The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-08-11
BULL|ED THE CLUB
A London OueIist Who Forced His
Way Into Brooks.
VETOED HIS OWN REJECTION.
After Having Been BaIloted For and
Unanimously BlaekbaIIed He Made
Every Member Deny His Vote and
Then Declared Himself Elected.


Then Declared Himself Elected.
1t was a witty bishop who once de
fined a club as place where women
cease from troubling and the weary
are at rest" Another amusing defini-
ton was that given by George Au'
gustus Sala. "A club" said he. us
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 one 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
I'm 1885. No first class London club
would admit him. His name does not
appear in the club list, though he must
I'm a sort OF way be regarded as having
belonged to the club. He was, how
ever, In 1t only once, though 1t was his
boast that he had been unanimously
chosen a member.
Owing to Fitzgeralds 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 dueist 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 unfavorabe 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 went 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 nonmembers might not en-
| ter the clubrooms, Fitzgerald flew up
stairs and entered the room. Walk
ing up to the fireplace, he thus ad-
dressed Admiral Stewart.
$50. my dear admiral, Mr.. Brooks in
| forms me that / have been elected
three times"
"You have been balloted for. Mr..
| 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 thingT'
"Oh, I supposed no such thing. my
I dear fellow. only want to know who
It was that dropped the black ball In
by accident. as 1t 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 case he
received a reply similar to that Of the
admiral.
When he had finished his investiga-
tions he thus addressed the whole
body: "You see. gentlemen, that as
none Of you have blackhallcd me
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 I'm enforced silence. for no
one would answer him when he spoke
When he had gone IL was agreed
that half n dozen stout conStables
should be in waiting the next evening
10 bear him Off TO the watch house II
he attempted again 10 intrude. but
Mr.. Fitzgerald. aware probably of the
reception he might get. never did
Apropos OF bluckballing. MIR Nevil
mentions the greatest instance oi
blackballlng probably ever known
which took place some years ago at
ladies' club. where one candidate re
ceived three more black balls than th,
number of members present-a case
Of excessive zeal indeed!
The practical joker Is naturally moi
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 were notorious
in London twenty years ago. sitting
) half asleep in certain bohemian
club, became annoyed AT very rec
: headed waiter who kept buzZing abou
; his chair The sight Of the fiery locks
was eventually too much for this
: wild spirit. and. darting up and seiz
: ing the man. he emptied bottle o.
black ink over his head before h'
could escape. The result. of course
was expulsion from the club besides