The Press., 1911-07-05
THE HENPECKED CLUB.
Queer Methods of Queer Society IB
 Lancashire EndIand,

Lancashire, England.
 Of all the queer clubs that exist in the world you will find some of the queerest in Lancashire, England. One of these is called the Henpecked club As the title indicates, it's members are all males, and you can come across a club in almost every Lancashire town of any size.
 The meetings are held, as a rule, ln some bar parlor, and the discussions are about members and often non- members who have the reputation of being henpecked. When evidence has been brought to show that particular man has allowed himself to come un- der his wife's thumb they tax him with it in the place of meeting. The presi- dent delivers a lecture on the danger of a husband permitting his wife to usurp his position as master, and when the others have indorsed his remarks the person to whom the speeches are addressed Is warned that if he con- t1uues to stand the henpecking he will be made the subject of a demonstra- ton. .
 The announcement that a ''henpeck- ed" club demonstration is to take place is received in the district with mixed feelings. The men applaud 1t, and the local police, recalling similar displays that led to trouble, become a little anxious. On the evening appointed the members of the club meet at a public house. where they arm them selves with all kinds of household utensils; then, led by concertina play CTS or a tin whistle band, they start out and march along the crowded streets of the district
 One man carries a broom, another a swab, a third a shovel or a coal scuttle or a fender or a poker. Fire tOngs, blacklead brushes, washtubs, buckets everything used in the home, h 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 in which the name of the victim oc- CUTS often.
 The mission of the verses, which have been specially composed for the occasion by local poet, Is to hold up the henpecked one to ridicule, the req son for the demonstrators bearing the household goods being, of course, to remind him that, having fallen under petticoat government, he will quickly become the slavey. ...
 When they reach the cottage where their victim resides they form circle in front of the door and sing and clang their lenders and coal scuttles more loudly than ever.
 The man inside is invoked by the president during q halt in the pro- gram to "be a man" and join his brethren. Sometimes if he looks upon the affair as more of joke than any thing else he does their bidding. and they reform and march to headquar- ters with him at their head. Usually, however, his wife appears instead with a bucket of soapy water. which she promptly throws over the demon stratOrs, or she quickly causes a clear ance with q hose pipe.
 To the onlooker it is just an exhibi- ton for laughter and nothing more. but behind the scenes there Is general ly lot of trouble and heartaching. A good number of these "henpecked" SC4uCAo HI POAACC courts. Sometimes 1t is an enraged victim being charged with assaulting demonstrator. but more often than not the sequel shows a wife appealing to the magistrate for a separation or der.-London Tit Bits.
 Not In That Class.
 A Cleveland young woman has a ten. year-old brother who is wise beyond bis years and Is likely to crop out in hew places at the most unexpected times The other night the anxious guitor called on his inamorata. arriV- ing at her domicile a little before he was expected. She was not ready to make her appearance. and the duty of entertaining the caller devolVed upon the little brother.
 "Well. Bobby" began the young man tn an effort to make conversation and at the same time to put his involuntary host at his ease. docs your sister think that am calling at this house oftener than am welcome7'
 The child looked keenly at the caller.