St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-19
HAD A SQUARE MEAL.
Members of Che Washington Press
Club Give a Novel and Unique
Dinner.
Vice President Stevenson and
Members of the Cabinet Gath
er at the Board.

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Tonight in
the banqueting hall of the Arlington
hotel the National Capitol Press club
gave its second annual dinner. 1t has
a membership of $50 working resident
journalists, twenty nonresident mem
bers and sixty associate members, who
are allowed all the privileges OF the
club save the ballot. The names
of some of the associates are house
hold words. including Speaker Crisp,
ten or twelve of the most prominent
senators and a great many representa-
tives. The dinner was one of the most
brilliant and novel in the dining his
tory of the capitol. The walls were
wreathed with smilaX and asparagus,
and in the windows giant ferns nodded.
The tables were maSSed with flowers.
Running along the middle of each,
upon poles two feet high, was a
telegraph line with three stations,
he last located near Presld ent
Welman, of the Chicago Herald. The
wire was connected with the Western
Union and Postal systems, and during
the progress of the banquet great
many real, as we'll as feigned, tele-
the country. By dispatches, supposed
to come from the great capitals of earth.
the guests were called upon to respond
to the toaSts. No man had warning OF
when or how the blow would fall.
Before each plate stood a miniature
world, globe six inches in diameter.
On the face of it were printed the menu
and the names Of the guests. The va
rious countries were marked by
happy political hits and interna-
tional illusions. Surrounding each
globe was a tiny statue of Liberty
enlightening the world. Each statue
held aloft small electric torch. On
the left of the hall was a mammoth
notebook bearing an interrogation
point in electric bulbs and the words,
''Know anything?" Upon the same side,
and nearer the ceiling, was beauti-
full representation OF a pen and
broken sword done in crimson
electric lights. Attached to the elevated
stand for the musicians. which was al
most hidden in vegetation. was tire
mendous branch of laurel done in white
metal, and also illuminated. Over the
door by which the guests entered, in
figures three feet high, was the teie-
graphic 49," the signal for "gOOd
might" This was in crimson flame, and
was not shown until the conclusion of
the feast.
The doors of the hall were thrown
open at p. m. In two minutes the $50
guests were seated. Immediately all
the lights in the hall were eXtinguished.
After ten seconds of intense blackness
the company was amazed to see emery
ing from banks of flowers in the center
of the tables dozen or more little flow
er girls dressed in white or pink and
each carrying in her hand basket of
boutOnnieres standing upon the tables
the little ones passed the souvenirs to
the guests. Among tho laughter-moy-
ing features was a brief 0ne-act drama,
which represented an executive
session OF the senate wherein the
subject of debate was poker
game at one of the local resorts,
and scene from the house of repre-
sentatives with couple of belligerent
statesmen. There was also rendition
of the club clse songs, specially CON-
posed for the occasion by Prof. Fan
cuilla, the leader of the marine band.
When cigars were reached corps of
little negro boys, attired like Orien-
tai slaves, moved about, and for
lights presented antique lamps.
The speeches were extremely brill
liant. but az 1t was q newspaper