Brummel played here regularly for ten
twelve years, but the club eventually (,
into disrepute through the want OF prop
supervision of the admissions to membe
ship.
= Swinburne says in his Courts of e
rope that it was In this club that a play
upon seeing the witty Lord Alvaney ent
= the room and dreading his satirical tong
laid down his cards and pulled out a pa
n of pistols, which ne laid on the table b
rs side him. The only comment Of Alvan
III was:
u Il hope you don't expect your adverse
u to follow suit?'
:" Every visitor to London who has pass
p down Piccadilly has probably remarked t
imposing home Of the Devonshire club
"a the southwest corner OF st. James sire
SO Within this building the highest gambH
IL In the world has probably taken place. I
70 sums won and lost at Monte Carlo bel
III nothing to those that changed hands he
T. The entrance was originally from I
Ia Piccadilly side, and many changes ha
al been made In the interior arrangement
OF but some of the gilt chairs that were us
by the high rollers OF seventy years a
are still preserved in the club rooms.
The proprietor OF this club was origina
m a small fishmonger named William Crot
IS ford, who had a shop near Temple b
he His first venture In club proprietorship v
IN to take Waters old house, where hazar
OF the American game of craps was the Oh
mt attraction. In this he had a partner nan
ed Taylor, and they both made money,
DIV at the end of a year they separated. a
Der Crockford went 70 St James street, VIII
Ter he prospered so well hat he instruc
Tx the Wyatts TO prepare plans for a n