Evening star., 1899-04-10
The Gridiron Clubs Characteristic
Reception Saturday Night
MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Excellent Music, With GrIdiron In
novations, EnIiyened the Evening.
SCENE IN FARMLAND

Saturday night was ladies' night with the
! C;rif1fron Club. That well-known organiza-
ton varied its customary method or en-
tertainment by giving a reception, Whicn
was graced by the fair sex, and 1t was none
the less interesting on that account. Inc
guests were received in the main reception
rooms of the Arlington by General H. "
Boynton, Mrs. H. V. Boynton, Mrs II. L.
West and Mrs. Hatton. After an hour OF
pleasant converse the doors to the large
bannuet room were thrown open and the
assembiage was ushered into falrylann.
The scene was most picturesque and beau
tiful. The decorations at the Grldiron Cluo
banouets have always been unique and
elaborate, but on this occasion the large
room was converted into veritable bower
of beauty. The walls and ceiling were dec
Grated with trees and branches, forming a
resting place for numerous stuffed and live
birds Alabama smilax and green pine
branches were artistically draped and hung
from chandelier to chandelier. The mann
moth club gridiron, with its electro nshts'
was horizontally attached to the celllng IN
the center of the room, while half dozen
smaller gridlrons adorned the walls. All
these decorations were reproduced again
and again in the mirrors which SURROUNDED
the room. In the corners were miniature
ponds surrounded with aquatic pants, ana
on the surface of the water were live ana
stuffed water fowl. Hawks and eagles We're
poised among the trees, ready to take
flight stuffed owls with electric eyes were
snugly ensconsed in the forks of the trees
and a score of canaries in gLded cages
scattered throughout the room We'd with
the orchestra in giving musical welcome
to the guests.
Guests Welcomed.
When the company was comfortably seat
cd General Boynton, the president of the
club made q brief but happy address, in
which he said that the Gridiron Club had
held many distinguished gatherings, includ-
ing among its gueses Presidents, Vice Presi-
dents. cabinets, noted personages from
abroad prominent senators and representa-
tives, leading officials and many army and
navy heroes, but that the electric emblem
Of the club had never shown on a fairer
scene. graced as it was by the ladies of so
many American homes. The club had
saved the best for the last, for to its clos
ing gathering of the season it had brought
the ladies. He closed by saying: In the
name of the club l bid our guests most
cordial welcome, and following the Gridiron
methods of first paying respect to the chief
magistrate of the nationwide tonight takes
second place. give the sentiment to
which, if We sat at table, We would all re-
spond with lifted glasses-'The First Lady
of the Land and the President of the United
States"
a delightful musical program was then
commenced. and after several numbers had
been enjoyed It was interrupted for few
minutes in a realistic Gridiron way. EX
President HOSford announced that there
would be trial of woman suffrage-th hat
an election would take place at which only
ladies' would be allowed to vote. Tickets were
distributed with coupon pay attachments
polls were established and tellers appointed
Each voter, in exchange for the coupon
was presented with pretty little souvenir
in the shape of a cut glass toilet bottle
with silver top. on which was a miniature
embossed gridiron.
The musical program. which was one of
exceptional merit, was then continued, and
each number was received with enthusiast
tic applause. The program was as follows
Gentle Rigoletto' quartet,
Verdi
Mrs. H. Clay Browning, Mrs. James F.
Mr.. Henry Kaiser.
Piano solo
Miss Antoinette Warlitz of Baltimore, Nd.
Soprano solo-Aria from "Traviata"
Mrs. Thomas Noyes.
Barytone solo-"ROse Marie
Mr.. Henry Kaiser.
Soprano solo-"Jewel Song" Faust
Mrs. H. Clay Browning.
MonolOgue-''Scene Between Mary Stuart
and Queen Elizabeth"
Mrs. W. J. Stewart.
Violin solo-"Caprice de Concert
Divide Musin
Mr.. Herman C. Rakemann.
Tenor solo-'I Love You. ........... .Sobesk
Mr.. William D. Mcfarland.
TumberOnicon solo,
Mr.. William Haley
Duo-'The Regatta" ...............G RosSini
Mrs. Browning and Mrs. Oyster.