The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-08-31
Miss Hate Field at a London
RslnOuet.

Miss kIte Field at ~ London
Banquet.
AT the fourth biennial festival of the London
Hospital for Throat Diseases, under the presi-
dency Of the Earl of Clarendon, the toast of
"The Ladies" was responded to by Miss Kate
Field, of Boston, who said:
"When one Of Eogland's most distinguished
physicians first urged me to return thanks for
the toast last given, l declined. I had never
done such n thing, and thought that never
could. Then remembered that to the skillful
treatment of this same physician l owed the
restoration of that "mos, excellent thing in
woman" vJice,-which, If not "iow' at pres.
emit, will be shortly,-and it seemed rngrateful
not to make some slight return for signal
service The claim was none the less valid for
being indirect; and, as this Is the age Of revolu.
ton. as humanity is stronger than caste or sex,
az Royalty shakes hands with Democracy by
acknowledging allegiance to the republic of let
ters, ask myself why, after all, women should
not be heard as we'll rs seen ut public dinners.
It is true that the august body of mcn-of
course can mean none other than the House of
Commons,--quote st. Paul as though, saints were
there perennial guides philosophers and friends,
and declare that women should keep silence, con.
veniently forgetting that ST. Paul is addressing
the women of Corinth according to the law of
A. d. SO; that elsewhere he contradicts him
self; and the proper reading is, " Let your wo.
men keep silence in churches" Ii the honorable
NJ. P's persist in proving their intimate acquaint-
ance with Scripture by misquoting it when they
desire to keep lovely woman in her proper
sphere, they should first descry strangers in the
ladies' gallery, and order their summary ejec.
ton. But now, although Mt this post prandal
hour we are III supposed 10 he Incapable re ,son.
ing, let try to be logical. Women sing in
public, act in public, read in public-why, then,
chorlS ,l.y h,,a : ho
sidered feminine FOR woman to interpret her
own--provided she has aTy. 1t seems to me if
public speaking be tolerated at al-which is
doubtful, especially ut dInners-it should be
from the lips of women, and for this reason
Ever since the subsistence of chaos men have
been talking For 5000 years at least they have,
to use an Americani-m, " -tumped" creation and
impressed the world with their views on all sub.
jects but as the is much sex in mind IN
there is in matter, we have seen everything in
profile Now, An artist will tell you that no two
sides of the same face Is alike | pray you
therefore, let us have the other profile, whereby
We may see the entire fac, vaze into the tell.
tale eyes, aud thus get AT the soul of all things.
Taking for granted all that Is known and said
about women, they ought to make more nttrac-
tive speakers than men. | do not think they
are, so far but they ought to be, and these are
my data. Women are born more graceful; they
have the great gift of beauty, and the great priv
ilege of dress. Hence, they are greater graft.
fication to the eye, and the majority of the PEG.
pie hear with their eyes. Women are more i'm.
pulsive; more sympathetic, more persuasive !;
therefore they more likely to touch the heart
and, when you have an audience feel, half the
battle ia won. Pray, who does the greater part
OF the speaking in private-Mr. or Mrs. Caudle
We're I man would nail public speaking as a
blessing in disguise. When Vesuvius is In q
state of eruption, Etna is quiet. Fluency of
diction is deslderatum in speaking. If tradi.
ton be correct, women are not lacking in this
requirement. Indeed, it has been seriously
questioned whether women partake of celestial
Joys for the reason that once upon time there
was silence in heaven for the space of half an
hour. Then if precedent be required, women
can trace back their rights in this respect much
further than men, for Eve was the original ora.
tor. 1t is to her persuasive bleeding that we owe
all knowledge. Miriam was among the first to
prophecy Deborah was elevated to the Dig ity
OF Judge of Israel; Greek oracles proceeded
from the lips of women, and the great orators of
Hellss did not scorn to be taught their art by
the sex they regarded with contempt. Socrates
learned rhetoric from Aspasia, and it was to
their mother, Cornelia, that the Gracchl owed
their eloquence Aud, if modern examples are
asked for. l can only reply that not many
evenings since heard six English women-the
majority Of them young, and two Of them very
pretty-speak at Hanover Square Rooms in
manner that might be initiated with advantage
by the gentlemen in the House of Commons,
who recently referred 10 them IA creatures OF
sentiment. If it be Flowed, the, that women
may speak IN public, i, seem. TO me no more
than Just that one OF my -ex should return
nearly thanks to the Managing Committee of
this dinner for creating them. as though they
were not too good for humau II ,ture's daily food.
1t Is useless to talk of the equ ity of the sexes
10 long as men sit down to turtle.soup in one
room, and women stand up to tea and sand.
witches in another, waiting with becoming hu.
mllity tor admission TO Bsrmeede feast If
reason and How OF soul. l never knew a woman
who did not protest against u senseless custom
which deprives public dinners of half their utili.
ty rs we'll az all their brillancy; for. ss the
object OF these dinners is the raising of money!.
their managers show little discernment in ivnor.
ing sisters of charity.s who, in my country, are
as effective in opening the purses as they are in
touching the hearts Of their lay brothers.
In conclusion, therefore, and in the name Of
the ladies, thank you for the cordial manner
in which the toast has been proposed and receiy.
cd, and trust tina. the Managing Committee may
never regret having recognized women as crea.
lures with appetitss.