Ain’t seen old Bill about lately. No, 'E died about a fortnight ago, poisoned... Cartoon related to UCBC rat infestation in Douglas Street Clubhouse

Work on Paper

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The Union Club of British Columbia

“Ain’t seen old Bill about lately. No, 'E died about a fortnight ago, poisoned...” Cartoon related to UCBC rat infestation in Douglas Street Clubhouse, ca. 1910. Pen and ink on paper by the then UCBC Secretary Major William St. John Beale (1864-?): This image is taken from the following publication: Susan Mayse, The Union Club of British Columbia - Our First 125 Years (Victoria: The Union Club of British Columbia, 2004); 66.
“Ain’t seen old Bill about lately. No, 'E died about a fortnight ago, poisoned...” Cartoon related to UCBC rat infestation in Douglas Street Clubhouse, ca. 1910. Pen and ink on paper by the then UCBC Secretary Major William St. John Beale (1864-?)

This image is taken from the following publication: Susan Mayse, The Union Club of British Columbia - Our First 125 Years (Victoria: The Union Club of British Columbia, 2004); 66.

Name/Title

Ain’t seen old Bill about lately. No, 'E died about a fortnight ago, poisoned... Cartoon related to UCBC rat infestation in Douglas Street Clubhouse

Entry/Object ID

2001.02.14

Description

Drawing This is a humorous cartoon related to rodent infestations at The Union Club of British Columbia, at its second venue on Douglas Street, drawn by the then Club Secretary, ca. 1910. The image depicts suited "member" rats named for example, Tiddley, Criddley and Piddley, playing billiards, socializing in the trophy-decorated hallway (Goat One and Go-too with Goat-ee) and reading the member nonpayment board. Founded in 1879, the Union Club is a landmark institution in the heart of downtown Victoria, considered the foremost business, social and cultural club in the city. It is now located in its third venue on Gordon Street at Humboldt. In 2017, the building was declared a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada.

Artwork Details

Medium

Pen and ink on paper

Subject Place

Region

Pacific Northwest

Continent

North America

Context

Members using the Club's facilities were responsible for paying their dues and any applicable board bills or surcharges. For example, members using the card room after 1:30 a.m. ca. 1910 were required to pay a substantial surcharge (five dollars/hour for the room) and after 2:30 a.m. the charge was applied on a per person basis. This is in contrast to the four-legged "members", who enjoyed the entire Club for free, paying no dues, bills, fees or surcharges. These infestations are said to have significantly contributed to the Club’s decision to build its new home on Gordon Street. See Susan Mayse, "The Union Club of British Columbia - Our First 125 Years" (Victoria, B.C.: The Union Club of British Columbia, 2004), and Paul L. Bissley, "Early and Late Victorians: A History of the Union Club of British Columbia" (Sidney, B.C.: Review Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., 1969). Both publications are available in the UCBC Library.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

UCBC Secretary Major William St. John Beale (1864-?)

Role

Artist

Date made

circa 1910

Time Period

20th Century

Notes

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY Born in England, the son of the reverend of Hopton Castle in Shropshire, William St. John Beale attended Charterhouse School, one of the nine "great" English public [private] schools. Originally founded in 1611 on the old Carthusian monastery site in London, it moved in 1872 to its present location in Godalming, Surrey. Beale joined the Norfolk Regiment in 1883, serving in the Bechuanaland Expedition (now Republic of Botswana) in 1884/85 and in The Boer War in South Africa, 1889-1902. He achieved the rank of major, retiring from the military in 1903. His previous links to Canada, if any, are unknown; however, Major Beale became the secretary of the Union Club (ca. 1909) after his military service at least until 1912. Beale is first listed in Victoria in the 1909 Directory of Vancouver Island as Major William Beale, Sec. of the Union Club. As of later 1911, Major and Mrs. [Lucy R.] W. Beale are listed living at 645 Battery Street in the James Bay neighbourhood. In November 1912, he volunteered his services as adjutant for the city's newly formed military unit, the 88th Regiment Victoria Fusiliers. In 1915 he enlisted in the U.K., at the age of 51, in the 48th Canadian Expeditionary Force, Infantry Battalion and was attached to several battalions in the U.K. He resigned his commission in 1917 due to a back injury. His later life is unknown.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Signature, Inscription

Location

Signed lower right SB [SB = Secretary Beale, Major William St. John Beale] Other text commentary within the drawing.

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Legacy collection - detail unknown

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

By Major S. Beale, UCBC Secretary, ca. 1910 2001.02.12 “Members who have paid no dues..” (cartoon) 2001.02.13 DE MORTUIS NIL NISI SMELLUM (cartoon) 2001.02.14 “Ain’t seen no bill lately…” (cartoon)

Web Links and URLs

The Union Club of British Columbia, Internet Archive: The Daily Colonist, April 29, 1969: Remember the Rat Hunts? by D. Gain, page n24, Charterhouse Register, Tercentenary edition, Vol. I, 1872-1891, Listing for Major William St. John Beale, page 153, Canadian Great War Project: William St. John Beale