Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-28
EXPERT AT HAZING
The Gridiron Club as a Rival to
West Point.
FUN At THE ANNUAL DINNER
Prominent Guests From All Parts
Of the Country.
AN ELABORATE AFFAIR

The sixteenth annual dinner of the Grid
non Club Saturday evening was in MANY
respects the most successful and enjoyable
ever given by that famous organization.
As usual it was held in the large banquet
room of the Arlington. which was lavishly
decorated with orchids. longsgemmed roses.
tulips hyacinths and trailing vines that
transformed the great apartment into a
perfect floral bower. About 300 gentlemen
prominent in the various walks of i:fe We're
in attendance. The dinner was remarkable
for the unusually large number of famous
statesmen and newspaper editors from
other cities who were present.
The dinner itself was. as usual. a hand
scme affair. but it subordinate to the
rich feast of wit and fun that was served
up for the delectation of the guests. There
were any number of unique and amusing
incidents prepared by the members Of the
club while q number of the prominent men
present added their share in the way of
bright and eloquent speeches. From the
time The big dinner he'll rang to summon
the guests until the hour of midnight ar
rIved there was not Il dun minute.
Expert Hnzers.
When Il comes to the matter of haZng
the Gridirom Club proved that the West
Point boys are not the only ones Not the
lSlSt amusing IGdl lure tl INC ittSt t'ott'l
tiay evening was when the army officers
present a half dozen or 80. We're called
out NY other alleged cadets and their weak
nesseS and shortcomings pointed out ana
proper treatment accorded them by their
seniors and Superiors.
Among the ''fOurth-class men" who were
handled according to the most approved
West Point methods We're the adjutant gen.
eral of the army and Gen. John NJ. Wilson,
who himself at one time the head of
the Military Academy. These and the
others were put through a thorough course
of 'hracing and spread eagling, and were
compelled to drink copiously from two
gallon bottle containing a mixture that
purport-d to be tabasco sauce. The rea-
sons given why the various plcbes deserved
sharp treatment at the hands of the up
per classmen Were amusing in the eN-
tfeme.
An Ip-tO-Date Inauguration.
The inauguration of the new president of
the club, Mr.. Arthur W. Dunn, gave the
opportunity for 4 very droll ceremony. The
incoming executive was brought into the
room in toy wagon, drawn by four ma
tIves of our new possessions scantily clad
in the costumes appropriate to tropical
countries. and driven by a counterpart OF
Senator Hanna. The vice president-eiect,
in rough rider uniform and carrying toy
rifle. brought up the rear. He was ac-
companied by mammoth mountain Hon.
reSSed by the doughty nimrod. The inau-
gural procession took place along Pennsyl-
vania avenue. This was made possible by
the production Of a large picture of the
avenue.
Then. again, there executive SEES
sion of the Senate in adjoining room
which necessitated the withdrawal of the
correspondents 10 the press gallery at one
end of the banquet hall. y lively CONVEX
sation ensued between them, in which there
were any number of clever hits at the eX-
penSe of the bona fide senators present anC
other guests.
These are but samples of the amusing
skits which kept the guests in a constant
roar of laughter all the evening. AT one
stage of the entertainment a list of all the
editors present ar guests was read. and they
were made to stand up in order that they
might see the bright galaxy of newspaper
correspondents who make the papers of the
country worth reading, and at the same
time he seen themselves. Following the
heels of this Introduction came the appear
ance of a member of the club made up 10
represent the editor of THE Commoner." He
rendered the presidential nomina tons
for 1894, l%iS. 1872. 1916 and 1920. He de-
cined upon the ground that he would sooneI
write than be President" whereupon a
counterpart of eX-President Cleveland APP
peared and carried OFF all the nominations
within his reach.
4 Handsome Menu.
The menu was one Of the most elabora te
ever prepared for Gridiron dinner. 1t was
In the form of Handsomely bound and
printed volume. which bore OH the title
page, in part. the following:
NTH CENTURY
GRIDIRON PRIMER
Wherein
Are laid down, in Easy Characters adapted
to the most Senile Understandings the
PRINCIPLES OF PATRIOTIC POLITICS
Specially arranged for Bosses (easy and
otherwisol Henchmon. Heelers. Trim
mcrs. t'.,ppcrs, Grafters. Watch
crS Workers, Mixers. Han
dlcrS. Satellites and