LORDS AND LABOURERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 9

LORDS AND LABOURERS

A UNIQUE LUNCHEON,

t FAMOUS, CLUB'S GUESTS.

WORKERS SIT WITH PEERS.

APPRECIATION OF GOOD WORK.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "'"LONDON. April 8. The Carlton Club is usually regarded to be" "the - most - exclusive club in the world.".-: It madev. new ' - history last Saturday, by entertaining a number of workmen, • and thus showing its appreciation of the way in which its guests, :' ; ' numbering fifty-five; had carried out the difficult task of refacing the . club premises. London's atmosphere plays havoc with roost [of its historic buildings, and the refacing of the Carlton Club' was rendered necessary by- : the decay of the original Caen stone, of which the building was constructed. The 'face of the structure has. beeni redesigned by Sir Reginald Blorafield, and the elevation-is now totally different from .the - original one. The moment the guests were inside the lounge they were '■ set ;at their ease by members, who greeted them almost as if they w v •;? old fellow-members of the club. "Good morning, how are you " a monocled member said to a mason's labourer as he gripped him by the hand. This man cam© in his hobnailed boots arid working clothes. •; He had finished with his job at the club and was wording elsewhere, so that he had not had time to change his clothes. The men were taken to the cloakroom, where they hung their hats side by side with the silk hats of the members. \ Painters and peers, . carpenters and club men. bricklayers, masons, and their labourers sat side by side, partaking of the delicacies and choice wines for which the Carlton Club is famed, 'almost as much a* for the . political faith which it upholds. Although - separate tables had been reserved for the guests, members dined as usual in the same room, and among them was noticed the Marquis of Londonderry. ■: At each table the workmen were joined by members of the club. Viscount Younger sat with two foremen; on either side, and among others who joined the company were Lord Claud Hamilton. Lord Frederick Hamilton Sir Neville Jodrell, Mr. A. L. Allen,' and Mr. Francm I. Thomas. The gathering partook of the. nature of a happy family party.

Ale Preferred to Wine. ~ Although a choice selection of -wines was ottered, the guests, for the moat part, preferred the tankards of "nutbrown ale," but the opportunity of sampling a glass of the club's famous port for the toast of "The King*' was too good to be missed. Then came Jiqueur brandy and Corona cigars. The menu consisted of : Hors d'oeuvres, fried fillets of sole, tartar sauce, chicken and ham pie, roast sirloin of beef, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower,' new , potatoes, boiled golden syrup roll, dessert/coffee. After luncheon vicount . Younger said the committer thought the best plan to show their. appreciation of the way in which the work of refacing the club had been carried out wm to entertain the men to lunch—a very unusual thing in that building. -It was at first intended to have the luncheon in a room '/-. apart from the public dining room, - but ■it was found that no other room would accommodate the members.'' '■" •'.- •.;."-'■'•"•'■•■

"We also appreciated the fact," said Lord Younger, >'that you have ; been watuhing us dins in here for a very long period, and .we* Thought it very . much nicer ' that you should dine with us, so that : other members of the.dub who have been lunching exiguously at the othar end of the room might be witluus." : ~^ Viscount Younger coupled with' the toast the names of two foremen, : and Mr. Goodman, in response, said that thav would all look back upon that day with very great pride. . V

.;! Lord's Amusing Speech. r Lord Claude r Hamilton amused the guests by analysing : their thoughts while they had looked upon the interior of the club from the outside. " Some of you might make some remarkable « omments in regard to us. We are the most aristocrats and. the most exclusive club in the world, but we are not narrow-minded," sail! Lord Claud.'; " I can imagine some of you looking through the window at -a man rushing through a lot of newspapers and throwing them in a heap on the floor. Yui wondered what. could be the; matter with a man in that' frame of ; mind. It 'really moans he was a member,. who, the previous night, had made a speech in the House ,of Commons, and he was looking to see if he had been reported., (Laughter.) When you saw a venerable old gentleman /writing rapidly: you said, 'lcck ,st that old ; fellow writing; to his best girl.* But m reality ho ; was writ-' ing notes for an address on the relations between 'he sun and the moon. (Laughter.) within our i walls we ' have every :• kind of man. and, consolidated, we make life bright and / agreeable. That is K the reason ; why we are the most interesting and charming club in the world.""

A Toast Not on the List. The diners, however, could not- understand why, when it came to the toast of, " Our Guests," they all ; remained seated while the members of -the club were j upstanding. ; But ; they •; ;bagian :■■"..■ to appreciate this form of wishing good) health, and the luncheon came to a close in .; a manner which l must have pleased, even though may have startled, some members of ; the ;, club. :;■ -- A . workman, with a scarf around his , neck, had evidently ; been ':■ mindful ■ of; the duties imposed oh ' tihe % waiters;' and 'waitresses-. He rose to his feet and held up a: glass, of port. \ ■ ::'■' ' ;:," Gentlemen," he called, " let's ;> F*ye a toast ; for them that 'as been : waiting on us. 'Here goes," he concluded, apparently startled by the/ sound ;of his own voice : ringing }' through \ ' the ;" room, The reply came in loud, hearty British cheers. ; ; : : :p'-;yp. : ■'' ' ' ' '■'■ ;"'''::-'