WORLD'S OLDEST CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 20

WORLD'S OLDEST CLUB

GAMBLING. IN THE EAST.

Wnite'a "Club, in- St. James's street, London, ■' the. oldest.- and most famous club in the world, is to purchase its own freehold^; and thus':ensure its continuance, "The Daily Chronicle" understands. Founded in. 1697, the club's register of past and'-present members includes some of the greatestl names in English< history, Fortunes have been won and lost, and ancestral- estates gambled away by ; tho: dozen in its card rooms. . r .' . '*"■"

Lord Cheyle'smore, the club's landlord, is also a meniber. ■ Five years only remain on the present lease, but Lord Cheylesmore, it is understood, has offored to sell the freehold to the club for £100,000.. The following circular has been issued to members:—"As the present lease' of the club premises has only five years to run' and cannot be renewed, the committee lias approached the.landlord as to selling the freehold to the club. An offer has been made by him to sell for £100,000 (£50,000 at once and £50,000 by March, 1927), and the^ landlord asks for a reply without undue delay. It is proposed that the offer of an ilSsue of debentures for this sum, ■ carrying 3 per cent, interest and 1 per cent, sinking fund by drawings, be made to the members. If this offer meets with success the club, will bfcome the freehold property of the members, together with all records, including, the betting* books. . If this opportunity is lost, in-five years' time.Hhe club, the oldest in the world, and with the greatest historical associations, will cease to exist." , ■;;:': .: ;

: "There is very little doubt," said a member of the club to a "Daily Chronicle" representative, "that the money "will be forthcoming."

White's Club had it's beginning in one of the chocolate houses which became fashionable towards the close of the 17th century. The original site was upon the other side of St. James's street, but these premises were burnt down in. 1733. It is. mentioned in the first number of Steele and Addison's "The Tatler," and many numbers of that journal were dated from the club. Later, White's became notorious for the heavy gambling within its walls. Bets were laid on almost every conceivable hazard, one, it is recorded, having been on' which 6f two flies would reach the top of a window pane first!

In the club's betting books—the most jealously guarded of its treasures— some extraordinary wagers are entered. Lord Eglinton staked 100 guineas that he would'find a man who would kill 20 snipe in 23 shots. Xord Montfort took 10 to 1 from five members that he would not ride 35, 25, 20, 15, 10, and five miles in successive days. Another bet was as to.l whether .Beau Nash, the dandy "King of -Bath,?' -would die before Colley Cibber, the actor.

The story is told that King Edward V 11.,, when Prince of "Wales, was requested not to smoke in the diningroom, in accordance with the club's rules. He at once left the premises, and soon afterwards founded the Marlborough Club in opposition. . ■v.