The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-04
Notable Dinner Given By Famous
Washington Club.
DISTINGUISHED E
PRESIDENT, CABINET MEMBERS
AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS.
A Unique Affair In Which Patriotism
and High Jinks Wers Inter
mingled-A Burlesque Session Of
the War Commission-Horse Pre-
scented to General Boynton.

Washington, Dec. 3.-The Gridiron
club tonight gave a most notable din
ner, entertaining distinguished guests
from the United States. Europe 4
other parts Of the world. In the COM
Pany were the president, vice president,
members of the cabinet, the president
Of Costa Rica, the premier of Canada,
the entire Joint high American-Cana-
dia commission General Garcia, the
most prominent officers Of the army
and navy, senators, Representatives and
many other distinguished men. More
than 100 persons were assembled in the
beautifully decorated dining hall OF the
Arlington hotel.
The dinner was, in a measure, on
Quoted on lines Of compliment and
honor to men who distinguished them
selves by both land and sea in the late
war. Great ovatiOns were given to the
president, Admiral Schley and General
Shafter when they arose to speak,
while other speakers received most gem
erous consideration.
Although the dinner was on the lines
indicated, wit and burlesque were in
~terspersed with the patriotic senti-
ments, so that at ali times the guests
were never allowed TO get away from
the Gridiron method Of conducting a
dinner.
President Frank II. HOsford, Wash
ingtOn correspondent Of The Salt Lake
Herald, presided in an admirable man
ner. He was very fortunate in his in
Productions of prominent guests, and
with sentiment, wit and satire conduct
ed the features Of the dinner to a most
satisfactory conclusion.
Speeches are always short at Grid
iron dinners, n there was no excep-
ton to the rule tonight.
Remarks were made by the president,
the vice president, the president Of
Costa Rica, Lord Herschell. Sir Wilfred
Laurier, Secretary Hay. Secretary
Long, Postmaster General Charles EN-
DRY Smith. Admiral Schley, General
Shafter. General Garcia. Captain Sigs-
bee. Senator Lodge, Mr.. Foster and
others.
The menu was in keeping with the
other features Of the evening. There
were several pages in limitations Of army
orders. beginning with a proclamation
Of the president of the club, calling on
volunteers (guests) to assist the regu-
lars of the club at h engagement in
the Arlington dining room from s to
II o'clock. This was followed by a SER
les of orders in military style, direct
ing the various companies Of the club
to prepare the different features of the
entertainment 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 required to keep in the
line of fire" during the entire engage
ment.
a map Of the battle-ground was one OF
the unique features, in which the var
iOus divisions were represented as
charging through the Champagne river
toward the Tableheights, where they
were supposed to have captured soon
Won hill. There were several quips
in special order directed at the prom
inent guests Of the evening. which
added to the merry feature of the Oc-
casiou.
Among the features was a burlesque
Investigation Of the conduct of the war.
which conveyed some of the more hui
mOrOus features Of the real investiga-
ton.
Members Of the committee brought in
immense stacks Of testimony. also large
volumes of reports and exhibits, which
took off the guests and caused great
amusement. The report concluded with
the finding that there was a war; that
Spain got licked, and tina Anglo-Sax-
Ons stood together. As his was done,
the American and British flags We're
unveiled as a compliment to the Cana
dian members Of the joint high COM
mission.
Another feature was the appearance
of Uncle Sam with a number Of col
ored children dressed to represent the
FiiipinOs, and d play was made up Of
the new population which would be
acquired by the Philippines becoming a
part of the United States.
A very laughable sdt was the pre-
s%entation of a horse to General H. V.
Boynton, who is one Of the charter
members of the club, and also holds a
commission in the army. The horse
was one Of the stage variety, and it's
appearance caused a great deal of hi
larity.