Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-18
AFTER DINNER ORATORS
Sketches of Some of the Noted Char
aCters of These Occasions.

Il Sketches of Some of the Noted Char
Il ac,ers of These Occasions.
4 NEW YORK Oct. 16.-Whitelaw Reid has
been President OF the Lotos Club for some
s years, but ne seldom goes there excepting
on official occasions, probably because be
isavery domestic man, often doing his
editorial work by telephone. He makes a
4 good presiding officer, always delivering a
q delicious introductory speech on the &C.
4 raslon OF the dinners to celebrities. He
s used to prepare and reoite his speeches.
4 Dut now he speaks extempOre. He is an
easy and graceful speaker, generally as
suming the attitude of Hubert 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 short
er, nor is it as thick; and latterly, too. he
wears eyeglasses. he generally adopts a
SeriO-humorous and romantic vein, and Is
very successful in his repartee and off
oand illusions. At the Wilson Barrett
0hner the other night he unconsciously
alluded TO the guest as Lawrence Barrett,
instantly correcting himself by saying
mat as the name of the popular Ameri-
can actor was household word he could
De paFdoned for the confusion of names.
AT the BarthOldi dinner, fiery, belljg-
sfelt Pulitzer observed that he and Mr..
heid We're once in the same political par
y, when Mr.. Reid retorted soto yoce.
Out you went over to the other side,
"hLe did not" Squire, Just from Bos-
ION, at the Mayors dinner, claimed to be
~ more OF carpetbagger than Mr.. Reid,
WV originally was one from the West
suu VINO had charged him in the Tribune
n "iu ,peing one, when the latter retorted:
'Vh had a trunk, too"
wen ueh, Horace Porter and Chauncey NJ.
ape" generally attend the Lotus Club
oinners, both being members. Both are
pogular aiter-dlnner speakers, humorous
10 description and brilliant in repartee.
snu WIN them as his right and left bow
, .ie Mr. Reid gives vent to his playful sa.
u rie ana humorous illusions. Depew,
~ WY, III repose and wearing q white
rnvvaue, looks like an orthodox clergy
49," genera ly, likes to sneak
1n 'oi tne guest has made his reply, and
D nr SSl"ays satirlses Mr.. Reid's remarks
s bnu condiments the guest, bringing In
S w.. considerable pathOs and winding IN
r, ,,n 4 humorous story. He is the last
, ,ban ~ "a the world one would take TO be
roea. iesloent OF one Of the greatest rail-
,VSus IN the world, but would not il he
si iS not iatterly always make some allu.
'iCS TO the past.
nG Gen, Porter, who still cultiyates his
sna aiy mustache, goatee and bearing.
tS NV always slludes TO his army DAYS II
,eII. s Is Tie slightest chance, generally
of off,, d 10. iot OF humorous stories, which are
tenr ma GneStnnts." He is a good racon-
= L. IL
bs oN V,u Abe" was. Gen Porter likes 10
anv v@ieu upon late in the evening, and IL
r,es y. the others have told one of his sto-
tho ue gracefully alludes to the age OF
him "a w and let's the facts remind
such a .enother' He is supplied with
lmno.s, stocS OF stories that IL would be
Ei,pp o !, for previous speaker 10 rob
tsmn,aSs ~ OF them, even II one were
trioP 10 play Gen. George sheridan,s
N oh Zen. Sherman of anticipation
JOHN D'ARME.