The Washington herald., 1908-01-25

considerable attention was to sing the
song, I've Got Ny Papers on File" The
city was then OVeTruu with Ofice-seekers
at the beginning Of the Harrison admin
istration, and this song was one Of the
hits of the day
At one of its early dinners Max O'Rell
and Vow Jair shee were guests. Both
the trenchman and the Chlnaman spoke
IN their native tongues. with great earn
estness. TIE correspondents applauded
when the oratoricaI cIimaXes were reach
ed. II looked so evident that they under
stood what was being said that O'ReU
Went back to France. and in his book
describing the United States remarked
that the members of the Gridlron' Club
seemed as familiar with French and Chi
nese as with English Another interest
ing incident happened about this time.
The club was entertained by Gen Felix
Angus at his country home IN Maryland.
Among the other vehicles gathered az
the station 90 meet them was a four
horse team OF daPply grlys hitched to q
hay wagon Secretary Rusk was a MEM
Der OF the party and as a thOTough-gOing
farmer, mounted the saddle horse and
piioted the load Of cheering freight safely
TO the mansion.
The rule that reporters are never pres
ent at the meetings Of the club is never
violated by the members. This rule was
adopted after q speech by Senator De-
pew had been published verbatim. An
exception to this rule was made some
years later. when Mgr. SatolI. the first
legatee Of the Holy See, unacquainted
with the rule, prepared to make his ad-
dress 3t the dinner the vehicle for his
first public utteTance on the subject of
his presence IN America. He had sent
advance copies far and wide, with the
proper release date When the Gr!diron-
ers heard this they called a meeting to
remove the seal Of secrecy from his
speech.
In 1890 the President was empowered to
take absolute control Of the dinner itself.
which has served to elevate the tone Of
these feasts. The beginning of 1899 wit
messed the first occasion upon which the
club entertained the President Of the
United States, President Harrison being
the guest OF honor at that time. The
menu upon this occasion was an interest
ing and unique one. Each course Of the
dinner was depicted by a cartoon. 4 COW
standing inside ii teTrapin shell signihed
mock turtle soup, though the diners had
occasion to notice there was no mock
about il, and other courses were depicted
in an equally original way
Mark Hanna made his first appearance
before the club in the spring Of 1897. He
was the guest Of every succeeding dinner
His first public utteTance after the cleo
ton was made at Gridiron dinner, and
his last one but few days before his
death He arose from his sick bed to at
tend the dinner. and when asked TO stand
up so that the club could tell him how
much it appreciated his coming, he re-
ceived the HON sge, and replied that his
doctor had told him he had the grippe
But" said he, "since coming here I real
ize more than ever the grip the GTidiron
Club has upon my heart" Those We're
the last words spoken in public by Sena-
tor Hanna
One OF the funniest things that ever
happened at a Gridiron dinner was in
1904 The grand viZier Of Persia was a
guest in Washington. During the even
ing he came to the banquet hall leaning
on a staff and supported by an attend
ant, and took a prominent seat, which
had been reserved for him, At least
those present thought he did. Several
distinguished guests went to him and
paid him their compliments. In pathetic
ally broken English he cOmplimented
Senator Beveridge on his recent book.
Secretary Taft walked around several ta-
bles to shake his hand. When the wi
zier' revealed his true self he was a
member of the club.
The story of the unique, funny, and
splendid things done by the Gridiron Club
in the twenty-three years Of its existence
interesting one.
The majority of the members of the
club have graduated into other walks Of
life than that OF Washington correspond
ents. Only about twenty of the present
members of the club are now members
Of the corps of correspondents, there be-
lltS SOlilC Aoy VI THESE Ctli AUI4QSiltS- lilG
government service has captured many
Of the Gridiron members, including Mai
Carson, White, Busby, p Y. De Graw,
Francis 2. Luepp, II. L. West, and H. B.
T. Macfarland The GTidiron Club has
had a missio- and it has performed, it
we'll Amid ali its fuu-and each dinner
means as much fun as it is possible to
crowd into four hours-the club did more
49,. g.. L.
spOndents Of Washington on a firm and
respected footing, thus making them the
best ally of the people in their efforts to
see that public men live up TO the trust
imposed in them,
TO-mOrrOw-Child Labor Day.