A CURIOUS CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 86, 5 November 1918, Page 3

A CURIOUS CLUB.

1 The original idea of a dub was simply a- voluntary as.sod irion of persons for a common object, each person agreeing, to con tribute ‘equally |to a common purse. Whatever the ' “common object” which gavc v , rise to this “voluntary association ”, it more often than not resolved .itself into a fraternity hound : by’' the . ties «rf “good, eating.” Nowhere, . perhaps, have clubs bound by these-ties enjoyed a greater vogue, thrill' -they, did in Lancashire during the eighteenth century. ; Olio of rhot. roost' notable, perhaps, was ‘‘il.’C SotitHy of Bucks,” established in Liverpool somewhere about 17.00. Although mainly convivial, it bad a distinct political bias, dims we read that ' on Monday, June •!, 1700, i.l.e Bucks “celebrated in a fining manner the birthday of George, Prince of Wales” (afterwards George Ml). We have no need to speculate as to what would be considered a fitting manner. On Wednesday, .inly 2.0 of the same year, the anniversary .meeting is hold “by command oLylbe. g’and master” (a phrase borrowed from the Freemasons) —dinner o v /.lie.' t able, at 2 o’clock. On August''ll {hey com-j maud a play at r.hc tbcaMc, and so on. SUMMARY METHODS. Another famous Lancashire club was that known as John Shaw’s Its (origin was a curious one, A man named John Shaw, who had served in the army as a dragoon and had knocked about the world over, having lost Lis wife and four children, solaced himself by opening a public bouse l in the Old Shambles, Manchester. During the course of his wanderings he had acquired the knack of brewing an excellent punch, at that time a favourite beverage, and owing to this attraction his house soon became a resort for the' opulent merchants of Manchester, who met there every night to sip their ale or punch and disciiss the events of the day. These , nightly gatherings at. length grew into an. organised club. The expenses of each member were originally* limited' to fourpencc-balfpenny, fourperice for ale and a half-penny for tobacco, hut later we find sixponnywqrth of punch and a pipe or two of tobacco stipulated. The evening’s sitting commenced at 6 o’clock, and terminated peremptorily at 8 p.m. For this latter regulation the landlord was responsible. Being a lover of early hodrs, Shaw, who was a hit of, a martinet, would permit no infrigefraent of this rule. At the stroke of the hour his voice proclaimed, “Eight o’clock, gentlemen—eight o’clock!” If any of the members showed a disposition to disregard this summons he adopted very summary methods to enforce it. He would first send foi f his riding-whip, which he would crack in the ears and near the persons . '.of--the' recalcitrant members.!’lf. this 'did not produce the desired effect he would call for Molly, an old and trusty servant, who would appear with a mop and pail, by means of which she would speedily flood the floor. No exemption to this rule was por- ’ mitted. On one occasion at a county election, when Colonel Stanley was vel turned, the successful member was being entertained by the' club. At S j o’clock precisely Shaw appeared as' usual. The colonel, however, ex-, i pressed a hop© that on such a special the rule might be relaxed, j and that one more howl of punch might be served. John’s reply , was characteristic. “Colonel Stanley,”j he said, “you are a, law-maker,' and I should not he a law-breaker; and if yon and your friends' do not leave* the room in five minutes you will find your shoes , full of water.” Within/ that time Molly appealed fully .iiriti- j ed, and Lancashire's. reprt'srinti ( itiye and his friends wcl : e ;Tqi*ced- to retire with more haste- than-(dignity' The objects, of this) cltjb were way., political j v but its -^members all 'Tofiks Of, the old school—ge&aiw# “Ohurhh and Stag*’ men; and if by nay tihattos a. Wlbag or a nunkr of a. dieseiatiiag o strayei into; John ShaiC* fiwjhd hunaehP worse off tSiiak a wkep sk a. hive of bees. If be had the temerity to utter a political opinion the house speedily became too hob for him, and he usually finished his evening by being flung into the street. When at lonrD’ the house ill Old Shambles was pulled down, the club for a time became a migratory one; but in 1852 it found a permanent abode in the Spread Eagle Hotel, Corporation Street, where, for aught we know to’ the contrary, it may still j be flourishing. I