The Washington herald., 1909-05-03


Spring Dinner" Some mention Of what
took place thereat moved Mr.. Arthur
English. whose father wrote Ben Bolt"
10 tel the following. said Mr.. English:
Every President in the last twenty
years has been entertained BY the Grid
iron Club. Harrison. though reserved and
serious-minded. found relief from the
cares Of state on notable occasions in the
company Of the corps Of Washington
newspaper men who make up the club
Mckinley likewise sat at the merry
making and hospitable board Roose-
velt, however. was more frequent
guest. and entered more heartily into the
spirit Of these functions than any other
President.
Taft has attended Cridir0n dinners
since he first came into public life as
Solicitor General. and is perfectly at home
in the clubs company II is known 20
but few. and these within the inner circle
Of the organization, that Taft actually
participated in one OF the most mem0T-
able and humorous episodes in the history
Of the club
In 1891, when he surrendered the
governor generalship Of the Philippines
assume the duties OF Secretary Of War.
he had as travelling companion crossing
the Pacific. Mira Al Asker, Khan, then
Grand Vizier Of Persia. who. with an ex-
tensive suite. was on his annual pilgrim
age to Mecca. via the United States The
movements OF this Oriental pOtentate
were duly chrOniCled by cable, and public
attention was divided between him and
Mr.. Taft on their arrival in San Fran
cisco, about the middle Of January.
Potentate's Name on Guest List.
a Gridiron dinner was scheduled for
the last Saturday evening in that month
and 8Ir. Taft accepted an invitation by
wire 10 be present The club IS always on
the lookout for celebrities. and there was
naturally much elation when one Of tbs
members gave in the name of the grand
vizier as one OF his guests. He had Sc
cured his acceptance OF an invitation, ht
explained. through the kindly Offices o,
8I-- TruXtun Beale. a former Minister tc
Persia
The grand vizier and his suite trav
eled across the continent by easy stages
and every day for a week the Washing
ton newspapers chr0nicIed prominently
his approach toward the CapitaI. n,
tarried briefly at Denver and Chicago
and then proceeded 20 Buffalo IN orde,
70 visit Niagara Falls Some consterua.
lion was created in the club BY pres.
dispatch from Buffalo stating that he had
altered his programme and would e
direct 20 New York and sail at once for
Europe DUt this was promptly and con
sTicuOusly denied and the reassurine
statement made that he would be al n,
dinner. although his arrival might b.
somewhat late
The guest list al this dinner was a.
especially notable one. and as printed ieC
OF as follows.
The President Of the United States.
Mira All Asker. Khan, Grand Vizief
or Persia.
Then followed the names Of ambassa
cors. justices Of the Supreme Court. Sen
ators and Representatives, captains o
industry, and others well known to tn
Hall Of Fame
An Imposing Entrance.
'on the right Of the president Of the clul
sat President Roosevelt. and next 10 tn,
President. Baron Sternburg. who had bu
short time before been appointed Ger
man Ambassador to the United states
Another guest-one held in affectio1a,,
regard by the club-was Senator Ma-ru
Alonzo Hanna. who. disregarding hi.
PHYSICIANS advice. had arisen from sicl
bed 10 attend this dinner. and who die
Two weeks lster-FebrUary Is. 1904.
TT was about 9-58 O'Clock when fb.
Grand Vizier or Persia entered the ban
QCet hail OF The Arlington on the arm NJ
the club member who had invited him
PicturesQuely arTayed in fez and 6ov-irs
robe Of startling red. the entrance o.
The imperial visitor was imposing in tn.
extreme. There was dead silence. saw.
for the soft strains Of the orchestra. a.
he was conducted down the center aisl,
OF the gridiron-shaped table and given ;
seat Of vantage All eyes were MOI
him The club had never before enter
tained so remarkable a parsonage
Immediately Mr. Taft arose. crossed Il
The seat OF the grand vizier and greefe,
him cordially Then distfnguisbe,
young United States Senator sitting nea
was formally presented in a fashion some
thing ike this.
Your excellence. allow ne to presen
United States Senator -. Senator -
the Grand TiZier OF Persia
Al, said the Grand Vizier. addressint
The statesman, eez zis ze yong man "a
write ze bOek?'
statesmen Pand Respects.
The young statesman barely had op
portuuity 10 acknowledge authorship o
4 work bearing upon the far Easter
situation when United States Senator
Aidrich and German. Speaker Cannon
and Gen Grosvenor rose from their seats
and, crossing the aisle. were properI,
presented and paid their respects fitting
II 10 the grand vizier. Hon. David p
Francis. commissioner general Of tn
Worlds Fair at ST. Louis. soon 10 open
also came forward and greeted the visi
tor. and incidentally took occasion I,
urge upon him the importance Of :. Per
sian exhibit at ST. Louis.
Meanwhile ths programme had bAe,
completely suspended owing 10 the in
tense interest Of all in what was hap
peninE about the grand vizisr. II,
member IN charge Of him in an interim
informed the president of the club tbs
the distinguished guest could reraf,
only a short tine. but had indicated hi
willingness 10 speak briefly II he migh
be caIlCd upon soon. Thereupon IN
gavel fell. and in neat little speech
touching upon the past glories Of Persi,
IN literature and art, and upon the sig
niicance Of the visitation on the par