The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17
Noted After-Dinner Orators.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
New YORK, Oct 16-Whtelaw Reid has been
President of the Lotos Club for some years, but
he seldom goes there excepting on official occa-
sions, probably because he is a very domestic
man. often doing his editorial work by telephone
He makes q good presiding officer, always de-
livering felicitous Introductory speech on the
occasion of dinners to celebrities. He used to
prepare and recite his speeches, but now he
speaks extempore. He is an easy and graceful
speaker, generally assuming the attitude of HUI
bert Herkomer's portrait Of himself, with one
hand in his side pocket, and the other across his
breast, with the head slightly thrown back
Since that portrait was painted, however, he
wears his curling hair shorter, nor is it as
thick and latterly, too, he wears eye
glasses. He generally adopts serio-humorous
and romantic vein, and is very successful
in his repartee and off hand illusions. At the
Wilson Barrett dinner the other night he uncon-
sclousiy alluded to the guest Lawrence
Barrett, instantly correcting himself by saying
that as the name Of the popular American actor
was a household word he could be pardoned for
the confusion of names. At the Bartholdi din
ner. fiery, belliSerent Pulitzer observed that he
and Mr.. Reid were oEce in the same political
party, when Mr.. Reid retorted soto voice. ''but
you went over to the other side, while did not. :"
Squire, just from Boston, of the Mayors dinner,
claimed to be no more of a carpet Dagger than
Mr. Reed, who originally was one from the
West, and who had charged him in the Tribune
with being one, when the latter retorted: "Oh,
had a trunk, too"
Gen. Horace Porter and Chauncey NJ Depew
generally attend the Lotos Club dinners, both
being members Both are popular after dinner
speakers humorous in description and brilliant
in repartee, and with them as his right and left
bowers Mr. Reid gives vent to his playful satire
and humorous illusions Depew, who. in repose
and wearing white necktie, looks like an ortho-
dox clergyman, generally likes to speak after the
guest has made his reply. and he always satir
ICES Mr.. Reids remarks and compliments the
guest, bringing in here considerable pathos, and
winding up with humorous story. He is the
last man in the world one would take to be the
president of one of the greatest railroads in the
world, but would not if ne did not latterly make
some alluson to the past.
General Porter, who still cultivates his mill
tary mustache, goatee and bearing, and always al
ludes to his army days if there is the slightest
chance, generally tells lot of humorous stories,
which are often 'chestnuts.' He is good ra.
contour and as felicitous in his applications as
Old Abe was General Porter likes to be
called upon late in the evening and if any of the
others have told one of his stories he gracefully
allu6eS to the age of the anecdote and lets the
fact remind him of another. He is supplied
with such stock of stories that it would be i'm
possible for previous speaker to rob him of all
of them, even if one were to play Gen George
Sheridan's trick on General Sherman of antici-
patton. JOHN D'ARME