The social life

A Procession Of Two Lord Mayors

On the 2nd January, 1893, the Lord Mayor of Dublin (Mr. James Shanks) and the Lord Mayor of London (the late Sir Stuart Knill), certain civic officers of the two cities, a military band, the fire brigade, members of the Corporation, and others perambulated from the Mansion House to the City Hall. The Lord Mayor of Dublin was installed in the usual way, and the Freedom of the City was conferred on the London Chief Magistrate.

The carriages and servants’ liveries of Sir Stuart were magnificent. He was the first Roman Catholic Lord Mayor of London since the Reformation.

The London City Marshal, Captain Stokes, an ex-army officer, was a tall man of military bearing. He was quartered in the Shelbourne Hotel along with other civic officers who came with the Lord Mayor. A few “good fellows” made an attempt to get him completely under the influence of the “rosy god.” They invited him to a supper party, and installed one of their best topers as chairman. They knew he could imbibe much whiskey before he succumbed to its intoxicating influence. Captain Stokes was requested to take tumbler after tumbler of toddy, in order to keep up with the chairman, and he responded to the requests. Late in the night the chairman and others showed the effect of the potations, but Captain Stokes was as “sober as a judge.” The chairman, addressing him, said he thought no Englishman could take so much whiskey without being affected by it. “Oh,” said the Captain, “I am a County Mayo man

Two Great African Travellers At The Savage Club

On the 7th June, 1893, the Savage Club entertained Mr. W. M. Stanley, the celebrated African traveller, at dinner in the Criterion. There was a large number of members and guests present. Another great African traveller was present as one of my guests, namely, Commander Verney Lovett Cameron, R.N., C.B. There were many distinguished men at this dinner, including Sir Charles Russell, K.C., M.P., afterwards Lord Chief Justice; Jerome K. Jerome, Heniker Heaton, M.P., of Post Office reform fame; Sir A. K. Rollit, M.P., who married a dowager duchess; Harry Furness, the humorist; Squire Barcroft (now a Knight), Lord Headley, Sir D. Solomons, Count Vander Steen, Sir Philip Magnus, General Ford, etc.

One of the most amusing after-dinner speeches I ever heard was made by Lionel Brough, the comedian. Stanley had recently returned from his last visit to “Darkest Africa.” He had published an account of his expedition, and had given a list of the crew and carriers, etc., whom he had engaged. Brough caricatured the list of employees in a very amusing way. He said that he, too, had been to South Africa (which was true), and equipped his vessel with a skipper, mate, two sailors and 24 stewards, the latter corresponding to the 24 Zanzibari Stanley had shipped. Whilst all present laughed heartily, Stanley maintained a grave face. He rose from his seat, and, leaning against the wall, glared at Brough.

Before the dinner commenced I was introduced to Mr. Stanley (he was not then a Knight) by Commander Cameron. He was at first impassive, but the moment I mentioned that I was a great friend of Surgeon Parke, who had been with him in Africa, he became greatly animated, and we conversed about him for several minutes. “But for Parke,” said Stanley, “I might not now be alive.”

Thomas Heazle Parke had studied for his profession in the School of Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and was a favourite pupil of mine in its chemical department. Having entered the Army Medical Staff, he served in the Nile campaign for the rescue of General Gordon. He crossed Africa with Stanley in his expedition to relieve Emin Pasha.

Parke brought me a specimen of reddish coloured water taken from a lake in Central Africa. Several scientists in London endeavoured to obtain it from him, but he determined to keep it for my examination. It proved to be the densest water ever examined, containing far more solid matter in solution than is present in the dense water of the Dead Sea in Palestine.

Surgeon Parke received many honours and presentations. In appearance he was very good-looking, his face grave but kindly. He died suddenly whilst a guest of the Duke of St. Albans. I took a part in getting a statue of him erected in Leinster Lawn, Dublin.

I think the journey of Commander Cameron across the vast extent of Africa is more remarkable than any of the journeys of other travellers in the Dark Continent. No one else crossed the vast continent from side to side through its central regions - a distance of nearly 5,000 miles. It is also remarkable that he had no white companions in his exploration.

Cameron told me that on his return from his first journey in Africa, he strongly pressed upon the Government of the day the desirability of proclaiming a protectorate over the Congo and other regions unappropriated by European powers. A few forts were all that it was necessary to erect. His advice was not taken, and regions which he and other British explorers traversed are now largely in possession of Belgium and Germany.

After the banquet at the Criterion, Cameron and I went to the Club House, Adelphi Terrace, where we met another of our name in the person of J. Macdonald Cameron, M.P. After our chat, we sallied forth for our temporary homes, and as I was the senior of the three, the other two escorted me to Morley’s Hotel, where I always put up in London when not staying at a friend’s house. On our way we discussed the subject of the Clan Cameron and their heroic deeds.

Macdonald Cameron was born in Scotland, Commander Cameron (a relative of mine) in England, and I made my first appearance in Ireland. “It does not matter,” said the Commander, “where we were born, for the Camerons are a nation in themselves!” It was not very long after that night that the Commander met with a fatal accident whilst hunting. He was one of the most brilliant men I have ever known, and his linguistic attainments were wonderful.

Cameron received many decorations, medals, and presentations. **

Two Dinner Parties and a Supper on the Same Night.**

In 1895 the British Medical Association met in London. I was invited to dine with a celebrated Irish surgeon, Sir William M’Cormac, who resided in Harley Street. On the morning of the day on which Sir William’s dinner was to take place I received a telegram from the Duke of Abercorn, inviting me to dinner on the same evening at 8-15 o’clock.

As the dinner hour in Harley Street was 6 o’clock, in order that the guests might leave early for an entertainment in the Imperial Institute, I accepted the Duke’s invitation. I showed the telegram to Sir William, who said, “We shall be going to the Imperial Institute soon after 8 o’clock.” At 8-15 o’clock p.m. I arrived at Hampden House, Green Street, and found a large party assembled. I sat next to the Marchioness of Londonderry at dinner, and had a chat with her. When I had last seen her in Dublin she was very pale and had been for some time unwell. I was, therefore, pleased to see that she had a good colour and appeared to enjoy excellent health.

The Conservative Party had in that year come into power, and that distinguished nobleman, Earl Cadogan, had been appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. I remarked to Lady Londonderry that there had been a general belief in Dublin that Lord Londonderry would again he Viceroy. She said, “We had the offer.” At that time the English properties of the Marquis, comprising extensive coal fields, were yielding but little revenue in consequence of strikes; but I was glad to learn that the revenue from their Irish estate was maintained. Lord Londonderry’s hospitality when he was Lord Lieutenant was very great, and probably he did not care to incur a repetition of his former large expenditure when Governor of Ireland.

After the retirement of the ladies, I found myself next Mr. Beit, the South African millionaire, and a director of the Rhodesia Company. He gave me a few particulars of his career which were interesting. In early life he went to South Africa on account of his health. He died in the prime of life, unmarried. He bequeathed three-quarters of a million for the purpose of extending railways in South Africa.

Mr. Beit conveyed Mr. Wrench, one of the guests (now the Right Hon. Frederick Wrench, P.C., Estates Commissioner), and myself in his carriage to the Imperial Institute. The other guests also went there, together with the Duke and Duchess. About 12 o’clock we left the Institute, and on my invitation Mr. Beit and Mr. Wrench accompanied me to the Savage Club, Adelphi Terrace, where we supped. It was nearly 2 o’clock a.m. when Mr. Beit, who all the time had his carriage in waiting, left Mr. Wrench and myself at our respective locations.

This was the first and last occasion on which I had been present at two complete dinner parties on the same day, although I have often gone from one dinner party to another on the same day whilst both were proceeding at, or nearly at, the same time.

As I have so often referred to dinners, it may not be inappropriate to refer to the custom of proposing toasts. Toasting, or taking wine with one another, as symbolical of friendship, began to decline after the accession to the throne of the late Queen Victoria.

At the Court dinners of the Queen it was not etiquette for a guest to invite the Queen to take wine with him, and it was never the custom for ladies to invite gentlemen to join them in their libations.

The custom at Court dinners is imitated at the festivities of the “Upper Ten,” and gradually creeps down to lower circles of society.

In polite society it was usual to ask the lady, requested to take wine with a gentleman, what kind she preferred, and both to drink the kind she indicated. It was said that when such a query was addressed to Irish ladies, they always replied “Port, if you please. ”

At private dinners toasting has almost completely fallen into disuse. It is not much in evidence at public dinners except when used in proposing such toasts as “The King,” “The Navy and Army,” or to specially honoured guests.

In my time there has been a great change in the relative quantities of sparkling and still wines used at public dinners. Formerly about equal quantities of champagne and all the others (sherry, hock, port, claret, etc.) were used. Now at least four-fifths of the wine consumed is champagne, and sometimes champagne alone is produced.

During the last 30 years the price of champagne has increased, and that of the best kinds of claret has decreased.

It was not unusual some years ago to finally serve whiskey, sugar, lemon peel, and hot water, and to wind up with “toddy” (punch) at a feast at which champagne, claret, port, etc., had been drunk.

Sixty years’ experience of dinner parties enables me to state that cases of inebriety at them are becoming rarer and rarer. **

A Huge Dinner Party.**

On the 7th June, 1888, I was present at a banquet in the Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Masonic Institution for Orphan Girls. More than 1,600 Freemasons were present at the banquet, and all parts of the vast building (excluding the floor and orchestra, where the diners plied their knives and forks), were filled with ladies and Freemasons as spectators of the proceedings.

The Prince of Wales, Grand Master, presided, having at his right hand the King of Sweden, to whom I had the honour of being presented. I had a good seat, low down on the orchestra, and not far from the Royal personages, which was due to my being the guest of Colonel Shadwell Clarke, Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge of England.

It was a very striking scene when, in response to the toast of the Prince of Wales, all the diners and spectators rose and waved their serviettes and handkerchiefs, whilst cheers resounded from all parts of the vast building. The King delivered his speech in faultless English, but he excited much amusement by kissing the Prince on both cheeks. The Prince, however, was accustomed to this Continental mode of salutation, but he did not repeat it on the King’s cheeks when proposing his health.

After this remarkable banquet, I went to a conversazione given by the *Salon – *a society of literary, dramatic, and artistic people-at the Water Colour Painters’ Hall, Piccadilly. There I saw many distinguished people, to a few of whom I was introduced. **

The Earl Cadogan and an Historic Banquet, 13th March, 1897.**

It was my good fortune to be invited to the most splendid banquet probably ever given in Ireland. The occasion was the celebration of the 60th year of the reign of the late Queen Victoria. The host was Earl Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant, whose hospitality has never been surpassed. The scene of the banquet was St. Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle, which was decorated in a manner indicative of cost and taste. The food and wine were such that the most critical *gourmand *or *gourmet *could take no exception to.

At the dinners given in Dublin Castle strict adherence to precedence is rarely observed, but on this occasion the guests were placed at the tables according to their rank. On the right of His Excellency sat the Lord Chancellor of England, on his left the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Why should the English Lord Chancellor take precedence in Ireland of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland? This is a real injustice to Ireland.

The most striking feature of this great anniversary banquet was the extremely large number of titled persons at it. There were the two Lord Chancellors, the Dukes of Devonshire and Abercorn, the Marquises of Ormonde, Downshire, and Dufferin; the Earls of Pembroke, Huntingdon, Fingal, Cork, Granard, Drogheda, Arran, Belmore, Mayo, Donoughmore, Ranfurly, Annesley, Kenmare, Erne, Limerick, Gosford, Carysfort, Rosse, Courtown, Bandon, Castlestuart, and Earl Roberts; Viscounts Doneraile, Powerscourt, Southwell, De Vesci, Monck, Avonmore, Duncannon, and Chelsea; Barons Louth, Crofton, Ventry, Rathdonnell, Castletown, Inchiquin, Ashtown, Greville, Farnham, Castlemaine, Emly, Massy, Monteagle, Ardilaun, Cloncurry, Bellew, Deramore, De Freyne, Dunleath, Rossmore, Athlummy, Lurgan, Langford, de Robeck; Lords Maurice Fitzgerald and Arthur Hill; the Hon. O. Cuffe and Hon C. Crofton. There were eight baronets, two of them Privy Councillors, and nine other Privy Councillors, a K.C.B., a K.C.M.G., two knights who were also C.B.’s, 14 knight bachelors, and seven Companions of the Bath.

There were seven judges of the High Court, and a great many high officials, ecclesiastics, military men, high sheriffs, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, heads of colleges, etc. Thus it will be seen that in this distinguished gathering, comprising 251 persons, there were two Lord Chancellors, two dukes, three marquises, 22 earls, eight viscounts, 23 barons, two lords - a total of 62 noblemen. There were few present who had no prefix or affix to their names.

The banquet took place on Saturday night, and on the following Monday I imitated it in a very small way by giving a dinner party, at which, amongst others, I had the honour of entertaining the following:- The Duke of Abercorn, K.C.; the Earl of Rosse, K.P.; the Earl of Mayo, Sir Henry Bellingham, Bart.; Mr. Justice Ross, Sir Andrew Reed, K.C.B.; Sir Christopher Nixon, Bart., now Vice-Chancellor National University; Colonel Pratt Saunders, D.L.; Surgeon-General Preston, Sir Arthur Vicars, Ulster King-at-Arms; Sir George Duffey, President of the Royal College of Physicians; Dr. James Little, President of the Royal Academy of Medicine; Dr. Stafford, L.G.B.; Dr. Kraus, of Carlsbad (a celebrated physician); Mr. A. D. Kennedy, Major Maunsell, Mr. C. Thompson, Mr. J. M. Gerrard, Mr. J. D. Gerrard, and my sons. My musical friends, Dr. Power O’Donoghue, Mr. Charles Kelly, Mr. John Horan, Mr. Cox, and Mr. A. Williams, kindly dined also, and contributed by their excellent music to the pleasure of the evening. The Earl of Mayo sang in great style “The Widow Malone.”

The Duke and the Earl of Mayo were guests of Lord and Lady Cadogan on the night of my dinner. There was one at the Castle at which the Duchess of Abercorn and the Countess of Mayo were present. That their husbands under such circumstances had come to my dinner party I felt to be a great compliment. General Viscount Frankfort, Sir David Harrel, Sir W. Kaye, and the President of the Royal College of Surgeons, who had accepted invitations to my dinner, dined instead at the Castle, as I presume the invitation to the dinner was regarded as a “command.” My party did not break up until long past 12 o’clock, and when the Duke and Lord Mayo reached the Castle they found the Lord Lieutenant waiting up for them. **

Presentation To Lord Cadogan**

Lord Cadogan was a very popular Viceroy. I often heard Nationalists expressing respect for him and appreciation of his services to Ireland. It was mainly through his influence that light railways were formed in Ireland. No Viceroy exceeded him in the dispensation of hospitality. Kind and affable, he yet is dignified. He possesses a great sense of humour.

At a banquet on the occasion of the congress of the Royal Institute of Public Health, in 1899, at which, as President, I presided, I was venturesome enough to say, referring to His Excellency, that if he had not been born in the high social class which he adorned, he would probably have been a great comedian.

On resigning the viceroyalty, which he had held for the long period of seven years, a presentation was made to him. Whilst in office he was sounded as to whether or not he would receive a presentation, but he declined to accept one. The presentation was in the form of a magnificent piece of plate manufactured by Messrs. West & Son, Dame Street, Dublin; a portrait of himself painted by Mr. Solomon, and an illuminated address containing the names of the subscribers, comprising persons of various political and religious opinions.

The following deputation proceeded to the Earl’s mansion, Chelsea, to make the presentation -Lord Iveagh, Lord Blyth, Sir James Henderson, Sir Lambert Ormsby, Alderman Cotton, D.L., Percy Bernard, D.L.,** **Henry Hunt, B.L., and myself.

The chair was taken by Lord Iveagh, and nearly all the members of Lord Cadogan’s family were present.

At the request of the deputation, I made some remarks to Lord Cadogan expressive of the esteem in which he was held in Ireland during the long period of his viceroyalty, and concluded by reading an address to him signed by the Earl of Shaftesbury as chairman of the presentation committee. His Lordship replied in eloquent language, after which a presentation was made to Lady Cadogan. We were entertained at luncheon, and enjoyed a most agreeable afternoon. **

A Generous Landlady**

In 1895 I was invited by the town authorities of Rhyl, North Wales, to be present as “their principal guest” at the opening of their marine lake and new waterworks.

The function took place on Whit Monday. A procession of the members of the local Council was formed at the Town Hall; and, headed by a band of the Volunteers, we proceeded to the lake. It had been formed by excavating a large area near the sea, which supplied the artificial lake with salt water, which was not sufficiently deep to drown anyone who might fall into it. A large number of boats were on the lake; a procession of them was formed, and we were rowed round the lake two or three times. Almost on starting, one of the town councillors, leaning too far over the side of the boat, fell into the water, to the great amusement of the spectators.

There was a banquet in the evening held in the principal hotel in Rhyl. I was placed at the right hand of the chairman, and found that I was down in the programme for a speech. I felt that I was expected to refer to all that had been done to make Rhyl a first-class health resort, and I did my best to fulfil that expectation.

Before the dinner took place I was introduced to the proprietress of the hotel-a comely lady of ample, but not excessive, proportions. During my speech I referred to her in complimentary terms, not omitting a comment on her physical charms. I was, at the time, unaware that she was listening to my speech from a point of vantage invisible to me.

My remarks made a favour-able impression on her, for at the conclusion of the banquet she assured me that henceforth I should regard the hotel as a second home. I could live in it as long as I chose, but under no circumstances should I be allowed to pay for my maintenance as far as food and lodging were concerned.

In the lapse of time, should all the sources of my income fail, it is pleasant to know that I shall have a home, even a better one than I now possess, for whilst the latter entails expense, my Rhyl abode will be a costless haven of rest. **

A Chat with the Queen of Roumania.**

One of my most pleasing reminiscences is that of having a long chat with the Queen of Roumania, *nee *Pauline Elizabeth Ottilie Louise, daughter of the late Prince Hermann of Weid, well known by her *nom de plume *of Carmen Sylvia.

In 1890 the Queen visited Dublin. Her Majesty having intimated her intention of visiting the City Hall, I received an urgent message from the Lord Mayor to be present on the occasion. Accordingly, I was at the City Hall when she arrived and assisted the Lord Mayor to receive her. There were very few present. Her Majesty was shown everything likely to interest her, including some of the Old Charters, granted to the Corporation. She was invited to take tea at the Mansion House, and accepted very graciously the invitation. The Lord Mayor whispered to me, “You must come and help to entertain the Queen.

When I entered the Mansion House I found no one there except the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress. The former, Mr. Edward J. Kennedy, a tobacco manufacturer, was rather a younger man than is usual to find occupying so high a position as chief magistrate of a large city. He was of an amiable, but retiring disposition. The Lady Mayoress was quite a young woman and very good-looking. Her father, Mr. John O’Connor, had been Lord Mayor in 1885. Both the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were very nervous, and both requested me to do my best to entertain the Queen.

Shortly after my arrival the Queen and an attendant lady came and tea was dispensed. I found that the *onus probandi *of interesting Her Majesty rested with me. Fortunately I was not altogether ignorant of German literature or of the works, poetical and prose, of *Carmen Sylvia, *so we chatted on for nearly an hour. Then the Royal visitor, after some gracious and kindly words to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, left the Mansion House.

On the evening of the same day I posted to her a copy of my “Translation of Poems from the German,” the receipt of which she graciously acknowledged. The Queen was a tall, graceful woman, of some pretension to beauty. She spoke English correctly and fluently. Although she was at that time only 47 years of age her hair was quite white. This loss of colour may have been due to the loss of her only child-a daughter, whose early death appears to have deeply grieved her.

I know of no other foreign sovereigns who have visited Dublin, except the Empress of Austria, who hunted for several months in its neighbourhood, and Dom Pedro, Emperor of Brazil. The Empress was murdered in Switzerland. Dom Pedro, one very early morning, took a view of the city from the top of Nelson’s Pillar, Sackville Street. Poor Dom Pedro is one of the “monarchs retired from business,” to use a phrase of the historian, Doctor Doran. **

An Early Visit.**

One morning in January, shortly after six o’clock, I was informed that two countrymen desired to see me on important business. On interviewing them, I found that they had come from Ballyhaunis, County of Mayo, by the night mail, and that the police had indicated the way to my residence in Pembroke Road. “Well,” I said, “you are very early visitors.” One of them replied, “We feared your Honour might be going out early.”

The spokesman then proceeded to explain the object of their visit. Two brothers, merchants in Ballyhaunis, had sold immense quantities of guano to the farmers in the County of Mayo. The usual price was 18/- (90p) per cwt. A general falling-off in the produce of the land manured by the guano raised the presumption that it was adulterated. The farmers who bought it on credit refused payment. They were summoned before the Petty Sessions Courts, and orders for payment were made against them. From the decision of the Petty Sessions Courts several hundred appeals were taken to the Court of Quarter Sessions.

The spokesman produced a soda-water bottle filled with guano. “We want your honour to analyse this guano” (he termed it “juana”), “and to do us justice at next Swinford Quarter Sessions.” “Why did you keep this specimen of the guano?” I enquired. He replied that he had mixed some of it in water and tasted the solution! “It hadn’t a strong taste, and I thought it might be bad stuff, so I put some of it into this bottle and locked it up.”

I said that it would be expensive to bring me to Swinford, whereupon he produced a bag and poured out of it a large number of silver coins. They were threepenny pieces, sixpences, and shillings, but no larger coin, and in the aggregate exceeded £8. They were the result of a collection made after Mass at the Catholic churches on the previous Sunday.

I agreed to analyse the guano and to attend at the Quarter Sessions, for I knew by the appearance of the sample that it was adulterated. No matter how small the fee I would have taken up the case, for at that time I was analyst to the Royal Agricultural Society and the Anti-Adulteration Association - both long extinct. On parting, the spokesman declared they were moneyless. “Won’t your honour give us the price of our breakfast?” said he. I complied with his request, but subsequently learned that he was a “gombeen” man, or moneylender.

In the following February I proceeded by rail to Ballyhaunis, where the “gombeen” man received me. His car was not provided with springs, or, if it were, they were inelastic. The cold was intense, and the nearly twenty miles distant Swinford was reached after an unpleasant journey through a poor, uninteresting country. A large crowd had assembled at the town, and some of them lifted me off the car and carried me to the only hotel there, amid great cheering.

I enjoyed the usual dinner of the country hotel of the period, namely, chicken, bacon, and cabbage. I ordered a bottle of claret, which proved to be of excellent quality. Next day I noticed in my bill that only two shillings were charged for the wine. I asked the landlord had he a good stock of the claret. He replied that he had about 18 bottles, but that I was the only one who had ordered claret since he had taken the hotel over from a former proprietor several years before. I said that I would take his stock of claret at the price charged for the wine in my bill, and he gladly consented. It was a remarkably good wine, and worth more than the price paid for it.

On the following day the cases came before the County Court Judge, who reversed with costs the decisions of the Petty Sessions Courts. I proved that the guano was almost worthless. Only one case was tried, and to the others the principle of “like case like rule” was applied by consent of the defendants

It was nearly dark when I started for Ballyhaunis, but light soon radiated from all directions, for huge bonfires had been lighted to signalize “the victory.” I drove off amidst even greater cheering than greeted me on my arrival the previous evening. The vendors of the guano subsequently took an action against the Liverpool firm who had supplied the adulterated guano. The venue was laid in Galway, and my services were retained for the plaintiff. When the case came on for trial it did not reach a jury, the defendants having agreed to a settlement.

The Fertilizers Act has greatly lessened the sale of spurious and very inferior artificial manures and cattle foods. **

The Corinthian Club.**

On the 18th October, 1897, I invited a few friends to my house to discuss a proposal to establish a club in Dublin on the lines of the Savage Club in London. It was agreed to make the attempt, and soon after a committee was formed comprising the following:- President - Sir Charles A. Cameron, M.D., F. R. C .S.; Vice-Presidents - The Right Hon. the Earl of Mayo, the Right Hon. Lord Bellew, the Right Hon. Joseph Meade, P.C., LL.D.; Honorary Treasurer - W. Alexander Craig, J.P., M.R.I.A.; Committee-Professor Charles B. Ball, M.D., F.R.C.S.; W. M. Battersby, J.P.; A. H. Benson, M.D., F.R.C.S.; G. D. Burtchaill, LL.B., B.L.; J. P. Dwyer, B.L.; Michele Esposito, J. J. Farrell, Henry Hunt, B.L.; Earl of Portarlington, Lieut. Wyon, R.N.; Musical Director - Dr. Jozé; Honorary Secretaries - Thomas M. Gerrard, Rev.

By the end of the year, 289 members were enrolled, and by the 18th May the number had risen to 382, including 197 whom I had proposed.

Mr. Nesbitt, soon after the formation of the club, resigned, and left Dublin to reside in England, where he died. Mr. Henry Hunt, B.L., took his place, and after some years Mr. Gerrard, who had given much of his time to the club, resigned, and took the higher position of a vice-president. Mr. Hunt has for a long time past been the mainspring of the club’s doings, and has devoted much of his time in securing the highest class music at the club dinners. Several young ladies, amateur vocalists, have, so to speak, made their *debut *at the club’s entertainments, and have become professionals.

Mr. Alexander Craig, the treasurer for many years, possesses considerable poetic ability, and wrote many excellent lines for the menu cards. He has been succeeded by our present energetic treasurer, Mr. Charles Smith.

We determined to open the dining campaign of the club by having a large dinner party. It was held in the great hall of the Antient Concert Rooms, which, though at considerable expense, was made suitable for a dining room. About 200 were present, and several hundred ladies, arriving when the speeches were commencing, crowded the galleries and orchestra. There were many noblemen, judges, high legal officials, and public functionaries present.

Field-Marshal Earl Roberts had been one of the earliest guests invited to the feast. He had replied that on the day named for the dinner he would be a guest of the Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford, at Curraghmore. I wrote to the Field-Marshal suggesting that he might be able to postpone his visit to Curraghmore until the Monday following the banquet, which was fixed for Saturday.

The Earl promptly replied that he had acted on my suggestion, and had written to Lady Waterford on the subject. Exactly one week before the dinner Major Streatfeild, the Earl’s military secretary, called upon me to state that the Lord Chancellor and the benchers had invited the Field-Marshal to dinner to meet His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant on the day fixed for the Corinthian dinner. “You know,” said the Major, “that is a kind of ‘command,’ and the Earl will have to go. I am sorry, for I shall have to accompany him, and would much prefer to dine with the Corinthian Club.”

I said that I felt sure the Earl would not disappoint the many persons who were looking forward with pleasure to meeting him at the Club dinner, and that I would communicate with him at once on the subject. I accordingly wrote to the Field-Marshal the substance of my conversation with the Major, and promptly received a reply to the effect that he had declined the Lord Chancellor’s invitation on the ground that he had already accepted one from the Corinthian Club. “Bravo, Lord Roberts!” I exclaimed, when I read his letter. “You are the only man in the army who would not break his promise under such circumstances.”

When I received this letter it was the Sunday before the day of the two dinners - the Benchers’ and the Corinthians’. The Right Hon. Gerald Balfour, Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, was in London, but, I ascertained, was expected lack in Dublin the next day. I suspected that he would find on his arrival an invitation to the Benchers’ dinner, and that although he had accepted the club’s invitation, he might feel constrained to accept the Benchers’ instead. I wrote to him stating that Lord Roberts had been invited to the Benchers’ dinner and had declined, and that I felt sure he could act like his Lordship.

On Monday morning I received a letter from him stating that he had received the invitation I had referred to, and had declined it.

Both Lord Roberts and the Chief Secretary made excellent speeches. The latter, referring to the club, said that he had often heard about united Ireland, but never knew where it was until he dined with the Corinthians.

When Lord Roberts had concluded his speech, I asked Lord Bellew, who sat near to me, would he second my proposal to “suspend standing orders” in order that I might propose Lord Roberts as an honorary member of the club. He replied in the affirmative. I accordingly moved the suspension of standing orders, which, being seconded, was carried unanimously.

I then made a short speech, remarking that the Field-Marshal’s coat was covered with so many decorations that it was difficult to find a place on it for another one. I then took off my club badge and affixed it to his coat. There followed general applause. Lord Roberts then made his second speech, in which he said that he felt as proud of the decoration he had received from the Corinthians as he did of any of the others which he had received. Great applause followed the speech.

It is certain that no General of the British Army was more popular in the army and out of it than Earl Roberts.

The club rejoice when any of their members receive an honour, and entertain him at dinner to celebrate the event. The honours dinners have been very numerous, as may be seen by the following list of the entertained:- Police Commissioner Jones, Right Hon. Sir James B. Dougherty, K.C.B.; Sir Heffernan Considine, C.B.; Sir George Holmes, K.C.V.O.; Sir Plunkett O’Farrell, Sir John Lentaigne, Sir Charles Ball, Sir Joseph Redmond, Mr. Justice Dodd, Judge Todd, Right Hon. Charles O’Connor, Attorney-General (now Master of the Rolls); Mr. E. R. Bate, Solicitor to the Post Office; the Recorder (now the Right Hon.) Thomas Lopdell O’Shaughnessy, the Attorney-General (the Right Hon. Ignatius J. O’Brien), the Solicitor-General (Hon. Thomas F. Molony), Sir Malachy Kelly (Chief Crown Solicitor), Mr. Gerald Byrne (President of the Incorporated Law Society), Mr. Henry Hunt, B.L., and myself.

The Saturday dinners were first held in the Hotel Metropole, Sackville Street; next in Maple’s Hotel, Kildare Street; for several years in the Dolphin Hotel; and lastly and at present in the Gresham Hotel.

For some years the club dined every Saturday night, except in the summer months. Towards the latter part of this period the attendance one night might be very good and in another very small. This was chiefly due to the fact that there was springing up a desire amongst the members to have some celebrity at every dinner, and when it was known that no particular guest was expected, they did not attend, as a rule, numerously. Gradually the Saturday night dinners died out, and were replaced by large banquets held at irregular periods, but generally with some attraction. The largest dinner ever held by the club was that in honour of Madame Melba, and at which 350 members and guests were present.

The Corinthian Club has entertained, chiefly at dinner, but occasionally at luncheon, a great number of distinguished persons, amongst others the following -Earl Cadogan (twice), Earl of Dudley, and Earl of Aberdeen-all three representatives of the Sovereign in Ireland; Lady Aberdeen, in recognition of the great efforts she has made to combat disease; Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., the great chemical discoverer; Colonel Pellatt, C.V.O., who brought a Canadian regiment to London at his sole expense; Admiral Lord Charles Beresford; Sir Ernest Shackleton, who so nearly succeeded in reaching the South Pole; the motorists who competed in the Gordon-Bennett motor race; the aviators who had a demonstration at Stillorgan, and one of whom, Mr. Grace, subsequently perished. General Lord Grenville, a popular Commander of the Forces, was entertained on two occasions.

It is, however, chiefly those who distinguish themselves in music and the drama who have been entertained by the club. The Moody-Manners Company are prime favourites, and have frequently accepted their hospitality, and have always most willingly added to the pleasure of the entertainment by their beautiful vocalism. The Carl Rosa Company, the Italian Opera Company, the Quinlan Opera Company, the Phillips’ Concert Troupe, Madame Clara Butt, Madame Melba, Signor Caruso, Mr. H. B. Phillips (a Corinthian concert party, which included Madame Nicholls, Mr. Ben. Davies, Mr. Robert Radford, and Mr. Hamilton Harty), Mr. John M’Cormack have honoured the club by accepting their hospitality.

On the 3rd May, 1910, a well-attended dinner, in honour of Irishwomen who had achieved distinction in the domain of literature, was held. Mrs. Green, wife of the historian of that name, and Mrs. Thurston, author of several successful novels, made speeches. The club is non-political, but Mrs. Green’s eloquent oration might properly have been delivered at a Home Rule club; nevertheless, everyone present was interested by, and applauded, it. Mrs. Thurston made a speech in excellent taste.

By the death of Mrs. Thurston, in 1911, Ireland lost one of its most successful novelists. She had not attained to middle life. She informed me that she received £16,000 from the sale of her most famous novel, “John Chilcote, M.P.,” of which £12,000 came from America.

Amongst the actors who have been the guests of the Club I may mention Sir H. Beerbohm Tree, Mr. Edward Terry, Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Sir George Alexander, Mr. and the late Mrs. Cyril Maude, Mr. and Mrs. Forbes Robertson, Mr. And Mrs. Martin Harvey, Mr. L. Irving, Mr. George Grossmith, Mr. Wyndham, Mr. Lewis Waller, Miss Julia Neilson, and Mr. H. Irving.

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