NIGHT LIFE OF LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 7

NIGHT LIFE OF LONDON

BREAKING LAW BREAKERS Lord Byng of Vivny ims applied himself to the task of giving light and air to the darker corners of nocturnal London, writes tiio London correspondent of tlie Melbourne ‘ Argus.’ As a beginning lie has been compelled to effect sonic re forms within the London police force. A former inspector, by name Goddard, has been convicted of having received bribes irom the proprietors of night clubs, while Mrs. Mcyrick and Luigi Rihufli, two managers, have been sentenced for having attempted to bribe the police. Several night club proprietors bare filed rather than face possible prosecution. "Within a month Scotland Yard hoped to have rid the West End of those undesirables. Since the raids began several night chibs have placed steel grids over their doors, so that doubtful patrons may ho inspected before being admitted. In some night chibs it is said that artificial fountains have been installed, into which alcoholic drink is poured in the event of a raid.

Mis. Kate Moyrick, owner of the 4-3 Club in Gcrrard .-.trect, Soho, had only been released a few days after having served six months’ imprisonment. Y\ ithin seven days of leaving prison she was rc-arrested on a charge of having bribed Godard, and while on bail in connection with this charge, she was again arrested for selling liquor alter hours, though her club premises had been disqualified for live years. Who is reputed to have made 4320,000 in a single year, when tho police were less concerned with evasions of the liquor laws than are at the moment. Her daughters are the Countess of Kinnoull and Ladv do Clifiord.

When unsuspecting tourists or youths with more money than wits arc introduced to a night duh, the “dance partners” busy themoscivcs. At first tho man pays a. small fee, say 2s 6d, lor the privilege of dancing with a partner. Soon drinks are suggested, and the “dance partner ” is expert in ganging how much a man will pay. Customers of night clubs bare paid 30s or 40s for a bottle of champagne which cost the proprietor 7s Gd. .11 drink iails to attract, the man is probably persuaded to risk Ids money on roulette machines. Tho “dance partners” arc recruited from musical comedy chorus girls or mannequins. Almack’s, the card club in Hyde Park Place, lias been compelled to close. 'The management was above suspicion, but there has been a d.eline ol interest in card-playing, and considerable competition from poker chibs in tho West End. Almack’s bad the reputation of being one of the best furnished dubs in the West End. and it was not possible to conduct it with a small membership. First the entrance fee of £8 Ss was suspended, and, when this did not attract enough members, the duh was dosed. Historically Almack’s is connected with a I anions card duh which flourished in King street, St. James’s, in the time ol George 111. There was also an Almack’s in Pall Mall, where Pitt lost largo sums of money, but the Almaek’s in St. James's was a card club tor men and women, like that which dosed recently. Almaek’s enjoyed such a. vogue in the early part of the nineteenth century that the committee denied admittance to the great Duke of Wellington one night, when ho appeared in a, d—ss which did not conform to the established rules.