The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-10-18
ODDITIES IN CLUBS
Some Curious Associations Thai
Were Born In London.
FREAKS IN NAMES AND AIMS

Tho Abduction Club Was Formed Fol-
the Purpose of Carrying OFF Heiresses
by Force and tho surly Club to Pro.
mote the Use OF Abusive Language.
One of the most extraordinary clubs
London has ever known, says the
Standard, was the Signing club, the
members of which were supposed to bt
wholly absorbed in thinking of theil
sweethearts. Each would hold In his
hand bit Of ribbon, lock Of hair,
purse or some other article belonging
to the object of his affections, and from
time to time he would address this ar
ticle In terms of endearment, no othel
speaking being allowed. On initiation
the member had to compose and recite
poem in honor of his lady, and at the
meetings fine was imposed upon the
member who did not sigh five times
within quarter of an hour.
Again, there was the Abduction club
organized in 1866 by some well con
nected Irish youths, who banded them
selves together to abduct heiresses and
good looking young women of gentle
birth. As there was large member
ship, many forced marriages took place
in consequence of their exploits. The
evil became eventually so serious that
a special act of parliament was passed
making abduction capital offense.
The members assisted each other by
providing relays Of horses and car
riagcs whenever necessary. The wealth
Of the two sisters Kennedy, daughters
OF Richard Kennedy OF Rathmeaden
manor, Waterford, caused the attention
OF the members to be drawn to them
Gerald Byrne, grandson of Sir Gregory
Byrne, and James Strange Willard were
drawn in the lottery, and the abduc
tion took place on April IA, ITO.
The principals were arrested, tried
and condemned and they were execut.
ed In tho following May, notwithstand.
Ing the fact that ministers of the
court of Vienna, grandees of Spain and
French mobiles implored their pardon.
The club was introduced into England
In 1910, but dlsbanded In 1902, when
twenty-nine members remained.
The No Nose club was founded by a
gentleman who was an unwilling fol
lower of the Egyptian fashion of fiat
faces. When the members dlned to.
gether and a young pig. the favorite
dish, was tho principal item on the
menu the snout was always cut off.
The Club of Ugly Faces was also
founded by gentleman who boosted
an enormously large nose. Another
member had n chin of the size and
shape of shoe horn, another huge
mouth and n fourth very large, pro
truding eyes. No one was eligible for
membership who had not some facial
malformation, and all members on inl.
tiation had to make a speech In praise
OF Aesop, whose portrait hung over the
mantelplece of the clubroom.
The Surly club had It's meeting
place near Blllngsgate fish market,
and the membership was limited to
cabmen, carmen and watermen, who
used to meet once a week to exercise
the art Of abusive language in order
that they might not lose the reputation
they had gaiuod. Any member found
getty OF courtesy pcista-~ss wac
promptly fined
The Split Farthing club was limited
In membership to men who agreed to
stint themselves TO the utmost In order
to increase their possessions. One
member is reported TO have had his
garments so darned that there was
not enough OF the original material
left to show the texture. The mem
bers presented so starved an appear
ance that It was said there was not
an ounce of fat among the lot.
The Everlasting club was limited In
membership to hundred, and the
members divided the day among them.
selves I'm such n way that there were
always some present upon the prem.
ises. The great fire OF London put an
end to this institution, as the premises
were burned down. and the only mem.
Der on the premises was nearly burned
to death because he refused TO leave
until he had emptied all the bottles on
the table. The fire for lighting the
members pipes was never allowed to
for the purpose Of attending to 1t. Dur
Ing the fifty years of its existence the
members smoked fifty tons of tobacco
drank 10000 butts Of ale, 1000 pipes OF
port aud 200 barrels OF brandy In add.
tion to other liquors.
The Man Killing club was limited In
membership TO men who had killed op-
~ In. ths. 10.
the gatherings was confined to bullets,
wounds ana slaughter. The president
was said to have killed half dozen
men in single combat, and the seats at
dinner were arranged according to the
numbers the members had slain. At
banquets side table was provided for
visitors who had only drawn blood
The club had not lengthy existence,
MS nearly all the members were exc
cuted
Suicides clubs have been long in ex.
istence. and one existed recently In
Kursk. The club had for its motto
death IL the cure for all Ills" but, as
set forth In its book of rules, candi-
dates for membership had first OF all to
show that they had a substantial rea.
son for wishing to die. A would be
candidate who presented himself with
| the weight OF ten or more years OF I'M
happy married life was received with
open nrms. Loss Of fortune, incurable
disease aud n record Of III luck were
also excellent qualifications for mem.
Dership