The Washington times., 1903-12-06
Gridiron Club Makes
Merry at Expense of
Mayor-Elect.
SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
Fictitious President Requires
an Affidavit of Senator
Hanna'S Declination.

Fun and merriment reigned supreme a
the first dinner of the season given b,
the Gridiron Club at the Arlington Hote
last night.
Comic skits. representing Panama a.
a Jack in the Box" an amusing sketch
entitled, .'The School of Journalism.
which incidentally initiated three new
members into the club; burlesques or
Iangley's airship. and a caricature al
the expense OF the newly elected mayor
OF New York and Charles Z. Murphy,
who We're guests Of honor We're .anone
the principal features introduced to en-.
liven the feast, and to carry the display
of the wit which has made notable ths
gatherings OF this weIl-knowp club OF
Washington correspondents.
Two Hundred and Ten Guests.
The dinner was one of the most sue
cessful ever given by the Gridironers.
Two hundred and ten guests sat at the
long tables in tbs form OF a gridiron,
and among the gathering were such
notabies as the new British ambassa-
dor. Sir Henry Mortimer Durand: the
Chinese minister. Sir Chentung Lang
Cheng: Speaker OF the House Joseph @.
Cannon. Mayor-eIect George B. McCIel-
ian, Senators Hanna. German Pettus.
Bacon. Clarke. Clay, Kea.., Scott. Rep
resentative John Sharp Williams. Bah
cock, Bede, Burkett. Dalzel. Hemen-
way Lloyd, Lorimer. Luclxing, Mann,
Mccall. McNary, Overstreet. Prince.
Richardson. and Secretary Loeb. As
sistant Secretary LOOmis, Assistant Sec
retaTy Darling, Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Robb, Patent Commissioner Bid
die. General Gillespie, Rear Admiral
Taylor, and Surgeon General Wyman.
al day the flag on the Griesron club
hoated from the fagsta1 Of the Airing
ton. and az 8 o'clock Iasr night fo-nsa
opening was given to the osnacet by the
fiasetug on Of the elec sric lizats in the
gflded gridiron that hung Just back OF
the chair at the head OF the table occu-
pied by Vice President Coolidge II
was sign that the feast was on. and
the lights shone out on a scene that has
rarely been exceIIed for brilHancy and
good fellowship.
Flowers and greenery had been ar
ranged with a marvellous sense of ar
tistie effect, and at the tables, glisten-
ing with a snowy display of cut glass
and silver. was seated a Merry throng.
among which a spirit o. jolly good
fellowship reigned from the start Mr..
Coolidge presided at the dinner, in the
absence of William z. Curtis. presi-
dent, who is now IN Europe.
'Red Light" Joke
At an early stage in the proceedings
began the iests and frivOlity character
istic OF GridiroB dinners. AIayor-eIect
Mcclellan and Grand Sachem ct Tam
many Hall Murphy were the first to
whom the Gridiron wits paid res poets.
Soon after the usual opening toast TO
the President of the United States there
appeared IN the banquet hail a police
man of imposing appearance who car
ried IN his hand a large red lantern.
The copper" made a hasty survey Of
the guests and at once marched toward
the seats occupied by Mcclellan and
Murphy, the two New York Tammanv
braves
The room was silent while the cop,
came up beside Mcclellan and Murphy
with a significant wink at the audience
he raised the lantern and hung ii direct
~ behind and between New York 5
mayor-elect and the sachem of Tam
many Han, the red light shining out
bravely. Upon the disappearance Of the
one OF the club members re-
cited an original gerse. with Mr. Nc
Clellan as the subject. and great enthu-
siasm was created when bIr. Mcclellan
arose to reply.
Reception to Panama"
No sooner had the laugh ovzr the Me-
-Iellan incident died away than atten-
ton was attracted by the sudden ap-
pearance in the center of the room of a
quaint figure in the garb of native of
South America, who with his big SOM
1rero straw hat and general makeup,
vas recognized at once as 9 Panama
liau. The figure, at the soAud of gong.
lad sprung up suddenly from a box, on
he sides of which were large question
marks.
The Panamanian waved a flag, and ex-
.iaimed: II am the new republic" Just
II this moment an elephant representing
he Republicaa party appeared, and also
he Democratic donkey. The latter
made vigorous protest when the eIe-
}hant called out the army and navy auoi
gave a cordial reception to Panama.
A caricature of the army Of ''Bosgota."
by one soldier who seemed
disposed to be obstreperous. was prompt
" put 10 fight by the army and navy.
rhe figure representing Panama handed
,ut a big roll OF paper representing "A
.reaty, which was seized hastily by the
elephant, VINO then announced that he
aad no further use for the native, and
he latter was hustled off the scene.
Hit at Langley.
In the burlesque of Langley's airship,
4 number Of the guests tried TO see If
hey could fly to the White House with
-he machine and failed misersa,siy-
Among the number were several who
lave been mentioned as candidates for
President Charles A Towne and Adam
Confined on Second Page)