The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-02-09
THE HENPECKED CLUB.
Queer Methods Of Queer Society In
Lancashire. ENGLAND

Lancashire. England
OF all the queer clubs that exist ir
the world YOU will Hnd soinr of 'he
queerest i'm Lancashire England one
of these is called the GIcnppckcd club
As the title indicates. it's members are
all males. and YOU can come II, ross u
club In almost every Lancashire town
of any size
The meetings are held. as rule, in
some bar parlor, and the discussions
are about members and often non
members who have the reputation of
being henpcckCd When evidence ha,
been brought to show that particular
man has allowed himself to come un
Iler his wifc'S thumb they tax him viii
it in the place of meeting. The presi
dent delivers lecture on the danger
of husband permitting his wife tt
usurp his position as master. and whct
the others have indOrSed his remarks
the person to whom the speeches are
addressed is warned that II he con
tiuues TO stand the henpecking he viii
bc made the subject of demonstra
ton
The announcement that n "henpeclt.
ed club demonstration Is to take place
is received in the district with mixed
feelings. The men applaud II. and the
local police, recalling similar displays
that led to trouble, become little
anxious. ON the evening appointed
the members of the club meet at
public house, whore they arm them
selves with all kinds of household
utensils; then. led by concertina play.
crs or Il tin whistle band. they start
ont and march along the crowded
streets Of the district
One man carries broom. another n
swab. Il third shovel or coal
scuttle or a fender or Il poker Fire
tongS. blacklcad brushes. washtubs.
buckcts-everything used in the home.
in fact--is carried shoulder high As
they march along to the music In front
and the discordant changing of their
baggage they sing snatches of songs
I'm which the name of the victim oc-
ours often.
The mission of the verses. which
have been specially composed for the
occasion bc y local poet. is to hold up
the hcnperkcd one to ridicule. the rea-
son for the demonstrators bearing the
household goods being, of course. to
remind him that having fallen under
pctticoat government, he will quickly
become the slavey.
When they reach the cottage where
their victim resides they form circle
o. - Il, a
clang their Tenders and coal scuttles
more loudly than ever
The man inside is invoked by the
president during II halt i'm the pro-
gram TO "bc man" and join his
brethren. Sometimes IL he looks upOn /
the affair rs more of joke than any
thing else he does their bidding. and ,
they reform and march to headquar-
tors with him at their head Usually.
however, his wife appears instead /
with n bucket of soapy water. which .
she promptly throws over the demon !
strators. or she quickly causes clear
ln"e with hose pipe.
To the onlookcr It is Just an exhibf. .
tion for laughter and nothing more.
hut behind the scenes there Is general
Iy u lot Of trouble and heartaching
\ good number OF these "henpecked"
demonstrations have seQuels in police
courts. Sometimes II Is an enraged
victim being charged with assaulting
demonstration. bur more often than
lOt the sequel shows wife appealing
o the magistrate for separation or
ler,-London Tit-BitS