Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-12
TWENTY YEARS OF AGE
Notable Celebration of the
Gridiron Club.
IN MUSIC AND VERSE
MANY DISTINGUISHED MEN THE
GUESTS OF THE EVENING.
A West Virginia Reconciliation, the
Original Quartet, Country Band,
The Dead Letter Office.

The Gridiron Club closed the twenty
year line of its existence Saturday night,
and celebrated the event with dinner in
its old hall at the Arlington Hotel. The at
fair was in every way worthy of an ami
versary event, as well as being suspicious
Inauguration of this seasons series OF
dinners Gridiron dinners are always
marked by the attendance of distinguished
guests, and it is impossible to say that one
dinner differs from another in that respect,
but Saturday nights affair was no excep-
ton to the rule.
While the guests stood back of their
chairs upon entering, the lights were turned
off and the Gridiron quartet sang tribute
to departed friends, among guests ana
members, closing with a cheering welcome
to the old friends present. Mr.. Louis A.
Coolidge president of the club, in charm
ingly worded little speech, explained the
appropriateness of the ceremonial of remn-
iscence and tribute, and then the great
electric gridiron flashed the signal to be
seated, and the incandeScent lights through
out the magnificent banquet hall glOwed
upon scene that brought murmurs of adj
mira ton from all sides. Small had dec
grated the hall with exquisite taste, spar
ing neither bloom nor BLOSSOM and the
banqueterS reveled in a bower of fragrance
and color.
An effort at harmony was the first move.
President Coolidge said that the bitterest
enemies often departed from Grldiron din
nerS with their arms lovingly about each
others shoulders. Upon the present occa-
sion the club hoped to restore peace in
distracted family in West Virginia. The
hosts Of two guests who were named were
requested to bring their respective guests
to the front The men who, much to their
own surprise, confronted each other were
Mr.. Henry Gassaway Davis and Senator
Elkins. Mr. Davis at first pretended to re-
fuse tC be reconciled to his republican SON.
in-law. but finally made up. amidst the
cheers and laughter of the audience.
Then the dinner proceeded, with music,
skits, speeches and attention to the menu.
For four hours there was never a dull mo-
ment, and as the evening advanced the
good cheer and fun seemed to improve.
Members Initiated.
Two new members of the club We're to be
initiated, Mr.. Richard H. Lindsay of the
Kansas City Star and Mr.. Philander c.
Johnson of The Washington Evening Star.
A dismal wall from the ante room an
nounced the presence of some one in dis
tress. A member, going to the rescue,
brought in little Lord Fauntleroy, who,
the member said, wanted something to eat
and drink. The president suggested milk
but the boy" insisted upon a Martini cock
tail.
why, that must be my son." said Mr.. S.
E. johnson. veteran member of the club.
Remonstrance was raised ganst this pros
pective case of nepotism, but upon the
suggestion that the younger johnson might
make good his title to membership upon his
own merits he was permitted to give a
sample of his power of versifcation. He
read several verses about prominent people,
which the following illustrates:
''Serator Fairbanks
Says he wouldn't be surprised
II the Dingley tariff
Ought to be revised.
Uncle Joe Cannon
Says we ought to stand pat
But plays "bopups'' and ''kilters''
And such things that.
And that's no joke, either" remarked a
member of Congress, ruefully.
Mr.. Lindsay claimed admission upon the
ground that he had written all the good
speeches that had been delivered in Con-
gress. but that his crowning work was
writing the speech for Alton B. Parker that
elected Theodore Roosevelt President. The
two novitiates were further identified by
the flashing of two great electric stars amid
the greenery of the ceiling and were there
upon admitted to membership, while the
musicians of the club put an end to further
question by melodious admontion to
Read the Answer in the Stars