The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-01-07
The Memory of the Departed.

AT this stage Of the proceedings, the Presi.
dent Of 1.-THE Homeless rose and said;
Ladies and Gentlemen THE list Of toasts is
now nearly exhausted. Only one remains,
the { ne appearing last on the list,-"The La.
dies" This toast is usually placed almost ut
the beginning or the list, and Is usually un-
ladies. In former days, this toast was some
times couched In the form OF ITO the Out
ward Bound" '.The Homeless" desired the
ladies to grace this whole occasion with their
presence, and we therefore took the liberty OF
placing It last on the list.
Before 1t IN offered. however, by my distin.
guished friend who has It In charge, / desire
TO offer to you 1.-THE memory Of the departed"
1t is not out Of place or time to think OF those
not now at our side,-who shave sought fair
er country, far away" 1t Is right to .
"Mix sobriety with wine
And honest mirth with thoughts divine"
and thoughts Of sadness, too. Let us stand
and, in solemn silence, drink to''The Memo
ry Of the Departed" s y
The Ladies.
Honorable Armistead Burt, proposed thi
toast, which was
REPLIED TO BY MR.. II. T. wARDLAw.
Mr.. President, Mr. Burt, Ladies' and Gentlemen:
Whatever experience ! may have had In
proposing to:the ladies, this Ia certainly my
first attempt ut responding for them, and I
approach the toast, which has been SO grace
ali that deep emotion, with all that mo'desty
and with all that sensitive shrinking 10
beautifully characteristic Of them when call
ed upon TO give an answer. Mr.. President
know not, I cannot divine, why should have
resent the ladies on this joyous occasion, for
OF all the manifold and varied virtues and
graces, OF all the beauties and excellencies Of
mind, body and soul that we know to be con.
tained in that one word woman, ! can lay
claim to only one-modesty and as that
modesty would interfere with the proper dis
charge Of my duty, l have with infinite eff
fort Invested myself OF 1t, and called upon
me on this trying occasion and with some-
thing OF the spirit Of the chivalric knights
OF old. J. have come 70 the rescue Of lovely
woman In distress and lowered my lance In
ceive anything more trying to the woman OF
the South, and Of Abbeville especially. than
to be called Upon TO open her mouth in
public speaking7 or her 1t Is true that she
Seeks to be good, but aims not to be greats:
4 woman's noblest station is retreat,
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight,
Domestic worth that shuns too strong a
light"
On behalf Of the ladies I thank If my fair
constituents will allow me-Ue thank MIR.
Burt for the handsome manner in which he
has proposed our health: but my fair friends
must permit me to say that I agree with Mr..
Burt who said II, and with all the gentlemen
who drank 1t, that woman Is heavens last
and best gift TO man, and l am fortunate In
not being forestalled by him in borrowing
from his favorlte bard, Tom Moore, who SO
sweetly sings the praises Of woman, the fol-
lowing lines:
10 woman, dear woman. whose form and
whose soul,
Are the life and the light Of each spell We
pursue;
Whether summed in the tropics or chilled at
the pole,
II woman be there, there is happiness too"
After the ladies had retired from the table
TO the reception rooms, the gentlemen spent
a few minutes giving and responding to vol.