Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-30

The banquet hall of the New Willard was
marvel of exquisite and tasteful decora-
ton by Small. The immense apartment
was curtained to appropriate size by two
walls of green at either end. Between the
white columns that at intervals stud the
walls and against the severe white back
ground of the Enclosure tender vines and
festoons OF green trailed in profusion.
Roses, azaleas, carnations and dozen va
r1et1es of flowers In bloom lent color to the
scene
A Notable Company.
Two hundred and fifty seated themselves
at the tables when the great electric grid
iron over the presiding officers chair flashed
the signal. The President of the United
States sat at his right hand: near by was
the head of the opposing political party
William ]. Bryan. The Vice President
elect of the United States, the Speaker Of
the House of Representatives., cabinet off,
Gals, justices of the United States Supreme
court, senators. representatives in Con-
gress, army and navy officers fnanciers
great railroad officers jurists scientists
diplomats and men distinguished In many
walks OF life were in the guests seats
nanked py their hosts, the members OF the
club. An unusually large number of men
famous in journalism and literature were
also in the guest list. while from Boston tn
ST. Louis and Albany to Richmond men
hau come to attend the feast. with the In
sented
The Gridiron Club has but one rule and
IN inviolate. to-wit: AT a Gridiron dinner
iaoles are always present, constructively:
reporters are never present" Which
means that nothing is, ever said which
would be iRdelicate to report. and that a
man need not fear to talk freely ON
poltflcal topics, for he would not be re-
ported So It came about that PresIaent
sHocsevelt. In the charming little speech he
made to the company. could touch with
impunity upon political topics as well ss
William J. Bryaf could With equal fres
dom bare his political bosom to show
that scars have healed Whitelaw Reid.
John s: Wise of New York, Speaker Cam
non and other takers enjoyed like privilege
and 1t was with evident delight that Sena-
tor German. In the impeachment proceed
ings against Speaker Cannon, utilized the
immunity from betrayal 10 read spicy
lecture. In behalf of the downtroddeh SEN
ate, to the master Of the lower house
At these dinners the pulse of patriotism
beats strongly and party lines are efracad
by the rushing tide OF 6ood feeling ara
night. and Roosevelt and Bryan, democrat
and republican. were afforded their NEED
of praise as American citizens. first ard
politicians afterward.
Two Catchy Choruses.
To a rafting melody Bryan was toasted
in song by the Gridiron men. the chorus OF
which declared:
Bryan. he's the man for me, steady as the shining
In a style and manner free ready any time to run.
Bryan. he's the man for me- twice a candidate
No else is in IT for a minute
Billy Bryan is the man.
And President Roosevelt was forced TO
smile in appreciation of the chorus of the
song to him, which ran:
Roosevelt, Roosevelt. strenuous all your days.
Roosevelt; Roosevelt, now let the eagle
Over the land, with big stick in hand
You are President four years more.
The President Installed.
The evenings fun commenced after the
serving Of the soup. The electric lights
blnked out. and from the north end of the
hall came mighty din of galloplng hoofs,
after the fashion employed in the most APP
proved war dramas. There WIS a halt, the
clanking of accouterments as troopers ap-
parently dismounted, stentorian orders. in
telligible as orders usually are. by "Oon'
and "Umph'' and "G-r-r-," and then, as the
lights flashed up, with blare of trumpet and
roll of drum a detachment marched in.
They were khaki clad With suidons and
banners and real guns. To the unmilitary
but stirring air of 'TheTe'll be hot time
in the old town tonight" they paraded the
length OF the room and halted in front of
the temporary chairman
Behind them struggled motley crew. fol-
lowed meekly by the new president of the
club Major Carson. When the turmoil had
subsidized and the chair peremptorily de-
manded why the dinner was being dis
turbed explanation was made The mill
tary contingent were some friends of the
new president, it seemed, tie rough rideTs
Of the plains and the rough writer's of the
magazine The nondescript bunch COM
prised the proposed cabinet of Major Car
son.
Each member of the cabinet was made TO
stand forth and explain why he was APP
pointed A red-shir.ed, sanguinary- Looking
parsonage with a buil whip. declared he
was THE secretary of the whipping post"
and duly qualified to act in a community
where wife-beating was rampant. The
secretary of indictments, who was dressed
in cowboy outfit and carried coil of rope
that might have been either a lasso or the
last resort of vigiiante, declared that he
was appointed because re "he,d the worlds
record for roping steers and had killed six
cattle rustlers." A tough-looking gent"
with immense diamonds and dyed whiskers,
was 1.-The secretary of the simple life" IL
appeared that he was indeed leading
simple life since st. Asaph closed. Then
there was the secretary OF the big stick,
appointed because he was up on 1iu 1psa:
the secretary OF transportation and rebate,
whose appointment was suggested because
he had written The Man Carson the
secretary of Attachments, who had monop.
oily on smoke consumers and the soff
coal field; the secretary of fertility
and agriculture and several others.
ali of whom, had excuses for appoint
ment. until IL came to three lonesome
looking individuals at the end of the limo.
1.-THE Commissioners of TIE District of Co
lurnbfa. 81 as they were announced. To the
anxious query as TO their selection tney
were compelled to- cry in chorus. We
don't know"
Then when President Carson had beeA
sworn in by the chief justice Queen Elisa
beth styleJ, and had Pseff made to promioe
that he would give every man square