The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-01
HOT ROASTS AND TOASTS
EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING
"BROwNED" AT GRIDIRON CLUB.
j. Pierpont Morgan, a Guest at Last
Nights Banquet, Made the Sub
ject of Burlesque.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31-The annual din
ner of the Gridiron Club Tonight demon
strated that everything under the sun Tor
on the gridiron) was new; that there was
humorous side to all current events. and
that toasts and roasts may be combined
for an evenings amusement. The WASH
ington newspaper correspondents. who COM
pose the club, did their best to surpass all
previous dinners in originality.
The dining hall of the Arlington Hotel
was handsomely decorated. Besides the
flowers on the table and the palms and
ferns about the room, a novel arrangement
of the electric lights produced brilliant ef
feet among the decorations.
Among the 200 guests and members were
ambassadors, senator's, representatives
Governors. high officers of the army and
navy, prominent men in the financial and
business world. editors and proprietors of
newspapers. scientists and men of letters
The menu was a calendar, each month
illustrated with the picture of a guest
whose business or personal characteristic
was indicated in jinglng rhyme.
The installation of the new president of
the club. William E. Curtis, afforded an
opportunity for reverting to the part Curtis
lOOh III securing the attendance OF SPAN
ish grandees at the worlds fair at Chicago
The pomp and ceremony of the Spanish
court in 1892 mingled with the twentieth
century ideas and events made it a SNOWY
and laughable affair. One of the ques-
tons propounded to Columbus was What
Is trust? to which he answered, "A
bunch Of money surrounded by water"
J. Pierpont Morgan, one of the guests,
was made the subject of laughable bur-
L
York financier the Gridiron Club installed
a bucket shop adjunct to Morgan's
office. The manager and chair warmers
kept up fire of lively questions and an
swers in which various guests were placed
upon the gridiron. The discussion of avail
able presidential candidates was a feature
of this part of the entertainment. The bur-
lesque ended with song dedicated to Nor
gan.
The experiments which DR.. Wiley. of the
Agricultural Department, is making with
horax as a preservative afforded another
vehicle TO give number of guests grid
ironing. 1t charged that DR.. Wiley
was conducting an experiment at the din
ner, and two members of the club, imper-
ant. showed the effect of borax on BRAIN
"A poison squad was brought out and
microscope and y rays were applied to
members of the squad were found to be
thinking about, as told by the operators,
created much amusement.
The initiation of Joseph K Oil, Of the
Atlanta Constitution. and John p. Miller,
of the Baltimore Sun, who were caused
TO impersonate leaders Of the lilly whites
and black and tans." respectively and
the witty incidental references to recent
Southern appointments made a distinct
hit" There were other skits, many top
ical songs and choruses and several good
speeches. all crowding the evening with wit
and humor from beginning TO end
Among the guests were Lord Charles
Beresford, England; Senator Beveridge,
George w. Boyd of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Representative Cannon, Charles
Arthur Carlisle OF South Bend Ind: Count
Cassini. ambassador from Russia; Henry
G. Corbin, major general u. s. A: George
Il. Cortelyou, secretary TO the President:
William S. Cowles. captain L. S. NJ; George
II. Daniels. New York Central Railroad /:
Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew, Senator
Fairbanks. Senator Hanna; Sir Michael
Herbert, ambassador from England Mel
vile E. ingalls,. president Big Four Rail-
road; Rokuichira Masujima. Toxic, Japan;
John T. McCutcheon, Chicago Record
Herald: J. Pierpont Morgan; Emilio De
Ojeda, minister from Spain; Count A Won
Quadt, secretary of the German embassy;
w. s. Schley. rear admiral u. S. y.