The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-24


If 1.-THE Steaks with malicious fidelity, raised
Sncb a shout of laughter at the BaroneVs ex-
ncnse tbat he could no longer stand IT,.
Tobn Kenble was one Of "The steaks" celeDrl-
a. I'D nnon familiar terms with his Grace OF
Nor,oik one evening at Norfolk House, cap
tain Morris having left the table early; tot lne
Wrist kept better hours tean ms ducal HIelu,
II Grew late when Kemble ventured to Suggest
70 The Duke some significant hints as to the lm"
movement OF Morris fortune. His Grace grew
Generous over his wine, and promised: the reall-
zation came, and motifs lYed 10 the age vi
ninety.three to enjoy II. -
Tt has been remarked of 1.-THE Steaks,n that
there must have been originally wise and sim
ple code of laws, which could have held them
together for so heightened period. Yet they
have had, during the past sixty years, migra-
tory time o it. Covent Garden Theatre, in which
the first steak was broiled, was destroyed by hre
in 1903 the first gridiron, which had long oeen
epshrined as one of the PendteS OF the club, was
saved but the valuable stock OF VINE shared
the face of the building, and the archives OF the
Society perished. Herein it was customary to
set down the good things said at "The Steaks"
and register the names of the early members.
After the fire at Convent Garden the "Subllme
Society" was re-established at the BediordHote
until Mr.. Arnold had fitted up apartments Tor
their reception at the English Opera House.
Here they continued to meet until the destruc-
tion of that theatre by FIRE, in 1880. Thus twice
burnt out, they returned to the Bedford; and thelr
old friend Mr.. Arnold, in rebuilding his theatre,
the Lyceum, had q dining.room provided Tor
them of a very characteristic order. Mr.. Cum
ningham has appropriately termed 1t "a little
Escurial in tseltr The doors, wainscoting, and
roof, of good old English oak, are studded with
gridi1ODs, as thick as Henry WIS chapel with
the portcullis of the founder. Everything
assumes the shape, or is distinguished by the
representation, of the emblematic implement
the e1idiron. "The cook is seen at his office
through the bars of q spacious gridirOn, and the
original gridiron Of the Society (the survivor of
tW G terrific tires), holds conspicuous position
in the centre OF the ceiling"
The portraits OF several worthless of the
Sublime Society," have been painted. One
brother hangs Sin chains,o as Arnold remarked,
in alluson TO the civic chain which he wears.
His robe drew from Lord Brougham, one of
1.-THE Steaks" on being asked ii the portrait
was likeness, the remark that it could not fail
of being like him. there was so much of the
JuT Chie) about him."
We have spoken of the brotherhood equality
of the Society, and may as well note that
the junior member has a duty accord
ant with his station. Thus the noble
and learned lord whom we have Just
mentioned has been seen emerging from
the cellar, with half-a-doZen bottles in q
basket. And the Duke of Leinster, who is
now the President Of the society, has, in mis-
turn, taken the same duty. Morris continued
to be the laureate of "The Steaksn (tne other
day he was ureverently called a poet "by
courtesyO Untl the year 1881, when he bade
adieu to the Society. He was then in his eighty
sixth year.
Morris revisited the Society in 1885, when he
| was presented Win q large silver DOWl aueC-
tionately inscribed. He then addressed the
brotherhood. There was still another effusion
on the treasured gift
"And call to my Muse, when care strives to
Bring the Steaks to my memory, the Bowl tc
my view."
Morris was staid and grave in his general de.
pertinent. There is, in The collection in Evans
muslc-room In Covent Garden, portrait of the
| bard-a poor performance, but likeness.
| better portrait from the family picture, is en-
| graved as a trontspiece to "Club Life of Lon.
| don" Moore, in his Diary, tells us of Colman
beng at ''The Steaks" quite drunk" making
| extraordinary noise when Morris was singing,
which much disconnected the bard. Yet he
could unbend. We remember to have heard
him strike piano forte at n music-seller's, and
sing 'IThe Girl | lett behind Me-" he was then
| past his eightieth year. Curran said TO him one
day, "Die when you WILL Charles, you will die
! in your youth" eGiSLEE
Morris ancient and rightful office at ''T6e
| Steaks" was to make the punch. One of the
members describes him at his laboratory at the
sidebOard, stocked with the various ingredients
"Then smacking an elementary glass or two anC
| giving significant nod the nat of its excel
lence; and what could exceed the ecstacy will
which he filed the glasses that thronged roun,
the bowl, joying over Its mantling beauties, an,
distributing the fascinating draught.
THAT flames and dances in it's crytal bound"
Morris allegiance to "The Steaks" was un
divided. Neither hail, nor rain, nor snow
! SlOIH hcpI ulln away uO CuSdSGulSHI, nO III VI
tatiop, seduced him from it. He might be seel
"outWatchlng the bear in his seventy y-eightl
year. when nature had given no signal OF deca
in frame or faculty.
''The Steaks" partake of five o'clock dime
every Saturday, from November till the end 0
June. The Society consists of nobemen AM
gentlemen, tWenty-iour in number; every mem
Der has the power of inviting friend.
With the enumeration of few memorials, W
conclude. Formerly the gridron was a NOR
prominent emblem of "The Steaks" than at pre-
cent. The tabe-cloths had gridrons in damas
on them; the drinkng-glasses were engrave
with gIidirons, as were the plates; just a
the orchestra decorated the plates at Vauxhal
Gardens.
Among the presents made to the Society are
punch-ladle from Darlington Bradshaw; si
spoons from Sir John Boyd; a mustard-pot iron
John Trevanion, Nj. p; two dozen waterplate
and eight dishes given by the Duke of Sussex
crue.-stand, given by W. BOlland; vinegar
cruets, by Thomas Scott; Lord Suffolk has givel
a silver eese-toaster-toasted or stewed chees
being the wind-up of 'The Steaks" dinner
London Society.