The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-02-01
xVll-sOlSTEROUS HUMOR.
horse Play Wit-The Clover Club Dinner.
Other "Gridiron' CIuh-.

horse Play wit-The Clover Club Dinner.
Other "GridIron' Clubs.
Humor only springs in simple, unaf-
fected characters. 1t overflow, in the
well bred American, who is the pFincc Of
good fellows.
The Americans are SO good at taking n
joke. SO good tempered that. even in pub
lie, they enjoy TO banter each other and
serve as butts for each others sarcasms
There are even "Gridiron' clubs, clubs
where guests are invited only to be put
on the grill.
The most famous Of these Is the Clover
club at Philadelphia. Outside Paradise
there is no place where men are treated
with so little regard to their rank.
The club is composed Of the principal
journalists of Philadelphia. Once a year
they ask to their table about fifty guests,
people talked about; the president of the
United States himself has an invitation,
IL he cares 10 submit himself TO the grill
ing" process.
The president Of the club, Mr.. Handy,
takes his place at the center o! the table,
and the feast begins Choice dishes fol
low one another, and are washed down
with choice wines. Conversation flows,
and faces light up. An orchestra, placed
in a neighboring room, makes pleasant
subdued music. The guests begin tc
think over the speeches they will soor
be called upon to deliver-you recognize
them by their white faces, the Glover
ties quietly sharpen their weapons fol
the fray. Presently comes dessert. The
president strikes two or three little blow
upon the table and rises. Now for it!
Gentlemen" says the president, 81
have the honor to propose the first toast
of the evening. Let us fill our glasse-
and drink to the honorable member OF
| congress on my right. / doubt not you
will push your amiability and patience
30 far as TO listen to his speech in respect
full silence. He will be all the more
proud to have an audience tonight, he
cause, as we all know, when the honor
ale member gets up to make a speeCl
at Washington the benches begin Il
empty by magic. Gentlemen, give hin
| a chance"
| The congressman takes the joke mer
rily and thus commences his speech:
| "Gentlemen-I mean members-of tn
| Clover club"
The members pocket the satire with I
hearty laugh.
The second speaker speaks in a scaIrelI
audible voice.
Raise your voice!" cry the members
I'm sorry you cannot hear" quietl,
answers the speaker; come nearer"
The cries Of louder" continue.
"If speak low" says the interrupts
man, ''it is in order to get down to you
level"
This convulsed the assembly will
laughter.
Can it be possible. thought, that the,
will stand that? The joke may be nev
and funny, but surely it Is being carries
beyond the bounds. II such things wen
on in France one would zee dtIels goin
on in all the retired spots Of the neigh
borhood next morning.
The health Of a third guest is propose
in terms as grotesqus as the precedin
ones. This gentleman is an American
whose daughter is the wife Of membe
Of the English aristocracy. lie begin
Gentlemen, when ! was present 4
your dinner last year'-
LAST year." cries a Cloverite; "hoV
did you get invited again this yeal
pray?'
"Oh, you know you can't do withoJ
me. You must have few respectabl
4