History-Pranks in Rotary-Continued
Pranks could take many forms and on occasion involved Rotary guests. Rotarian Charlie Hepburn had a confectionery store on Jasper Avenue and on one occasion when the world famous girls' basketball team, The Grads visited the club, Charlie presented them with boxes of chocolate. Only when the generous young ladies offered some to the men at their tables was it discovered that they were filled with onions.
On another occasion (circa 1920) Sir Henry Drayton, a Federal Minister of Finance, was present to deliver an address. Suddenly Frank Dallison, who had dressed himself as a Chinese laundryman, burst in waving a bill for $2.65 which he said loudly was what Sir Henry owed him from a visit the year before. Sir Henry caught on and played right along. Hr loudly protested that he had no money. Whereupon the "laundryman" declared just as loudly that, as Minister of Finance, Sir Henry surely must have lots of it.
One thing is clear, Rotary meetings in the early days were far from dull affairs. Perhaps that is one of the reasons Rotary has thrived mightily in our city ever since.