The Bottineau courant., 1906-02-16

queens taste, says a washington spe-
cial dispatch to the New York Times. !.
Next in size was the colossal laugh
of Secretary Taft whenever the club
demonstrated in it's most convincing
manner that he and his cana: were not
what they were cracked up to be-. As
for Secretary Root, he did the best he
could, but with hundred or more SEN
ators, representatives, cabinet officers
and newspaper men shouting around
him it was difficult for him to hold his
own with such voices as those of Taft
and Roosevelt.
The dining room was transformed
into Panama for the occasion, and the
club and its guests marched in singing
these prophetic words to the tune of
when Johnny Comes Marching Home:"
"were going to dig the big canal,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We're goi,4g to dig the big canal,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
In Panama we work tonight:
Well do some digging before tbs light,
And therell be moro shenanigan
When the dirt begins to fly" -
Before they got through they had dug
the canal and flashed upon a large
white screen picture showing the
completed enterprise, and with it por-
trait of President Roosevelt, wearing
venerable white beard and appar-
emily century old. This was one Of
the things which brought forth that
presidential roar.
First of all, after the guests had ar
rived they were marshaled into COM
panies. Instead Of going into the din
ing hall in the usual way a procession
was formed. 1t was headed by Lieu
tenant Santelmann and the Marine
band, all done up in beautiful white
uniforms and looking as summery as
could be. Then came President Roose-
velt of the United States and President
Richard Lee Fearn of the Gridiron
club. Following them marched the
musical members, clad in working
mems blouses and carrying real picks
and shovels. In the procession were
ambassadors, cabinet officers, senators
and representatives, railroad presi-
dents-all following a golden gridiron
held aloft. Mark Twain kept pace with
the rest, as lively as boy. Associate
Justice Brewer, sedate and dignif1ed,
was by his side.
As the band played the members and
the guests made their devious way
through a serpentine aisle Of palms,
rubber trees, banana plants and other
tropical vegetation, so thickly placed
together as to make fascinating illu-
sion of jungle. Everybody in the
march to the banquet hall joined in the
chorus:
We're going to dig the big canal.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
1t is really a mistake to say that the
procession entered the banquet hall. 1t
emerged from the tropical pathway up
on the plaza Of Santa Anna, which, as
every one knows, is the public park of
the isthmus city. The street signs hung
here and there announced that it was
the plaza Of Anna, which was evidence
enough; but, in addition to this, the
room was set with towering cocoanut
palms, with banana trees bearing
punches of real fruit and with other
appropriate decorations in rich profu-
sion. All the acts were arranged as If
they were occurring in Panama, and
everybody referred to Washington as
some faroff, distant city.
The elimination of the evening was
the one act drama entitled pointers
From Panama; or, How We, Could Do
It If We Had Chance" The guests
were brought face to face with this in
teresting and veracious production by
a series of easy stages. Early in the
evening one of the club members came
in, walked around the plaza and dis
tributed with great prodigality huge
wads of stage money. He lighted a
cigar with a thousand dollar bill and
scattered bits Of money on the floor.
"What does this exhibition mean?"
asked President Fearn.
II am giving an imitation of the Pan
ANA canal commission" was the SOL
emn reply, and the laughter that fol-
lowed showed that the guests appre-
ciated the situation. Then followed
this chorus:
oh. shonts and Stevens and all the bunch.
Hurrah! Hurrah!
VIII have to get an extra hunch
In Panama!
We've got the sfovels, we've got the stun,
And all can see we've got men enough
TO g-dig-dig-dig
Here in Panama.
Another member appeared with q
large telescope and seemed to be study
ing the heavens.
.sWhat are you looking att" he was
asked.
II am observing the canals Of Mars.
Do you know why they are such
success r. 4 4
No one knew.
because" observed the astronomer.
s.there are no transcontinent rail-
roads on Mars
a member entered carrying a dress