The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-18
WASHINGTON
WITS DID NOT
SPARE GUESTS
Dinner Complimentary to the
New Administration Given
by GTidiTon Club.
PRESIDENT TAFT AMONG
THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
HUMOROUS sKITs AND SHARP
HITS AT EXPENSE OF THOSE
IN OFFICIAL LIFE.

Washington, April 17.-The broter OF
the Gridiron club, that famous organi-
cation of newspaper men, was kept
busy tonight serving up wit and hui
NOR at a special dinner complimentary
10 the new administration. The dinner
was given i'm the banquet halI Of the
New Willard
Care was taken that men prominent
in the public eye got all that was COM
ing TO them i'm the way Of thrusts and
jibes. and the great assembiage was in
a constant upTOar.
Of course, President Taft was there,
as were Speaker Cannon, members OF
the cabinet and the diplomatic corps,
senators and representatives men high
in the industrial and financial world
and many others Of distinction. In the
absence Of President Henry Han. who
is just recovering from a long illness,
President Scott c. Bone Of the Wash
ington Herald presided.
Beginning of the Fun.
The onslaught on the banquet room
began when the clubs old-fashioned
dinner bell announced that everything
was ready. AS soon as the diners were
seated the room was thrown into dark
ness while a musical welcome was ex-
tended TO the distinguished guests.
Then the mammoth electric gridiron
flashed into view, the lights were
turned on throughout the room ana
the fun commenced
Almost the first thing to greet the
guests was a handful distributed by
speedy messenger boys. announcing
that there would be a great minstrel
show by all-star performers, including
vocalists, comedians and cabinet Of
ficers."
This was the hit Of the evening
In true minstrel fashion, with all the
accomplishments Of busters and a more
OF less discordant band. this troupe Of
club talent paraded through the hall
before going on the stage.
The program of the show was a
clever imitation of the real thing, even
to the naming Of the executive stan,
together with a special mote by the
management" which called attention
to what was to come and with the in
junction that there should be no
flowers.
The Opening Song.
Eating Through Georgia" was the
opener. and il ran like this
Sound the good old dinner horn, Wen
sing another song
About the trip that Taft once made, Wnen
with digestion strong
He ate his share Of everything that they
would bring along,
As we went eating through Georgia
I'VE tackled the oppossum that they took
care to bake.
they called hoe-cake.
We didn't draw the line at alligator steak
As we went eating through Georgia
BY southern hospitality our hearts we're
surely Won
For Democrats and so We saved sons
pie for Dickinson.
As we went eating through Georgia.
And the chorus. Well. it would CRATE
heard these words.
..Hurrah. hurrah, We sound the jubilee;
Hurrah. hurrah, twas something fine
10 see.
We put away three meals = day
And sometimes three times three.
As we went eating through Georgia
Dead Literature"
Then there ensued some lively con-
versation between the middle men. VINO
posed as the ''vice president" ana the
speaker Of the house and the 'caDi-
net officers" who composed the bal
auce OF the troupe After a good deal
Of sparring over what was the mean
ing Of dead literature" ana whether
I referred to Sauscrit or Aztec. the
end mon declared it to be the presi-
dents message.
say. MT Vice President" a member
Of the "csbiret7 inquired do you re-
member the morning when al tnozs
boilers blew Up and scared a lot OF
people
"Oh. yes. I remember IT perfectly.
but I do not see sw-hy it should haFs
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