Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-21
A CLOvER-CLUB DINNER.
How It Struck Max O'Rell-An Allusior
, to the Gridiron Club.


The Americans are SO good at taking joke,
80 gosod-tempered that, even in public, they
enjoy to banter each other and serve as butts
for each others sarcasms; it is on these occa-
sions that American hnmor is allowed free
play. There are even 'Gridiron' clubs, clubs
where guests are invited only to be put on the
grill.
The most famous Of these is the Glover club
at Philadelphia. Outside paradise there is no
place where men are treated with so little re-
gard to their rank. The members of the Glover
club are no respecters of persons. Nothing is
sacred to them, age or position count for
naught in their assemblies.
The club is composed of the principal jour-
nalists OF Philadelphia Once year they ask
to their table about fifty guests. people talked
about; the President of the United States him.
self has an invitation, if he cares to submit
himself to the 'grilling' process
The banquet is princely, the menu most re-
cherche.
But let US take peep at the proceedings.
The president of the club. Mr.. Handy, an
American brimming over with wit, takes his
place at the center of the table and the feast
begins. Choice dishes follow one another and
are washed down with choice wines. CONVEX
sation flows and faces light up. An orchestra
placed in a neighboring ROOM makes pleasant
suodued music. The guests begin to think over
the speeches they will soon be called upon to
deliver-you recognize them by their white
faces; the cloverites quietly sharpen their
weapons for the fray. Presently comes des-
sert. The president strikes two or three little
blows upon the table and rises. Now for it!
Now for the quart fhe,re de Rabeldis!
Gentlemen" says the President, Il have
the honor to propose the first toast of the
evening. Let US fill our glasses and drink to
the honorable member of Congress on nv
right. 1 doubt not you will push your amia-
blllty and patience SO far as to listen to his
speech in respectful silence. He will be all
the more proud to have an audience tonight
because, as we all know when the honorable
member gets up to make a speech at Washing
ton the benches begin to empty by magic.
Gentleman. give him a chance"
The Congressman takes the joke merrily and
thus commences his speech:
'tGe'ltenen-I mean members of the Glover
club"
The members pocket the satire with hearty
laugh.
Presently comes the turn of the second
speaker.
This one speaks in a scarcely audible voice.
Raise your voice!' cry the members.
I'm sorry you cannot hear" quietly an
swers the speaker; 'come nearer"
The cries of louder" continue
III speak tO,c," says the interrupted man,
lit is in order to get down to your level"
This convulsed the assembly with laughter.
1 was aghast
L
stand that? The joke may be new and funny,
but surely it is being carried beyond the
bounds Ii such things went on in France. one
would see duels going on in all the retired
spots of the neighborhood next morning
The health Of third guest is proposed in
terms as grotesque as the preceding ones. This
gentleman is an American, whose daughter is
the wife of member of the English aristocracy
BY the manner in which he rises and begins to
speak, 1t is easy to see that he is an old hand
at this kind of tournament He begins:
"Gentlemen, when was present at your din
ner last year.
Last year," cries Cloverite; ''how did you
get invited again this year, pray?'
"Oh, you know you can't do without me.
You must have few respectable people at your
table, mix with the aristocracy, gentlemen;
but, as you see, am not at all proud; come
and sit at meat with you. 1t is not that 1 have
the least esteem for you, but will not have
folks say that because move in the society of
dukes, marquises, earls"--
shut up! what do we care for your dukes?
sid down, shout some members.
$50 on" shout Others
BAH" resumes the orator, ''of course there
is no blue blood in you; you can't appreciate
the honor 1 am doing you
The lronical laughter is deafening, but the
speaker will not be baffied in his saw
''Before came here made up my mind
Your what?'
my mind"
''Ha, ha. ha.'
Here the Cloverites stamp and shout but the
speaker braves out the storm. AS perora-
ton this is what he offers to his hosts:
"Gentlemen, had prepared a speech some
thing refined, which would be far beyond your
understanding. l like to be appreciated, and
am not going to cast my pearls to Gall right
all rlghtD VIII sit down. Perhaps next
year may find you little more civilized"
fellowr'
The president rises once more.
My turn has come
Scarcely had said the word Gentlemen"
when volley of shouts and whistlings greets
me.
see that am not going to be spared
EXCUSE me" continued, perhaps l had
better explain to you why / accepted Your inyi-
tation. Since am in America mean to study
the customs and manners of the people. With
this object in view it would not do for me to
confne myself to good society, and have de-
termlned to make study this evening"
That's right whispers my neighbor i'm
way OF encouragement, continue in that
strain and you will do
For hours the speechifying goes on. mixed
with music, recitations, songs and anecdotes
At 2 in the morning hosts and guests sepa-
rate, declaring that they have had a real good
time"
The Glover club is frst-rate leveler. Any
man whose self-esteem has been oyer-culti-
some physic.
There exist many other clubs of this kind,
where the hospitality consists of getting amuse-
ment at the guests expense. The idea is droll
and naive. The Gridiron club. at Washington,
was founded by journalists on the same lines as
the Glover club, in Philadelphia. During the
evening on which was present at the monthly
dinner of the GridirOn member of the Chi
nese embassy replied in Chinese to the toast
that was proposed in his honor. / replied in
French. 1t was a satisfaction to read in the
Washington papers next morning that the Chi
nese and French speeches had been greatly
appreciated by the club members
Really?
Such fun as goes ON at the ''Gridiron" clubs
may SAVIOR a trifie of horse-play to the stran-
ger, but, though I do not know the origin of
these Journeys, imagine they arose from a
genuine American enjoyment of quick repartee.
At these meetings eloquence prepared before
hand would be of little use; the essential
equipment for the guest is a ready wit and
bold tongue.
Mr. Grover Cleveland has been through it.
Believed Himself to be a Woman.
VIRGINIA TAILoR's PECULIAR DELUsIoN LEADS
TO SERIOUS SHOOTING ARRAY.
special from Onancock, Va, says Andrew
Az toll