The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-09
NED BRACE TELLS OF THE GREAT ANNUAL GRIDIRON CLUB
 DINNER IN WASHINGTON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1o)

balls were marked "Gridiron Lawn Ten his Cabinet. December s, 19Od" and were kept as souvenirs of the performance
 We have two vacancies in our tennis cabinet" explained member when the party had ranged themselves in the center of the room.
 Yes" continued another member, i've have lost Moody, who can't play In a supreme court robe, and Jimmy Garfield who goes into the real cabinet"
 How shall we fill our vacancies" was the natural inquiry.
 Instantly the tennis players looked around the room for eligibles.
 There is Paul Morton of the Eqult- able" suggested member.
 But he won't do," was the reply; me hasn't had his immunity bath.'
 How about Herbert Parsons?'
 Not he,' came the prompt response. ''IIe didn't write that book"
 There was an emphasis on the that" which suggested another book-Mrs. Par sons trial-marriage story--to everybody's mind.
 "Dr. Albert Shaw might suit" was the next suggestion.
 Impossible" was the laughing reply. 'We have had a hard enough time get ting rid of one Shaw"
 Well, how about John Barrett?" Who is Barrett?' 'He is the man who discovered South America and introduced it to Secretary Root"
 The real candidates were c. Arthur Will Hams of the Washington Herald, and C. Willis Thompson of the New York Times MT. Williams, who is a Texan, was ad- mitted as an officer of the Twenty-fifth infantry. while MT. Thompson, who once wrote a book entitled Party Leaders of the Time" was asked to read from that volume his views on Vice President Fair banks, Senator Aldrich Senator Spooner and President Roosevelt. As he read the paragraphs, some complimentary and some otherwise, there was great laughter, in which the author and the distinguished gentlemen whom he portrayed, heartily joined.
 The ringing of the White House lunch bell broke up the cabinet meeting and the party went off singing, to a familiar tune:
 "Oh, how our heads do swell, When we hear the White House bell i; Oh, how we run pell-mell- Most every day." There were many spirited choruses pop- ular songs having been adapted to the occasion by the club poets To the tune of "So Long, Mary" thers was lively ditty addressed to Secretary Shaw, with chorus commencing:
 "So long, Leslie;
 We will miss you so. So long, Leslie How we hate to see you gor'
 Then there was a song about Arizona and New Mexico, sung by an alleged cowboy in full costume and another about Secretary Taft The poetical trib- ute to the latter being: 'If there's trouble down in Cuba. Or a row in Panama Should a railway insurrecto Start to violate the law; If there's graft to be uncovered
 
 You must call on Taft-send for Peaceful Bill to sit Upon the Lid.' 1 But the most thrilling song of the evening-the one that aroused the great est enthusiasm-was addressed to Presi- dent Roosevelt, and was sung to the tune of "Dearie,p the chorus, sung with much feeling by the band of well-trained musicians, was as follows: "Roose-Velti Oh Roose-veltl The country's full of dreams of you Thinks you can make every dream come true; Roosevelt Oh Roosevelt
 Get congress in hand-do you under stand? Roosevelt"
 It was in response to this song that President Roosevelt made his speech, a l speech which cannot be reported, for l the guests at a Gridiron club banquet talk under the rose. The President spoke with q freedom and humor which was unrestrained. and when he had concluded there was a repetition of the enthusiasm manifested when he first arose. 1t was a wonderful demonstration in his honor. 1 Other speeches were made during the course of the evening by President Fairbanks and Speaker Cannon and oth- CTS, but as no member of the Gridron club ever tells for print what its guests say the story must end here