That is a great anecdote! I had not heard it. It reminds me that there are some very amusing stories on the visitors walls, drawn from old members' suggestion books.
- one has a member saying to the secretary something along the lines of: "You should look very carefully at the membership application of x...Is it possible that a man can simultaneously be a barrister at law AND a stockbroker?" (remember - this club set up by lawyers!)
- one member suggested that on account of the importance of understanding events on the continent/international affairs, the club should subscribe to La Vie Finance, to which the secretary replied that he did not think the average members understanding would justify such a subscription!
- 17 members signed a note to the secretary asking for larger sherry glasses! The secretary replied that the matter was enjoying the urgent attention of the house committee, so it was not necessary for any other members to disclose their names (implying that this was some mark of shame!). One angry member then replied that if this was the sort of reply they got to suggestions, they should get rid of the suggestions book!