Evening star., 1896-03-02
THE GRIDIRON'S LEAP YEAR
Ladies Join in the Festivities Of the
Club.
A Notable Dinner at the Arlington
The New Woman and the
Old Toasted.

! President VIM. F.. Amin told the members
| OF the Gridiron Club on Saturday night that
| ladies were present at all of the club dinners
in spirit An ethereal spirit lady, how
| ever, Is as far from the real flesh and blood
! articles who sat around the tables at the
| Arlington Hotel Saturday night as day ia
from night. For the first time in something
! like half a century the last Saturday in q
| month had fallen upon the 10Th of February.
| Now, the last Saturday in every month has
! been devoted by the gods to the uses Of the
| Gridiron Club. and by an equally divine dis
pensat1on the 10Th of February has been
! given up to the uses of the fair SEX The
combination of circumstances was too
strong to evade, and the Gridiron Club
broke through all its rules and reguat tions
ana turned Its February dinner into a true
leap year affair. For the first time in its
nis.ory ,,., iaales were present at one Of it's
regular dinners, and were able to realize the
peculiar charm that has caused their liege
lords to desert home and fireside on the last
saturday OF every month. From the time
tne guests were greeted by the reception
committee at the entrance to the Arlingt on
pariors till the gavel finally fell late in the
nlght the leap year dinner was succession
OF bright speeches. excellent music and good
Things for the inner man. The large BAN
quet hall was decorated with ferns and trail
ing plants while the tables set in the shape
OF grld1ron, were loaded down with beau
u1ui roses, orchids and other flowers. over
hundred club members and guests sea ted
themselves as President Annin's gavel fell
ana ne announced the dinner as opened.
The Fun of 1t.
Immediately the lights went down and
Immediately behind the presidents chair
named out a ,gridiron outlined by electric
lights. From that time each course Of
an excellent menu was interspersed with
such speeches, songs and bright raillery as
can be found at a Gridiron dinner and no.
"hera else. Mr. Amin presided in his usu-
ally effective style and kept the fun and
enjoyment continually moving An early
feature In the program was the entrance of
the registration officials of the club, who
cited Secretary Sterling Morton and Sena-
tor Burrows for failure to sign the club
book. These two gentlemen were treated IN
the usual gentle manner characteristic of
the Grldiron Club, and after signing their
autographs were allowed to return to their
seats, Sadder, but wiser men. Another fea-
ture Of the evening was the sitting Of the
supreme court. before which a number of
members appeared and various sentences
were inflicted. Mr. William E. Curtis was
deposed as poet laureate of the club, while
President Amin was only allowed to retain
his exalted position under the pledge that
he would not be candidate for reelection
Mr.. Curtis read humorous poem. and MI
ii. l.. West made an earnest plea for the
society of oppressed husbands. The new
woman was treated in delightful way by
Mr.. S. E. johnson, while Maj. John NJ
Carson paid an eloquent tribute to the old
woman. Mr.. Frank H. Hosford told of the
birth of new woman in the shape of free
Cuba. AS a fitting climax to the woman
question each guest of the feminine per-
suasion was decorated with the insignia of
the order of the (K)nights comma nders of
the Grdiron.
The Ladies' Decorated.
The decoration consisted of a little latch
key. bearing the letters TX. C. g." and sus-
pended from white ribbon stamped with a
black gridiron. Mr.. Walter E. Stevens in
an earnest address. urged the organization of
ladies' auxiliary club, which he proposed
to call the Sadiron Club. The proposition
met with immediate favor, and teilers We're
appointed to collect the ballots of the ladies
for president of the new organiza ton.
After many amusing features, it an
nounced in a general way that each lady
had voted for herself and that the organiZa-
ton of the auxiliary club would have to be
postponed for twenty-four years, when the
18th of February would again fall on the
last Saturday In the month and the Gridiron
Club could give another leap year dinner.
Some extremely happy speeches We're made
by the guests who were present. Speaker
Reed. Senator German, Secretary Morton,
Assistant Secretary Reynolds. Senator Bur-
rows and Representative Boutelle were call
ed upon. AS is usual at the Gridiron din
able feature. The club sang several times,
and an especial innovation was a solo by
Mrs Tom c.. Noyes. Enjoyable solos
were also rendered by Mr.. E. B. Hay,
Mr.. J. H. Kaiser and Mr. Herndon
Morsell while Mr.. Xander's accompa-
niments on the piano were exceed
ingly effective. Mr.. T. G. Randolph rem
dered an original topical song, ''The New
Woman which sung by the author.
with the club Joining in a rousing chorus.
The ladies went home laden with the
gorgeous American Beauty roses, orchids.
violetS and other fine flowers which had
decked the table. and which at the close OF
the dinner were distributed amongst them.
The gowns and jewels worn were very tle-
CANT though for the moment the latch key
decoration conferred by the club was the
favored ornament.
Members and Guests.
The members OF the club present, with
their guests were as follows:
Mr. and Mrs w. E. Amin, Secretary
Morton and Miss Morton, NJ. e. o. Schuyler.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. w. Barrett and Miss More
head; Gen. and Mrs H. V. Boynton Miss
Boynton, Mr.. and Mrs. W. D. Cabell and
Miss Leet, Mr.. and Mrs. John NJ. Carson
Mr.. and Mrs. H. G. Clarke. Mr.. and Mrs
LA. Coolidge. Speaker Reed; Mr.. and Mrs w
z. Curtis and Mr.. and Mrs. William r. Far
Graw and Mr.. E. B. De Graw; Mr.. and Mrs
Richard Lee Fearn; Mr.. E. J. Gibson. Dr..
and Mrs. David T. Day, Representative
Boutelle of Maine and Miss Boutelle; Mr.
and Mrs. James S. Henry and Miss Olive
Horton; Mr. Frank H. Hosford, Senator
and Mrs. J. c. Burrows. Mrs. Stockbridge
Mr.. and Mrs. s. E. Johnson; MIR. and Mrs
w. B. Matthews, Mr.. W. w. Matthews and
Mrs. Bradford; Mr.. j. J. Noah and Assist
ant Secretary and Mrs. Reynolds; Mr.
Crosby S. Noyes, Miss Noyes, Mrs. Frank
Williams of Philadelphia, Mrs. F. W. Hall
and Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas c. Noyes;
Mr.. and Mrs. T. c. Randolph: MI T. A.
Richardson Mr.. and Mrs. Beale Howard
Mrs Webb and Mr.. and Mrs. B. H War
ner; Mr.. and Mrs. Reginald Schroeder; Mr..
John S. Shriver. Mrs. Clendinin. Mrs. c.
Shriver and Miss Pigman Of Frederick; Mr..
and Mrs. Walter B. Stevens; Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry l.. West: Mr.. and Mrs. Beriah Will
kins and Mrs. Calvin S. Brice: Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert J. Wynne and Miss Mccarthy; Mr..
Frank V. Bennett, Senator and Miss Smith
of New Jersey, Mr.. and Mrs. l.. B. Hay and
M!rS. HELEN Hoyt White of Providence. r. I.
Mr. w. D. Hoover and Mr. Charles F. Hall
Nix. and Mrs. ]. Henry Kaiser; Mr.. and Mrs.
Herndon Morsell; Mr.. and Mrs. Alex. Mosh-
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