Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-09-21
BULL|ED THE CLUB
A London DueIist Who Forced His
Way Into Brooks.
VETOED HIS OWN REJECTION.

After Having Been BaIloted For and
Unanimously Blackballed He Made
Every Member Deny His Vote and
Then Declared Himself Elected.
1t was a witty bishop who once de.
fined a club as a place where women
cease from troubling and the weary
are at rest" Another amusing detini
ton vas that given by George An
guStus Sala. "A club" said he. lis a
weapon used by savages to keep the
white woman at a distance" Nova.
days. however, as Ralph Nevill re-
marks in his book. London Clubs
things are different within the last
twenty-five years or so the spirit of
London club life has entirely changed.
The old fashioned clubman, whose
whole life was bound up with n or
other Of these institutions. is now
practically extinct"
Perhaps the most striking story
which Mr.. Nevill tells regarding
Brooks club is that concerning the
famous duelist. George Robert Fitz-
gerald. who was executed for murder
in 1856. No first class London club
would admit him. His name does not
appear in the club list. though be must
in a sort of way be regarded as having
belonged to the club. He was. how
ever. in it only once. though it was his
boo,+ +ho+ h., ho1 hnor ,,roriro0,,eI-
chosen a member.
Owing to Fitzgerald's we'll known
dueling p~ropensities 10 first class
London club would admit him. Never
theless he got Admiral Keith Stewart.
who knew that he must fight Fitz-
gerald or comply. to propose him for
Brooks.
Accordingly the duelist went with
the admiral on the day Of the election
to the clubhouse and waited down.
stairs while the ballot was in progress.
The result. a foregone conclusion.
was unfavorable to the candidate. not
even one white ball being among the
black. the admiral having been among
the first to deposit his. Mr.. Brooks
eventually e to tell Fitzgerald. who
was waiting in the hall, that there
was one black ball and that therefore
his candidature had failed.
Thrusting aside Brooks. who pro-
tested that nonnembers might not en-
ter the clubrnoms. Fitzgerald few'up-
stairs and entered the room. Walk.
ing up to the fireplace. he thus ad.
dressed Admiral Stewart.
80. my dear admiral. MI. Brooks in
forms me that | have been elected
three times"
"You have been balloted for. Mr..
Fitzgerald. but I am sorry to say you
have not been chosen said Stewart.
well. then" replied the duelist. did
you blackball me?'
MY good sir" answered the admiral,
how could you suppose such a thing?"
"Oh, l supposed no such thing. my
lear fellow. only want to know who
it was that dropped the black ball in
by accident. as it were"
Fitzgerald now went up to each in
dividual member and put the same
question to all in turn. Did you black
ball me. sir?' until he made the round
of the whole club. and in each ase lie
received a reply similar to that Of the
admiral.
When be had finished his investiga-
lions he thus addressed the whole
body: .You see. gentlemen, that as
none Of you have blackballed me l
must be elected. 1t is Mr.. Brooks who
has made the mistake"
After this nothing more was said by
the members. who determined to ig-
more the presence of their dangerous
visitor. who drank three bottles Of
champagne in enforced silence. for no
n would answer him when he spoke.
When he had gone it was agreed
that half a dozen stout constables
should be in waiting the next evening
to bear him off to the watch house if
he attempted again to intrude. but
Mr.. Fitzgerald. aware probably of the
reception he might get, never did"
Apropos of blackballing. Mr.. Nevill
mentions the greatest instance of
b~lackballing probably ever known,
which took place some years ago at a
ladies' club, where n candidate re.
celved three more black balls than the
number of members present-a case
Of excessive zeal indeed!
The practical joker is naturally not
unknown in the most solemn of clubs,
and some irrepreSsible jokers have
paid for their love of fun by having
to resign their membership. One Of
them. whose escapades we're notorious
in London twenty years ago. sitting
half asleep in q certain bohemian
club. became annoyed at a very red
headed waiter who kept buzzing about
his chair. The sight of the fiery locks
was eventually too much for this
wild spirit. and. darting up and seiz-
ing the a he emptied a bottle of
black ink over his head before he
could escape. The result, of course,
was expulsion from the club. besides
which very substantial compensation
was rightly paid to the waiter"