Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-29
FROLIC OF THE CRIDIRONERS
Fourteenth Annual Dinner Given to Many
Notables.
PICTURESQUE SATIRE ON CURRENT EVENTS
President Boynton E~loquentIy Pro-
poses view Anglo-Saxon Toast to
Equal Britishers' Proud
Boast, "The President"

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2s.-The Gridiron
club gave its fourteenth annual dinner at
the Arlington hotel tonight. More than 175
persons we're present, including men from
every sphere of public life and from differ
ent quarters Of the globe.
General Henry V. Boynton, the newly
elected president of the club, occupied the
head OF the table. Grouped about him were
men whose fame has extended wherever the
English language is read and spoken. The
dining room at the Arlington was hand
somely decorated with North Carolina laurel
hung with ~festoons Of pink ribbon. The
tables. which were arranged to resemble a
g%rtdiron, were covered with ferns, In which
pink roses and orchids were imbedded. A
blazing %gridiron, just back of the president,
threw a luster over the scene and was re-
fected in the plate glass sides Of the room.
President Boynton in a patriotic utter
ance opened with a toast to the president OF
the United States, an innovation which he
commended, saying:
New Toast, "The President"
In this new time the Gridiron club desires
to make a suggestion concerning toasts 10
the president Of the United States. There
is an Anglo-Saxon nation across the sea
whose boast for many decades has been that
ii rules the waves and that the sun never
sets on it's dominion.
At all its feasts, whether in hotter regions
or where palms wave within the tropics.
the first toast is THE Queen"
There is another Anglo-Saxon nation this
side Of the sea, upon whose flag of stars
the sun shines increasingly. 1t is as IL the
trumpet OF resurrection had sounded for
the nation, calling it In the twinkling Of an
eye to new life. to wider responsibilities.
to broader fields OF patriotic effort, to a
commanding position among the powers OF
the earth.
Let Anglo Saxon forms follow our drum
beat around the world and at all our feasts,
whether where ice breaks within the Arctic
circle, where temperate regions smile, or
where tropic breezes blow softly. let the
first toast be always, THE President"
And tonight It shall be to that president
under whose mastery guidance the marvel
Gus results Of the year have been wrought
out.
Among the speakers OF the evening we're:
Senators German. Foraker and Frye: Secre-
tary Wilson, Mr.. WI. the Chinese minister:
Mr.. Komura, the japanese minister: Gen
eral Corbin, Admiral Schley. Mr.. Depew.
Mr.. O'Meara and Mr.. Allen.
The menu was a calendar for 1899. the
months surrounding a jolly-looking monk,
who held a gridiron to his breast and seemed
to invite enjoyment and promise good cheer.
He stood at the opening of the kitchen upon
a doorsll marked with the Latin word
Pax" as typical Of the peace soon expected
to come.
Hit at Mormon Question.
The initiation of Henry Hall afforded 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 admis-
sion to the club until divorces had been Sc
cured, which were speedily granted with the
assistance Of a Chicago lawyer. The waiting
grass widows were provided for by lottery,
each pulling out of a basket, a large card
with the name Of some prominent guest at
tached, a proceeding which created much
mirth.
The Gridiron club ratified the treaty OF
peace when a mock executive session of the
senate was held, different members of the
club impersonating various senators promi-
nently identified either for or against the
treaty and after brief discussion and sew
eral very funny Incidents, the treaty was
finally ratified.
President Boynton then declared that the
greatest secrecy be maintained as to the ac-
ton taken, stating that on no account should
the proceedings in executive session be al
lowed to come to the public. AS he ceased
speaking a great clamor was heard at the
doors and Crosby N. Noyes, 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, en-
tered at another with as many extra
Posts. Cries OF extra STAR and extra
Post" together with 'all about the r%atifca-
tinp ~ tho paooa traoty tn ovao,ti,a ,as-
sion." were loudly voiced by the two gen.
tlemen and the papers containing the de-
tailed vote and the proceedings OF the secret
session were distributed among the guests,
to the great amusement of the many SEN
ators present.
The swearing In OF Senator elect Chauncey
NJ. Depew furnished another phase of a
Gridiron roast that was appreciated by
everybody and by none more than Mr.. De-
pew himself.
A member Of the club personating Senator
Plat insisted on Mr.. Depew's being sworn
in and a representative of a large book
labeled "Depew's Jokes stalked in and after
some objections and debate, the oath of
office was administered and the book was
directed to be conducted to the senate res
%taurant.
A little later II was insisted that the pro-
ceeulngs were irregular ana tnat the other
part Of Mr.. Depew should have something
to say and this was agreed upon. A curtain
was swept aside and a photograph in full
view began to grind out some OF Mr.. De-
pew's stories.
Club Members m the GridirOn.
The comforting of t~en-year medals afforded
another opportunity for sharp fun, but in
this instance the members of the club were
put upon the %gridiron. A civil service ex-
animation was instituted and the members
receiving medals are catechised upon differ
emit subjects and each made to perform some
specially. Those receiving medalshwere; f.
]. Gibson. Louis Garthe, Frank H.. Hosford.
A. J. Stofer, John A. Corwin and f. B.
Hay.
L THE SIGN
Ennr nf Five GfxiItzeI Trihas nf In