Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

Introduction. 39
Scott, "was played in several- different ways. Most
frequently the dice were thrown^ by the company, and
those upon whom the lot fell were obliged to assume
and maintain, for a time, a fictitious character, or to
repeat a certain number of Fescennine verses in a parti-
cular order. If they departed from the characters
assigned, or if their memory proved treacherous in the
repetition, they named forfeits, which were either com-
pounded for by swallowing an additional bumper, or by
paying a small sum towards the reckoning."
By our late friend, Dr. Strang, the condition of the
Glasgow clubs a hundred years ago is thus described : *
"In 1750, and for many years previous, it was the
custom for persons of all ranks and conditions to meet
regularly in change-houses, as they were called, and
there to transact business, and hold their different
clubs. The evening assemblies were passed in free and
easy conversation, and without much expense, — persons
of the first fashion rarely spending more than from
fourpence to eightpence each, including their pipes of
tobacco, which were then in general use. In some of
those clubs the members played at backgammon, or
'catch the ten/ the stake exceeding but rarely one
penny a game. In the forenoon all business was trans-
acted or finished in the tavern. The lawyers were there
consulted, and the bill was paid by the client. The
liquor in common use was sherry, presented in mutchkin
stoups, every mutchkin got being chalked on the head
of the stoup or measure. The quantity swallowed was,
on such occasions, almost incredible."
Municipal and parliamentary electioneering was rotten
* " Glasgow and its Clubs," by John Strang, LL.D. Loncl. 1857.
4to. Pp. 1, 2.