Page:A short history of social life in England.djvu/276

256 member presented the founder with his own portrait painted by Kneller. This interesting collection still exists at Bayfordbury near Hertford. Special canvasses were made (36 in. by 28), still called to-day the Kit-Cat size. Other clubs soon arose; among the most famous were the October Club, the Beef Steak Club, and the Calves' Head Club, Though these were confined to the gentlemen and wealthy tradesmen of the day, the little taverns had their own fraternities. Here are some rules in the Twopenny Club, for the poorer classes of Queen Anne's day:— "Every member shall fill his pipe out of his own box. "If any member swears or curses, his neighbour may give him a kick upon the shins. "If any member tell stories in the Club that are not true, he shall forfeit for every third Lie one Half-Penny. "If any member brings his wife into the club, he shall pay for whatever she drinks or smokes." It is difficult to remember that women and children smoked as a matter of course in these days. It is even asserted that children were sent to school with pipes in their satchels and that the schoolmaster made a pause in the course of lessons