New-York tribune., 1912-01-31

come a total abstainer, and even prohibited
the sale OF any liquor on his Scottish es
tates. / must explain, however, that his
teetotalism was of a kind quite different
from that of his convivial old father. for
whom Queen Victoria had always a sort of
kindly feeling, and pity, owing to his wife's
behavior. In fact, the Queen would con-
stantly invite him to dinner when she was
at Balmoral. On one occasion during a
pause in the conversation at table he ad-
dressed her majesty as follows: You will
he glad TO hear, ma am, that have given
up whiskey." The Queen, who had fire.
Quently expostulated with Lord Fife on the
subject of his preferences regarding drink,
beamed with satisfaction and replied how
delighted she was TO hear II. Yes" con-
unued the earl, the doctors have recon-
mended me to take brandy instead, and so
drink nothing else"
fLondon's Oldest Club in Difficulties.
Sir Robert Afiecks extraordinary lawsuit
in London against certain Of the officers
OF the old Cocoa Tree Club. the oldest in
London. dating from 1746, serves to call at
tcntion first of all to the financial difficult
ties of that time-honored institution. in St.
problem of club ethics, namely, as TO
whether a member Of a club is justified in
charging a commission for a loan which he
negotiates for the club.
Sir Robert. who has an extensive &C
olaintance among loan mongers Of every
description. having figured IN the Bank
ruptcy Court. succeeded last year at a mo-
ment Of crisis in the financial affairs Of the
Cocoa Tree in obtaining a loan for 1t of
5000 AS the difficulties of the Cocoa Tree
were a matter of notorety in clubland, the
terms on which he obtained the loan were
rather onerous, and when in addition he
himself demanded a commission of s4Oo
for arranging the loan the officers of the
club naturally demurred. 1t is in conse-
ouence of their failure to pay him this COM
mission that he is now suing them for the
amount and revealing 10 the general pub
lie the clubs precarious condition.
Sir Robert Affieck is the head of branch
of the old Scotch house Of Auchinleck, and
the barOnetcy dates from the great naval
battle of Guadeloupe, where Admiral Sir
Edmund Affieck distinguished himself as
second in command 10 Lord Rodney. 1t Is
q family that has certain American associa-
fiops. Thus, Sir Roberts wife, Lady Aftieck,
has been employed by Gordon Selfridge, OF
Chicago. 10 take charge Of the dress de-
partment of its great drygoods store IN
London, and there have been several matrl-
monial alliances with Americans, among
them the marriage of the second baronet 10
q New York girl, daughter Of Thomas
Clark and widow of Richard Nassall, of
Jamaica.
Formerly Si- Robert owned Daham Hail.
q place burdened with a curse, like so many
Of the other erstwhile monasteries which
were oonfscated bv Henry VIII at the time
Of the Reformation. For a time IL was
the residence of the Anglican Bishops OF
Ely. but they found the place too heavily
weighted with the blight Of its former
rnonastic owners. and sold II. Some of its
subsequent proprietorS, in the days OF King
William and Queen Mary. endeavored 10
get rid Of the i'll luck by almost entirely
rebuilding the mansion. But this proved OF
no avail. and the Afflecks, who bought Dali
ham some two hundred years ago, were
pursued by misfortune from the moment
that they entered upon possession thereof
there not being a single instance of its de-
scending from father to son.
The present baronet was overtaken by
ruin and landed in the Bankruptcy Court
some few years after his succession TO the
title and estate, which latter, remaining
in the market for some time, was pur-
chased by Cecil Rhodes. Since Rhodes's
death it has gone through the hands of
two Of his brothers and nephew.
Lady Afieck besides her connection with
Selfrdge's London store, which brought no
endfof advertisement to the latter as we'll
as to herself. is entitled to fame as hav-
ing successfully vindicated IN the highest
courts of judicature in England the rights
OF tenants TO break their leases If on TAX
ing possession Of premises. furnished or
otherwise, they find them infested with
what are euphemisticaly described as I'm
sects." English people have a deliCaCy
about using the word bug" which is 80
frequently employed on this side Of The At
lant.c and throughout the proceedings I'm
the various courts Of law, both high and
low. the Objectionable vermin was not re.
ferrod TO once by its actual name. the
nearest approach thereto being when one of
the counsel alluded to it as a "B fiat"
This avoidance Of any mention Of the name
OF the insect was all the more remarkable
when II is borne in mind that the latter
Constituted the sole subject and theme Of
those long and costly processes Of law
With regard to the Cocoa Tree Club. VOL
II
earliest of all the clubs that remain in
existence 10 this day. Frederick. Prince of
Wales father Of George III. was one OF
It's founders and original members and his
grandson George ", followed his example
IN gambling away vast sums there as
Prince Of Wales. One OF the Regents
chief associates at the card tables. and
indeed. one Of the pillars Of the club. was
Charles Howard. eleventh Duke of Nor
folk who was the first member of :he
House OF Lords 10 abandon the pigtail and
the hair powder Of the latter days Of the
eighteenth century lie played recklessly =
drank heavily. looked more like a butcher
than the premier peer Of tho realm. and
on the occasion Of the tcrcentenary Of the
dukedom. announced his intention Of in
Niting 10 dinner at the Cocoa Tree Club
all the living male descendants of the first
duke lie was compelled to abandon the
proiecL however when he found that the
clalindnts 10 that distinction numbered
more than SIX thousand