The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29
NEWSPAPER MEN MAKE FUN.
THE GRIDIRON CLUB BURLESQUEs
EVENTS OF THE DAY.


the Mormon QuestiOn-Many Prom
inent Guests Present.
Washington, Jan. 2S,-The Gridiron Club
gave its fourteenth annual dinner at the
Arlington Hotel tonight.
The club is composed of forty Washing
ton newspaper correspondents who have
a speciality of the entertainment of distin-
guished guests at dinners of a unique char
aeter
The dinner tonight was no exception,
and has another notable and picturesque
performance to the credit of the club
More than 175 persons were present, in
Guiding men from every sphere of public
life, and from different quarters of the
| globe. Many features of entertainment
We're introduced such as burlesquing
events of the day touching upon topics Of
| general interest and humorously imper-
| sonating prominent men who were guests
of the evening. The speeches and features
were interpreted with songs by the club
| quartette, solos and witty Interruptions
and observations.
Gen. Henry V. Boynton, the newly elect
ed president of the club, occupied the head
of the table. Grouped about him Fwere men
whose fame has extended wherever the
English language is read and spoken.
The dining room at the Arlington was
handsomely decorated with North Carolina
laurel hung with festoons of pink ribbons
The tables, which were arranged to re-
semble gridiron, were covered with ferns
in which pink roses and orchids were en-
bedded. A blazing gridron just back of
the President threw a luster over the
scene and was reflected in the plate glass
sides of the room.
Toast to the President.
President Boynton, in a patriotic utter
ance, opened with a toast to the President
of the United States. This is an innova-
ton. He concluded the toast as follows:
And tonight it shall be to THAT Presi-
dent under whose mastery guidance the
marvellous results of the year have been
wrought out"
Among the speakers of the evening were
| Senators Frye, German and Foraker Sec
rotary Wilson, Mr. Komura, the Japa-
nese minister; Gen. Corbin, Admiral
Schley Mr.. Depew, Mr.. Allen and Senator
commission.
The initiation of Mr. Henry Hall afford
| ed an opportunity for a play upon the
Mormon question. AS he came into the
room he was followed by four alleged
wives, personated by members of the club
in female costume who were attached to
| him by gaily colored ribbons. Mr.. Hall
was not allowed admission TO the club I'M
| til divorces had been secured, which We're
| nh d vUfth ba of q
| Chicago lawyer. The wailng grass wild
| ows were provided for by lottery, each
| pulling out of basket large card with
the name of some prominent guest attach
ed, a preceding which created much
mirth.
Ratified the Treaty.
The Gridiron Club ratified the treaty of
| peace. A mock executive session of the
| Senate was held, different members of the
club impersonating various senators prom
! inently identified either for or against the
treaty, and after brief discussion and sew
eral funny incidents, the treaty was fin
ally ratified
President Boynton then declared that
the greatest secrecy be maintained as to
the action taken, stating that on no ac-
count should the proceedings in executive
session be allowed to become public. AS
he ceased speaking a great camor was
n6uTu at lll6 uOOIS anu MI NIOSDy p
Moves, editor of the Star, came In at one
door with a large bundle of extra Stars
under his arm, while Mr.. Beriah wilkins,
editor of the Post entered a another with
as many extra Posts. Cries of Extra
Star" and Extra Post" together with
"All about the ratification of the peace
treaty In executive session." were loudly
voiced by the two gentlemen, and the pa
pers containing the detailed vote and the
80 10 lie
tributed among the guests, TO the great
amusement of the many senator's present.
Chauncey Sworn In.
The swearing in of Senator-elect Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew furnished another phase of
a Gridiron repast that was appreciated by
everybody, and by none more than Mr..
Depew himself. A member of the club
personating Senator Plat insisted on Mr..
Depew's being sworn in, and a represen-
tation of a large book labeled "Depews
Jokes stalked in and after some objec-
lions and debate, the oath of Office was
administered and the book was directed
to be conducted to the Senate restaurant.
A little later it was insisted that the
proceedings were irregular and that the.
other part of Mr. Depew should have
something to say, and this was agreed
l1pon. A curtain was swept aside and
monograph, In fun view, began to grind
out some of Mr.. DepeW s stories.
The comforting of ten-year medals af-
fordedN another opportunity for sharp fun,
but in this instance the members of the
club were put upon the gridiron. A civil
service examination was instituted, and
the members receiving medals were cate
chised upon different subjects and each
made to perform some speciality Those
receiving medals were e. j. Gibson. Louis
Garthe. Frank H. Hosford, A. ]. Stofer,
John A. Corwin and e. 3. Hay.
Guests of the Evening.
Among the guests present were the fol-
lowing senators: Cushman X. Davis,
Minnesota; William Z. Frye, Maine;
George Gray, Delaware, members of the
peace commission Postmaster General
Emory Smith, Secretary Of Agriculture
lanes Wilson, WI Ting Fang, the Chi
nese rninister; Jutaro Komura the Japa-
nese minister; Senators Nelson w. AID
rich. Rhode Island Thomas H. Carter,
Montana Stephen B. Elkins West Vir-
ginia; Joseph b. Foraker, Ohio; A. p.
German, Maryland; NJ Hanna, Ohio; w.
A. Harris Kansas; Henry Cabot Lodge,
NEosgoobueetts. lanes Mcmillan NIicb.