Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-28
THE GRIDIRON CLUB
Its Tenth Annual Dinner and Some
of Its Features.
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS PRESENT
The New Presiding Officer Happy
in His Introductions.
BRIGHT AND WITTY SPEECHES
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS PRESEN'
BRIGHT AND WITTY SPEECHES

1t was a foregone conclusion that the an
nual banquet of the Gridiron CLUB Satur-
day evening would be a great success.
However, even the most sang'lne of the
forty newspaper men who compose it's
membership could hardly have foreseen
that it would be the great event it was.
1t was the tenth anniversary Of the
founding of the club, and from the first
there was an expressed desire to make
the dinner one long to be remembered by
those who were so fortunate ss to receive
invitations. They succeeded, for the scene
in the banquet room Of the Arlington was
one of surprising beauty, while the Dan
quet itself was replete with novel features
and surprises. Over two hundred sat down
to the magnifiCently decorated tables and
there they sat until the bells of the city
toled the midnight hour, and then they
wished 1t was but just beginning instead
of ending. The menus and souvenirs of
the occa sion were unique and beautiful, and
will always serve as pleasant reminders
Of a most enjoyable evening. Besides all
the officers of the cluboand those who had
been it's guests, this souvenir contained a
Retrospective" chapter by Mr.. E. G. Dun
nell and one Concerning Pilgrimages' by
Mr.. H. L. West. The book was prepared
under the supervision of Mr.. W. E. Curtis,
chairman Oh tue COullIhttSC. iiO
drawings were by G. G. Coffin and J. Har-
ry Cunningham. while Mr.. w. F. Roberts
did the printing and binding.
About the hospitable board were seated
scores of men whose names are mousse
hold words the country over. statesmen,
literary men, editors. Judges. lawyers, ply
sicians. and host of newspaper men, VINO
do more than their share in making or
unmaking the fame and reputation OF
those who were for the nonce their guests.
One of the pleasant features OF the even
ing was the initiation of three new mem
bers. Mr.. L. A. Coolidge OF the New York
Recorder, Mr.. Reginald Schroeder OF the
New York Stats Zeltung. and Mr.. c. G.
Randolph Of the New York Times. The
initiation was conducted by Mr.. Robt. ).
Wynne. who imperSonated the venerable
Capt. Bassett: Mr.. r. N. Larner. us Fort
Cleveland" and John s. Shriver. Frank V.
Bennett, F. A. G. Handy, Geo. H. Apper-
son, r. B. Matthews. Hub I. Smith and
Geo. H. Walker constituting the entertain
ment committee.
Another was the presentation of hands ome
bronze medals, struck Off for the occasion,
in honor of the original members and
founders of the club. These were: Gen. H.
Clark. P V. DeGraw, L. G. Dunnell. F.
A. G.. Handy. d. r. Mckee. .. .. Stealey,
E. B. Wight. r. J. Wynne. c. T. Murray
and James f. Young.
Club Guests.
Mr. Walter s. Stevens of the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat made his debut as the
president of the club, succeeding the late
Mr. Frank Hatton. Mr.. Stevens showed
himself a capable presiding officer. though
his task was not easy one, for his pre-
decessor, Mr.. Hatton. was always exceed
ingly happy in introducing the speakers.
Mr.. Stevens demonstrated that he pos
sesseS the same faculty. He occupied the
head of the table. and seated near him were
Associate Justice Brewer. Mgr. Satolll eX-
I.,c
liam Edgar Nye. Secretary Morton, Sena-
tor Teller. Senator Walsh, and ex-SiXth
Auditor Crowell, out of whose hospitality
ten years ago the Gridiron Cub sprang
into being.
All through the evening amusing spec
linens of by-play and little incidents that
were very full of fun for the guests were
acted out by the versatile members. There
was music and all sorts of speeches. some
funny and some grave; witty Sallies end
drol remarks: hits at the members by the
guests. and jokes perpetrated by the MEM
bers upon those who sat at meat with
them. 1t Is a rule of the Gridiron Club
that there shall never be anything too
serious at its entertainments, and another
rule that what Is said about the board Is
said in confidence and Is not to be reported
in the newspapers. Both of these rules
were broken through on this OCCASION for
Archbishop Satolli, who was one of the
guests of honor, took advantage OF the
opportunity to make a formal speech. in
which he outlined his own position in this
country and the purposes for which he had
been sent by the pope. BY speclal-pe rmis-
sion the speech, which was read by his
secretary, DR.. Rocker, has been made
public.
Archbishop SatOlli.
In the course Of his remarks Archbishop
Satolli paid a high tribute to the American
press, and acknowledged its great fnfiu-
ence in all public and social matters. In
archhjShOn
said:
'If you desire to know my mission among
you, you will find 1t expressed in the
ditions enunciated for my favorable re-
ception here, by a well-meaning but mis-
led writer in the Forum two years ago. 1t
is to help to teach the ignorant, to raise
the fallen, to lead the guilty and penitent
to the invisible and Divine Savior, who
alone has power to forgive sin; to console
the sorrowing, to edify the believing, to
promote righteousness. liberty, sympathy
ard the spirit of Christian brotherhood
the land
IF you want to know what my mission
Is not, you have 1t In the words of this
same writer, In which he explains what he
thinks 1t Is. He asserts that 1 am here
to further the claims Of the pope TO a
kingdom Of this world a kingdom which
embraces the whole world all the king
doms of the world and the glory of them
In my own name and that of Leo XIII,
who sent me, I repudate any such pur-
POSE And when 1t shall please the pope
to recall me, trusting in the kindness and
rectitude of the public press, as Samuel of
old, on laying down the government of
Israel appealed to the assembled people
to express their satisfaction or dissatiSfac
ton with his administration, so 1 shall OF
hesitate to present to the press of the
the record of my labors and say
Judge me-"
Those Present.
The guests of the evening were as fol-
ows: Edward H. Allen, manager Albaugh's
Opera House, Washington; John NJ. Allen,
from Mississippi; Henry NJ.
Baker. Representative from New Hamp-
shire; w. B. Baldwin, Washington; w. B.
jr.. Washington: James F. Bar
oour. Washington: Frank N. Barksdale.
railroad, Philadelphia; Will
lam E. Be rrett, Representative-electf from
Franklin Bartlett, Repre-
sentative from New York; ]. Walter Bland
'ord, Washington: David j. Brewer, as
,ociate Justice United States Supreme
Court; Calvin S. Brice, Senator from Ohio;
saac Fl. Bromley, New York Tribune; VIII
lam Henry Burnett, Washington; Henry
". Cannon, president Chase National Bank.
New York; Joseph G. Cannon, Represen-
alive from Illinois; Asher G. Caruth, Rep
esentative from Kentucky; Henry NJ. Cary, |
New York Times; John F. Chamberlin, |
Washington; e. T. Chamberlain. commits |