The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-15
BULLIED THE CLUB
A London DueIist Who Forced His
Way Into Brosks'.
VETOED HIS OWN REJECTION.
After Having Been Baloted For and
Unanimously Biackhalled He Made
Every Member Deny His Vote and
Then Declared Himself Elected,


Every Member Deny His Vote and
Then Declared Himself Elected,
1t was q witty bishop who once de-
fined a club as place where women
cease from troubling and the weary
are at rest" Another amusing defni
ton was that given by George An
gustus Sala. "A club" said he. lis q
weapon used by sayages to keep The
white woman at 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 ciubman, whose
whole life was bound up with one or
other Of these institutions is noN
practically extinct"
Perhaps the most striking story
which Mr. Nevill tells regarding
Brooks club is that concerning the
famous duelist, George Robert Fit2
gerald. who was executed for murder
in 1856 No first class London club
would admit him. His name does moi
appear in the club list, though he must
In q sort OF way be regarded as hayiue
belonged to the club. He was. bow
ever. In il only once, though 1t was his
boast that he had been unanimously
chosen member
Owing to Iritzgerald's well known
duelng propensities no first class
London club would admit him. Never
theless he got Admiral Keith Stewart
who knew that be must fight FitZ
gerald or comply, TO propose him for
Brooks.
Accordingly the duelst 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. 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 MIR. 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 cIubrooms. Fitzgerald few up
stairs and entered the room. Walk
ing up to the fireplace. he thus adj
dressed Admiral Stewart.
so. 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 yol
have not been chosen" said Stewart.
'Well, then" replied the duelist, Ibid
you blackball me?'
1lIy good sir" answered the admiral,
how could you suppose such a thing
"Oh. supposed no such thing. my
dear fellow only want to know who
it was that dropped the black bali 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
bali me. sire" until he made the round
of the whole club, and in each case he
received reply similar to that Of the
admiral.
When he had finished his investiga-
lions he thus addressed the whole
body: "You see, gentlemen, that rs
none Of you have blackballed me i
must be elected. 1t is Mr. Brooks who
has made the mlstase."
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
one would answer him when he spoke.
When he had gone it was agreed
"that half a dozen stout constabes
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 be might get, never did,
Apropos Of blackballing. Mr.. Nevill
mentions the greatest instance of
blaclballing probably ever known,
which took place some years ago at a
ladies' club, where one candidate re-
eeived 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 irrepressibie 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 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 man, he emptied 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"
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