The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-01-04
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 OFF Heiresses
by Force and the Surly Club to Pro-
mote the Use OF Abusive Language.

by Force ana the 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 be
wholly absorbed In thinking of their
sweethearts. Each would hold ia his
hand bit of ribbon. lock OF hair,
purse or some other article belonging
10 the object Il his affections. and from
time 10 time he would address this ar
ticle in terms OF endearment. no other
speaking being allowed On initiation
the member had TO compose and recits
I a poem In honor OF his lady. and at the
meetings a tne was imposed upon the
/ member who did not sigh Eve 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 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 offense.
The members assisted each other by
providing relays OF horses and car
rlages 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-
ton took place on April II. l779
The principals were arrested. tried
and condemned and they were execut-
ed 10 the following May. notwithstand-
ing the fact that ministers OF the
court of Vienna. grandees Of Spain and
French mobiles imploredI their pardon.
The club was introduced into England
fl l71O, but dlsbanded In 1902, when
twenty.nine members remained.
The No Nose club was founded by
gentleman who was an unwilling fol-
lower OF the Egyptian fashion OF flat
faces. When the members dined to-
gether and young pig. the favorite
dish. was the principal item on the
menu the snout was always cut Off.
The Club OF Ugly Faces was also
founded by a gentleman who boosted
an enormously large nose. Another
member had n chin OF the size and
shape OF shoe horn, another huge
mouth and fourth very large. pro
truding eyes. No one was eligible for
membership who had not some facial
malformation. and all members on ini
tlation had TO make n speech In praise
OF Aesop. whose portrait hung over the
mantelplece OF the cubroom.
The Surly club had its meeting
place near Blllingsgate Dish market,
aud the membership was limited to
cabmen. carmen and watermen. who
used 20 meet once q week 10 exercise
the art OF abusive language Inv order
that they might not lose the reputation
they had gained. Any member found
guilty ~ courtesy or politeness was
promptly ftaed
The Split Farthlng club was limited
IN membership 70 men who agreed to
stint themselves 10 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 tho original material
left 70 show the texture. The mem
bers presented so starved an appear
ance that II was said there was not
an ounce Of fat among the lot
The Everlasting club was limited Ia
membership to hundred. and the
members divided the day among them
selves IN such way that there were
always some present upon the prem.
Uses The great Ere 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 10 leave
until nc had emptied all the bottles on
the table. The FIRE for lighting the
members pipes was never allowed TO
go out an old woman being kept solely
for the purpose Of attending 20 II. Dur
inS tue HIty Years or It's existence the
members smoked ffty tons OF tobacco,
drank 10000 butts OF ale. 1000 pipes OF
port and 200 barrels ~ brandy IN Rddi
ton 10 other liquors
The Man Killing club was limited IN
membership 10 men who had killed OPP
ponents In duels The conversation ut
the gatherings was confined 10 bullets. |
wounds and slaughter The president |
was said TO have killed half dozen |
men In single combat. and the seats nc
dinner were arranged according 10 the |
numbers the members had slain. AZ |
banquets = side table was provided foi I
visitors who had only drawn blood |
The club had not lengthy existence. I
ms nearly all the members were exc |
cuted
Suicides Clubs have been long I'm ex
liStenrp. and one existed recently I'm \