THE SPENDTHRIFT CLUB.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 182, 11 December 1886, Page 5

THE SPENDTHRIFT CLUB.

The Spendthrift Club was so called in ridicule of the very moderate indulgence of its members, whose expenses were limited to fourpenca- halfpenny each night, yet all of them were wealthy or well-to-do citizens, many of whom usually met after forenoon church at the Royal JSxchange for a walk in the country—their plan being to walk in the direction fiom whence tha wind blow and thus avoid the smoke of the city. "In 1842," says Chambers," "in the recollection of the senior members, some of whom were of fifty years' standing, the house (of meeting) was kept by a widow of a Lieutenant Hamilton, of the Army, who recollected having attended the theatre in the Tennis Court at Holyrood when the play was the 'Spanish Friar,' and many of the members of the Union Parliament were present in the house. " The meetings of this club were nightly, till reduced to four weekly. Whist was played for a halfpenny. Supper originally cost cnly twopence, and half a bottle of strong ale, with a dram, cost two-pence-halfpenny more ; a halfpenny to the eervant-maid was a total of fivepenco for a night of jollity and good fellowship. — Cassell's " Old and Now Edinburgh."