Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-07

AT banquet in London, May ODD, Lord Clar
cndon presiding, Miss Kate Field responded as
follows to the toast of "The L1diesl'
When one of England's most distinguished
physicians first urged me TO return thanks for
the toast of "Ihe Ladies" ! declined. | never
had done such thing, and thought that never
could. Then remembered that to the skil(ul
treatment of this same physician | owed the
restoration of that "most excellent thing in wo-
| man. a voice-which, il not slow" at present,
will be shOrtIy-and it seemed ungratelul not to
make some slight return for so signal service
The claim was none the less valid for being in
direct; and, as this is the age of revolution, as
humanity is stronger than caste or sex, as roy
atty shakes hands with democracy by ack nowl
edging allegiance to the republic Of letters,
asked myself why, after all, women should not
be heard as well as seen at public dinners. ID is
true that an august body of men-of course
can mean none other than the house of com
mons-quote St. Paul as though saints were
their perennial guides, philosophers and friends
and declare that women should keep silence
conveniently forgetting that st. Paul is address
ing the women of CorinSh, according TO the law
of A. ID. 50; that elsewhere he contradicts him
| self; and that the proper reading is "Lct your
women keep silence in the churches" If hon
| orable Nj. P.s persist in proving their
| intimate acquaintance with scripture by
| mIsquoling it when they desire to keep love
| ly woman in her proper sphere, they should first
| deScry strangers in the ladies' gallery, and order
| their summary election. But now, although at
| this post-prandial hour we are all supposed to
| be incapable of reasoning let us try to be logical
Women sing in public, act in public, read in
publc-why, then, should they not speak
Why should it be considered femme for wom
an TO interpret Shakespeare's ideas and unfem-
mime tolintepret her 0wn-prOvided she has any
Ii seems 10 me that if public speaking be toler-
ated at all-which is doubtful especially at din
nerS-lt 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 Americansm,
''stumped creation and impressed the world
with their views ON all subjects; but, as there is
as much sex in mind as there is in matter, we
have seen everything in profile. Now, an artist
will tell you that two sides of the same face are
exactly like. pray you, therefore, let us have
the other profile, whereby we may see the entire
face, gaze into telltale eyes, and thus get at the
soul Of all things. Taking for granted all
that is known and said about women, they
ought TO make more attractive speakers
than men. | do not think they are, so far: but
they ought to be, and these ale my data. Wo-
men are born more graceful they have the great
Gift of beauty and the great privilege Of dress.
Hence, they are a greater qualification to the eye,
and the majority of people hear with their eyes,
Women are more impulsiye, more sympathetic,
more persuasive therefore are they more likely
TO touch the heart; and when you have made
du huultICt lbtl, nlil iuc Ddllt Is Won. fray,
who does the greater part OF speaking in private
MIR. or Mrs. Caude2 Were a man, should
hail public speaking as blessing in disguise
When Vesuyius is in a state of eruption, Etna is
| quiet. Fluency Of diction is desideTatum in
| speaking. Ii tradition be correct women are
not lacking in this requirement. Indeed II has
been seriously questioned whether women par
take of celestial joys, for the reason that once
upon u 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
t his respect much further than men, for Eve was
the original orator. 1t is TO her persuasive
pleading that we owe all knowledge. Miriam
was among the first to prophecy; Deborah was
elevated TO the dignity of Judge of Israel I;
Greek oracles proceeded from the lips OF
women; and the greatest orators of Hell
| las 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, Cornea that the Gracchi owed
| their eloquence. And, if modern examples are
| asked for, can only reply that not many eve.
nings since heard six Englishwomen-the ma
| lorlty of them young, and two of them very
| pretty-speak at Hanover square rooms in a
| manner that might be initiated with advantage
| by the gentlemen in the house Of commons, who
| recently referred 10 them as creatures of senti-
ment. II it be allowed, then, that women may
| speak in public, IL seems to me no more than
| just that one Of my sex should return hearty
thanks TO the managing committee of this din
ner for treating them as though they were moi
too good for human natures daily food. IL is
useless TO talk of the equality Of the sexes SO
long as men sit down 10 turtle soup in one room
and women stand up 10 tea and sandwiches in
another, waiting with becoming humility fol
admission to a Barmecide feast of reason and
flow of soul. never knew woman who did
not protest against senseess custom which dc
prives public dinners OF half their utility as well
as all their brlliancy; for as the object of these
dinners is the raising of money, their managers
show little discernment IN ignoring sisters Vi
charity who, in my country, are as effective in
opening the purses as they are in touching the
hearts of their lay brothers