At two in the morning hosts and guests separate, declaring that they have had a real "good time."
The Clover Club is a first-rate leveller.
Any man, suffering from over-cultivated self-esteem, can be supplied by this club with wholesome physic.
There exist many other clubs of this kind, where the hospitality consists of getting amusement at the guests' expense. The idea is droll and naive. The Gridiron Club at Washington was founded on the same lines as the Clover Club in Philadelphia. During the evening on which I was present at the monthly dinner of the Gridiron, a member of the Chinese Embassy replied in Chinese to the toast that was proposed in his honour. I replied in French. It was a satisfaction to read in the Washington papers, next morning, that the Chinese and French speeches had been greatly appreciated by the club members.
Really? Allons donc!
Such fun as goes on at these "Gridiron" Clubs may savour a trifle of horseplay to the stranger; but though I do not know the origin of these tourneys, I imagine they arose from a genuine American enjoyment of quick repartee. At these meetings, eloquence prepared beforehand would be of little use: the essential equipment for the guest is a ready wit and a bold tongue.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Western and Eastern Wit.—Two Anecdotes in the way of Illustration.