Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-04
ANNUAL DINNER AT CRlDlRON
International Notables Around the Mahogany
of Newspapermsp's Famous Club.
MENU SERIES OF WITTY MILITARY ORDERS
War investigation Burlesqued, Uncle
Sam and FilipinOs Hit on and
Many other Features
Displayed.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 3.-The famous Grid
Iron club tonight gave most notable din
ner. entertaining distinguished guests from
the United States, Europe and other parts
Of the world. In the company were the
president, vice president, members Of the
cabinet. the president Of Costa Riea, the
premier Of Canada, the entire Joint high
American Canadian commission, General
Garcia the most prominent officers Of the
army and navy, senators. representatives
and many other distinguished men.
More than 160 people were assembled in
the beautifully decorated dining hall OF the
Arlington hotel. The dinner was In meas
ure conducted on lines Of compliment and
honor to men who distinguished themselves
by both land and sea In the late war. Great
ovations were given to the president, Ad-
miral Schley and General Shafter when they
arose to speak, while other speakers re-
ceived most generous consideration. AL
though the dinner was upon the lines in
dicated. wit and burlesque were cleverly in
| terspersed with the patriotic sentiments so
that at all times the guests were never
allowed to get away from the Gridiron
method Of conducting a dinner.
President Frank H. Hosford presided In an
admirable manner. He was very fortunate
with sentiment, wit and satire, continued
the features of the dinner to a most salts
factory conclusion. Speeches are always
short at Gridlron dinners, and there was no
| exception to the rule tonight.
Remarks were made by the president, the
| vice president, the president OF Costa Rica,
Lord Herschell Sir Wilfred Laurier, Secre-
| tary Hay. Secretary Long, Postmaster Gen.
eral Emory Smith, Admiral Schley, General
Shafter, General Garcia, Captain Sigsbee,
Senator Lodge. Mr.. Foster and others.
| Novel Menus.
The menu was In keeping with the other
features Of the evening. There were several
pages in imitation OF army orders begin
| ming with a proclamation OF the president
Of the club, calling on volunteers (guests)
to assist the regulars OF the club at the
engagement in the Arlington dining room
from to IL o'clock. This was followed
| by series Of orders In military style, d.
recting the various committees OF the club
to prepare the different features OF the en-
tertainment and to assume such duty as is
| usually performed by them. The guests
| were grouped In divisions Of volunteers and
In orders very direct and explicit they
were required to keep in line of fire" dur
ing the entire engagement.
A map OF the battle-ground was one oi
the unique features In which the various
| divisions were represented as charging
through the Champagne river toward the
Table Heights, where they were supposed tc
have captured soon Won" hill There
were several luips in special orders. directed
at the prominent guests Of the evening
which added to the merry feature OF tn,
occasion.
Among the features was a burlesque In
vestigation OF the conduct Of the war. which
conveyed some Of the more humorous fan
cies Of the real Investigation.
Members OF the club brought immens,
stacks Of testimony. also large volumes o
reports and different exhibits. which tool
OF some OF the guests and caused grea
amusement. The report concluded with tn
finding that there was a war; that Spaii
got licked and that the Anglo -Saxors stoo
together. As this was done the American
and British nags were unveiled as . com