The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
&c President OF - Irnited stntes,.

The President Of the United States,"
As the toast va given. the entire as
semblage, amid great enthusiasm, arose
and drank the Presidents health. 1t was
remarkable cOmpany-includiag not only
President Roosevelt but Vice President
Fairbanks. Speaker Cannon. the Italian,
British, Russian. and japanese ambassa-
dors, and scores of men distinguished in
every walk of life
The time-Last night. The place-The
banquet room Of the New Willard. The
occasion-The annual fail dinner Of the
GridIron Club.
Where shall the story begin? Shall it be
with the Presidents characteristic speech,
or with the Gridiron's laughable attempt
to establish stable government in Cuba?
Or shall there be related the pathetic mar
rative Of how a number of prominent gen
tlemen were asked 20 stand right up and
turn around, and then sit down again? Or
shall we drop into poetry. like Silas
WegS, and rehearse the songs that We're
sung. and which had for their texts
President Roosevelt, and Secretary Shaw.
and Secretary Taft, and other famous
men2 Or, perhaps best Of all. ought not
the first place be given to The Simple
Speller and Gridiron DikShUnary?" But
this deserves a chapter to itself
Through Cuban Jungle.
To begin at the beginning. the guests
of the Gridiron Club gathered together
in the white and gold reception hall Of
the New Willard, with President ROOse-
welt mingling among them in true demo-
cratic fashion He shook hands cordially
with the foreign ambassadors and chat
seI 10.
10 five OF six of his Cabinet officers, spoke
10 Senators and Representatives almost
without number. and then. 10 the music
OF the Marine Band. took the arm Of
President Fearn, OF The Gridiron Club.
and led the procession Of 22j members and
guests into the banquet room. The way
led through q Cuban jungle Of palms and
other tropical plants into an apartment
made beautiful by the florists art. The
table bright with cut glass and silver
was one mass of flowers and foliage The
vast ceiling and walls were hung with
prOfusiOn OF southern smilaX, while great
clusters Of American Beauty roses sur
rounded the electric gridiren suspended
behind the president OF the club. These
decorations. the handiwork of Small.
transformed the room into picture
which appealed TO the eye and gr0tified
every aesthetic taste.
While the guests were stiil standing at
their chairs, the lights were suddenly ex-
tinguished and the excellent quartet
began TO sing a welcome. As the song
came 20 an end the great gridirOn flashed
brilliantly forth, and then came a rous-
ing chorus, which gave the keynote to
the evenings entertainment. For a few
moments the guests were allowed op-
portunity 10 discuss the oysters. and also
to glance at the 'DikshunaTy," an ar
tistic volume in black and white. which
was the souvenir of the occasion. More
about this volume anon-and it is worth
reading about even if you skip ali there
Is between. But verbum sapientum as
we used 10 say in school; don't skip any
thing Nobody skipped anything at the
dinner. and il is a pretty good story 10
read
They sat Right Down Again.
The club members did most of the en-
tcrtaining, OF course, but the guests were
not sighted For instance, there was a
song about walking in and turning
'round-you know the rest-one verse Of
which bore lightly on the recent trip of
the President. for it told how he sailed
right in and turned around. then sailed
right home again. After few more
incidents Of the same kind had been re-
lated, the secretary of the club read the
roll Of those who had requested an op-
portuIuty to make a speech. Here was
The list:
The italian Ambassador
The British Ambassador
The Russian Ambassador
The japanese Ambassador.
Lieut. Gen. Henry C. Corbiu, U. s. A.
StiIyyesant Fish
James SpeyCr.
J.. H. Hartman
John ". Gates.
Oscar Struus.
James r. Garfield.
William Loeb. j.
Paul Morton.
Theodore =. Shonts-
Timothy L. Woodruff
Gov.-clect Conner. Of Alabama.
Senator Tiliman.
II. St George Thicker
David r. Francis.
And then some.
When these distinguished gentlemen
were standing, expecting the heavens TO
fall or an earthquake to hapDen-aud
perhaps wishing that it wOuld-a solo and
chorus was addressed TO them in this
wise
We greet you gentlemen tonight, and bid you vel
c0me here
Where form and dignity are barred BIZ hunor and
good cheer.
We cannot hear you all crate, or tell your stories
Such happiness would be too great 50 this we Il
have to do:
CHORUS:
Please all stand up. then turn around and sit
right down again
It's often that We entertain so many noted men
You'll not offend us in the least if you are silent
through the feast
Please ali stand up then turn around, and sit
night down again
At the conclusion Of this pleasant ditty
the distinguished gentlemen all sat down
OF course, they never made speeches. It
wasn't intended that they should.
Cabinet Changes.
Almost as soon as the dinner had COM
menced. a member arose and announced
that he desired to read bulletin from
the White House. The valuable informa-
ton which it contained was as follows:
Weather Indications being unfayoTsble the White
House tennis court viii be closed, and jimmy
Garfield Is released 10 take Office rs Secretary Of the
Interior at once Mr.. Hitchcock has kindly con-
ssuted to retire January l. Official reason given
private business. No further changes are contem-
plated.
All during the evening similar bulletins
were promulgated Admiral RObley j.
Evans was announced as Secretary OF the
Navy from March 1 to March g. the re-
CONTTNT-TD ON SFCOND pACE