New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
LOTOS FRISKY AT THIRTY
SUCH BIRTHDAY PARTY AS THE
CLUB HAD!

THE GRIDIRoN OVER FROM WASHINGTON
TO HELP ALONG THE JoLLITY. AND
SENATOR PLATT READS A POEM.
In its time the Lotos Club has celebrated many
things and many men. Last night it celebrated IL
self. 1t commemorated it's thrtieth birthday with
such feast of joviality and song and good cheer
generally has probably never before been seen
within its walls, famed is the club for hospital
ity and for crammng into one nights entertain
ment much joyousness is possible
The club thirty years old yesterday. That
number of years of existence does make 1t par
ticulary aged, perhaps, in comparison with some
other clubs in this city, but there Is not club in
New-York or in the whole country, In fact, wnich
can look without envy upon its minute book. The
names in those records of men who have been
guests of the Lotos Club the names of men
who stand the highest in the ranks of art htera-
ture and the stage.
To help in doing honor to it's thirty years of life
the Lotos men had with them last night the mem
bers of the Gridiron Club. of Washington. To
those who acquainted with the capacities and
resources of the members of these two clubs to
get out of life all that is in 1t worth enjoying 1t
Is needless to say that last night occasion
that will not soon be forgotten by those whose
good fortune it to be there. If may be
made of the word advisedy, it was indeed
might"
The dinner was marked by none of the beaten
track methods which usually followed in
banquet giving Orthodoxy in this respect pre-
scribes that the diners shall eat given number of
courses, getting their fun meanwhile as best they
may, and dependent upon each other for that
same, and afterward settling back resgnedly in
their chairs to listen to regulation set of speeches.
which in many cases serve as a sort of antidote
the rich things which have gone before.
But there nothing of this about the Lotos
Clubs affair of last night. Joviality and song be-
gan at the outset, sandwiched between every
course and between every speech. Eating and
"speechifying," in fact, were in the nature of
secondary considerations And among those who
attended the dinner some of the best known
men in the city, Leading men of all professions
were present. Politicians were there aplenty Sen
ator T. c. Platt. whose presence at a public din
ner is as rare almost as a doGo's egg, and his
junior in the Senate, Chauncey NJ. Depew, whose
liking for dinners figure of speech cand justice,
there. Governor Roosevelt. who, of course
came late, and Lieutenant Governor Woodruff were
also there
The fun began early in the evening, when E. B.
Hay. who has the somewhat Invtdious distinction
OF being the comedian of the Gridiron Club sang
the following song:
town I know it's not so slow;
Indeed it's quite wide open day and night,
Can hardly cross BroadWay without fright tauS'
We have ideas antiquated, but we could be capti-
BY a really naughty show
So If you would delight us. to "Sapho'' you'll in
And wen say please take us with you when you
REFRAIN
We've left our happy homes for you. co. 90. co.
You are the incest knew 90. co. co.
You've not deceived us, but received us. with
dinner. too, 90, 90.
We've left our happy homes for you.
We hear it said, ''twere better to be dead,
Than to know the famous Lotos crowd.
We've travelled far. and here are;
We want TO sing your praises long and loud
In our simple humble way,
And We'll not allow suppression of our genuine ex-
That we'd like to come and see you every day.
Refrain:
Thereafter the jollity rushed along at the
greatest pace. Such well known entertainers
George Grossmith Maurice Farkoa. whose sing
ing of Mrs Emery 'Aw<ns in French was one
of the hits of the evening; David Names. the
Metropolitan Quartet, Townsend H.. Falows. Max
Liebng. Leo Schultz Richard Arnold Charles Fl.
Simerson and Greg Patti.
But the honors OF the evening belonged the
Gridron Clubs rninstrels. they termed them
selves. Captain William Henry White, who pre-
sided in the absence of Frank r. Lawrence. the
president who was absent in consequence of III
ness in his family. with many felietous words wei
coined the guests of the club. and Henry L. West
the president of the Gridiron Club was lust closing
an equally gracious acknowledgment when a police
manor. to give the away once Grid
iron cubman dressed policeman-made his way
to the head of the table. and with menacing threat
enngs of a formidable billy" that brooked no
resistance grabbed Captain White by the collar and
led him from the room. Captain White went will
lingly enough. but took the precaution take
with him the clubs massive silver loving cup.
When the president had been led away Mr.. West
explained that for the ensuing twenty minutes the
club would be owned by the Gridironites. and it
About score of the members dressed in high
hats, filed into the room, and, ranging themselves
in semicircle around the guest table began a
minstrel entertainment. These are some of the
best things that they got off:
Where are those New-York Rough Riders we
nave heard so much about!
Governor Roosevelt is not here and 1 know OF
other Rough Rider
But Woodruff is here
Oh! he's not Rough Rider.
Well he'll get enough rough riding before he
Do you notice that Senator Piatt is looking
we'll tonight?
Why l see nothing the matter with Senator
Platt
citis. Something is the matter with his veriform
appendix.
What is his veriform appendix? Lemuel Ely
Quigg '
There was a young in ST. Louis
Who married beautiful Jewess.
And her caperS light
Whose jokes were so bright
That he called her his Chauncey Depewess.
The members of the minstrelsy read the following
kilograms which, they purported were received at
their respective bureaus in Washington:
To "The Sun"-TeI the Secretary Of State that
cannet support the Hay treaty unless he inserts
sonnet I'm tn, hing to plaeate the Irish
said that Sapho was more to be pted than cen
ssored? This will help the party next fall unless
To The JournaP-Never mind the truth send
To '"The Herald'-There Is something In tho otr.