The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-05-31
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 He'ressss
by Force and tho Ny Club to Pro-
mote the Use Of Atssiv> Language.

One or tue mOot O. taVtuAh"tJ ~AeH"
London has eve' Noow-. says the
Standard, was thu Signing club. the
members II which were supposed TO be
wholly ali sorbed in thinking OF their
sweetheaI Is. Each would hold In his
hand biz OF ribbon. a lock OF hair,
purse or some other article belonging
10 the object Of his affections, and from
time 10 time he would address this ar
ticle in terms or endearment no other
speaking being allowed. On initiation
the member had TO compose and recits
a poem in honor OF his lady, and at the
meetings a fine was imposed upon the
member who did not sigh five times
within a quarter OF an hour.
Again. there was the Abduction club,
organized in 1766 by some well con
nected Irish youths. who banded them |
selves together 10 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 a capital offense.
The members assisted each other by
proyiding relays OF horses and car
riages whenever necessary. The weahh
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 IA. 1873.
The principals were arrested, trieo
and condemned and they were execut-
ed In the 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
ia ITO. but dlsbanded In 1902. when
Twenty-Five members remained.
The No Nose club was founded by
gentleman who was an unwilling fol-
lower or the Egyptian fashion or nat
faces. When the members dined to-
gether and young pig, the fayorite
dish, was the principal Item on the
menu the snout was always cut or.
The Club OF Ugly Faces was also
founded by gentleman who boosted
an enormously large nose. Another
member had chin OF the size and
shape or shoe horn, another a 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-
tlatlon had to make q speech In praise
OF Aesop, whose portrait hung over the
mantelpiece 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 gained Any member found
; guilty OF courtesy or politeness was
} promptly fined.
! The Split FarthIng club was limited
, In membership TO men who agreed 10
, stint themselves to the utmost In order
, TO Increase their possessions. One
member is reported 10 have had his
garments so darned that there was
y not enough OF the original material
Y left to show the texture. The mem
bers presented so starved an appear
5 ance that Il was said there was moi
4 an ounce OF fat among the lot
The Everlasting club was limited II
q membership to a hundred and thu
members divided the day anong them
I, selves in such a way that there wer,
always some present upon the prem
ases. The great FIRE OF London put al
end TO this institution. rs the premise
were burned down. and the only mem
Der on the premises was nearly burne'
10 death because he refused 20 lcay
until be had emptied all the bottles OF
the table The Gre for lighting Tn
members pipes was never allowed {
y go out. an old woman being kept solel
a for the purpose OF attending 10 IL. DuI
n ing the fifty years OF its existence TN
. members smoked fifty tons OF tobacco
II drank 10000 butts or ale, 1000 pipes Q
= port aud 200 barrels OF brandy in add
= ton 10 other liquors.
81 The Man Killing club was limited
membership to men who had killed ol
ns ponents I'm duels. The conversation
r the gatherings was confined TO bullet
al wounds and slaughter. The presidei
N was said TO have killed half doze
a. men In single combat, and the seats
~ dinner were arranged according to q
numbers the members bad slain.
:, banquets side table was provided =
:" visitors who had only drawn bloc
no The club had not a lengthy existeRc
& as nearly all the members were ex
or cuted.
Suicides clubs have been long In e
rt istence. and one existed recently
on Kursk. The club had for its mot
he death Is the cure for all MS" but.
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