The Wrangell sentinel., 1911-07-27
PULLED THE CLUB
A London DueIist Who Forced His
 Way Into Brooks.
VETOED HIS OWN REJECTION.
After Having Been BaIIoted For and Unanimously RIackbalIed He Made Every Member Deny His Vote and Then Declared Himself Elected.


 It was a witty bishop who once de- fined a club as place where women cease from troubling apd the weary are at rest" Another amusing defni, ton was that given by George Au, gustus Sala. "A club" said he. lis weapon used by savages to keep the white woman at a distance" Nova days. however, as Ralph Neyill 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 np with one or other of these institutions. is now practically extinct"
 Perhaps the most striking story which MT. Nevll tells regarding Brooks club is that concerning the famous duelist, George Robert FitZ- gerald, who was executed for murder in 17S6. No first class London club would admit him. His name does not appear in the club list. though he must III q SOl VI "ds bC bNNt sA'' h'' ''AS belonged to the club. He was. how ever, in it only once, though it was his boast that he had been unanimously chosen a member.
 Owing to Fitzgerald's well known dueling propensities no 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. foregQne conclusion, was unfavorable to the candidate, not even one white ball being among tEe black, the admiral having been among the first to deposit his Mir. Brooks eventually went to tell Fitzgerald, who was waiting in the hall. that there was one black ball and that therefore his candidatpre had failed.
 Thrusting aside Brooks. who pro- tested that nonmembers might not en- ter the cubrooms. Fitzgerald flew up. stairs and entered the room. Walk ing up to the fireplace, he thus ad. dressed Admiral Stewart.
 "So, my dear admiral. Mir. Brooks in. forms me that 1 have been elected three times"
 "You have been balloted for, MT. Fitzgerald, but 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, I supposed no such thing. my dear fellow. I only want to know who it was that dropped the black ball in l by accident. as it were.'
 i 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 case he received a reply similar to that of the admiral.
 When he had finished his investiga- 1 tions he thus addressed the whole body: You see, gentlemen. that as none of you have blackballed me must be elected It is MT. Brooks who has made the mistake"
 After this nothing more was said by the members. who determined to ig- nore the presence of their dangerous visitor, who drank three bottles Of champagne in enforced silence. for no l ona yould oDSwpr him when he smoke
 When he had gone it was agreed "that half dozen stout constables should be in waiting the next evening to bear him off to the watch house if he attempted again to intlude. but MT. Fitzgerald. aware probably of the reception he might got. never did.
 Apropos of black balling, MT. Nevili mentions the greatest instance Of i blackballing probably ever known. which took place some years ago at a l ladies' club. where one candidate re- 1 ceiyed three more black balls than the number of members present-a case l of excessive zeal indeed.
 The practical joker is naturally not unknown in the most solemn Of clubs. and some irrepressibe jokers have paid for their love of fun by having l to resign their membership. One of them. whose escapades were notorious in London twenty years ago, sitting half asleep in a certain bohemian club, became annoyed at very red 1 headed waiter who kept buzZing about his chair. The sight of the fiery locks 1