The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-08-04
bUL.L..IED The CLUB
A London DueIiSt Who Forced His
Way Into Brooks.
VETOED HIS OWN REJECTION.

"N~
Unanimously BlackbaIIed He Made
Every Member Deny His Vote and
Then Declared Himself Elected.
1t was a witty bishop who n c de-
fined a club as a 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 be. lis a
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 ciubman. 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 duclist, George Robert Fitz-
~ wv Nv "t' SNNN IN y Ltb'
t. l1SG. No first class London club
would admit him. His name does not
appear in the club list. though be must
in a sort of way be regarded as having
belonged to the club. He was. how
ever. in it only once, though it was his
boast that be had been unanimously
chosen a member.
[Nt>r 10 N,t,~arnll', r-an rNx-
dueling p~ropensities 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, 10 propose him for
Brooks.
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 unfavorabIe to the candidate, not
even one white bail 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 c%lubrooms. Fitzgerald few up
stairs and entered the room. Walk
ing up to the fireplace. be thus ad-
dressed Admiral Stewart.
so. my dear admiral. Mr.. Brooks in
forms me that l have been elected
three tines
You have been halloted for. Mr..
Fitzgerald. but | am sorry to say you
have not been chosen" said Stewart.
well, then" replied the duelist. did
you b"lackball me?'
My good sir" answered the admiral.
how could you suppose such Il thing
"Oh. l supposed no such thing. my
dear fellow. | only want to know who
it was that dropped the black ball 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
ball me. siry" 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-
tons he thus addressed the whole
body: "You see. gentlemen. that as
none Of you have blackbaIled 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 in enforced silence. for no
one would answer him when he spoke.
When he had gone it was agreed
that half a dozen stout c%onstables
should be in waiting the mex evening
to bear him off TO the watch house IL
he attempted again to intrude. but
Mr.. Fitzgerald. aware probably Of the
reception he might get. never did"
Apropos of blackballing. Mr.. Nevill
mentions the greatest instance of
blackballing probably ever known,
which took place some years ago at a
ladies' club. where n candidate re
ceived three more black balls than the
number of members p~resent-a cas-
Of excessive zeal indeed!
The practical Joker - naturally not
unknown in the most solemn Of clubs.