Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-22
Mark Twain Responds to Toast on the
Rair Ray


The Washington Correspondents Club
held its anniversary on Saturday night
Mr.. Clemens, better known as Mark
Twain, responded to the toast, woman
the pride of the professions and the
Jewel Of ours" He said
Mr.. President: / do not know why |
should have been singled out to receive
the greatest distinction Of the evening
for so the Office Of replying to the toast
to woman has been regarded in every
age. [Applause | do not know why 1
have received this distinction, unless 1t
be that am a trine less homely than the
other members of the club. But, be this
at il may, Mr.. President, am proud Of
the position, and you could not have
chosen any one who would have accepted
| il more gladly, or labored with beartier
good will to do the subject justice, than
III. Because, sir, love the sex. Laugh
| teri | love all the women, SIR, irrs-
spective Of age or color.
Human intelligence cannot estimate
| what we owe to woman, sir. She sews
on our buttons [laughter], she mends our
| clothes laughter], she ropes us in at the
church fairs-she confides in US; she
tells us whatever she can 6nd out about
the little private affairs of the nsighbors
she gives us good advice, and plenty
of it-she gives us piece of her miRd,
sometimes-and sometimes all Of it-she
soothes our aching brows-she bears our
children. In all relations Of life, sir, it
is but just and grateful tribute to
woman to say Of her that she is brick.
[Great laughter
Wheresoever you place woman, sir
in whatsoever position or estate--she is
an ornament to that place she occupies,
and treasure to the world. Here Mr.
Twain paused, looked inquiringly at his
hearers and remarked that the applause
should come in at this point 1t came in.
Mr.. Twain resumed his eulogy.] Look
at Cleopatra look at Desdemona look
at Florence Nightingale look at Joan
of Arcl look at Lucretia Borgia Dis
appreciation expressed "Well," said
| Mr.. Twain, scratching his head doubt.
fully, suppose we let Lucretia slide
| Look at Joyce Hethl look at Mother
Eve / repeat, sir, look at the illus
trious names of history! Look at the
Widow Machree Look at Lucy Stone
Look at Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Look at George Francis Train
| [Great laughter. And, sir, / say with
bowed head and deepest veneration, look
at the mother of Washington She
raised boy that could not lie-could mo-
lie. Applause But he nerer had ans
chance. 1t might have been different
4 with him if he had belonged to news
paper correspondents club. Laughter
groans, Kisses, cries of "put him out
Mark looked around placidly upon hi
excited audience, and resumed.
repeat, sir, that in whatsoever posi-
ton you place woman she is an orna'
ment to society and treasure to the
world. As a sweetheart she has few
equals and no superiors-[ laughter j
as a cousin she is convenient; as {
wealthy grandmother, with an incurablt
dstemper, she is precious; as a we
nurse she has no equal among men
| Laughter.
| What, sir, would the people Of thil
earth be without woman2 They woulC
be scarce, sir. Then let us cherish be-
let US protect her-let us give her ou
support, our encouragement, our sym
pathy--ourselves, if we get chance
Laughter.
But, jesting aside, Mr.. President
woman is loveable, gracious, kind o
heart, beautiful-worthy of all respect
of all esteem, of all Difference. Not any
here will refuse to drink her healtf
right cordially, for each and every one
of us has personally known, and loved
and honored the very best one of then
all--his own mother [Applause.]