The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-15
ODDITIES IN CLUBS
Some Curious Associations That
 Were Born In London.
FREAKS IN NAMES AND AIMS.

The Abduction Club Was Formed For
 the Purpose of Carrying oH Actresses
 by Force and ths surly Club to Pro.
 mote Che 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 Go be wholly absorbed tn thinking of their sweetheartS. Bach would hold iu his hand bic of ribbon, a lock of hair, a purse or some other article belonging to the object yt his affections, and from time Co time he would address this ar ticle in terms or endearment no other speaking being allowed On Initiation the member had Co compose and recite a poem in honor of his lady, and 0t the meetings a 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 1TG6 by some well con uected Irish youths, who banded them selves together to abduct heiresscs and good looking young women or gentle birth. As there was a 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 a capital oIensc
 The members assisted each other by providing relays Of horses and car rioCes whenever necessary. The wealth Of the two sisters Kennedy, daughters Of Richard Kennedy Of Rathmcaden manor, Waterford, caused the attention of the members Co hc drawn Co them Gerald Byruo, grandson ot Sir Gregory Ryrnc. and James Strange Willard were drawn in the lottery, and the ohduc- tion took place on April ll, lII9.
 The principals were arrested tried and condemned and they were eNccut- cd iu the following May, notwithstand- ug the fact that ministers of Che court of Vienna. grandecs or Spain and French nobles implorcd their pardon. The club was introduced into England in ITTO, but dishauded m 1892 when tweuty-nine members remained.
 The No Nose club was founded by a gentleman who was an unwilling fol- lower of the Egyptian fashion of fat faces When the members diucd to- Cether and a young pig, the favorite dish, was the principal item on Che menu the suout was always cut of.
 The Club of Ugly Faces was also founded by a gentleman who boastcd an enormously large nose. Another member had a chin Of the size and shape of a shoe horn, another a huge mouth and a fourth very large, pro truding eyes. No one was eligible for membership who had not some facial malformation. and an members on iui- tiation had to make a speech in praise of Aesop, whose portrait hung over Che mautelpicce Of the ClubrOom.
 The Surly club had It's meeting place near BnliucSgate fish market and the membership was limited Co cabmen, carmen and watermen, who used Co meet once a week to exercise the art of abusive language in order that they might not lose the reputation they had gained. Any member found guilty Of courtesy or politencss was 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 alarmed 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 a hundred, and the members divided the day among them selves in such way that there were always some present upon the prem iSeS. The great fre of London put an end Co 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 cmptied an the bottles on the table. The fire for lighting the members pipes was never allowed Co go out an old woman being kept solely for the purpose ot attending Co it Dur ing the fifty years of its existence the members smoked fifty tons of tobacco, drank 5000 butts of ale, 1000 pipes of port and 200 barrels of brandy in oddi- ton to other liquors,
 The Man Killing club was limited in membership Co men who had killed op- ponents in duels. The conversation at the gatherings was confined to bullets wounds and slaughter. The president was said Co have killed half a dozen men in single combat, and the seats at dinner were arranged according to the numbers the members had slain. At banuuets a side table was provided for visitors who had only drawn blood. The club had not a lengthy existence, as nearly an the members were exc cuted.
 Suicides clubs have been long fin eN- istence. and one existed recently in Kursk. The club had for It's motto nDeath is the cure for an Ills" but as
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