The herald., 1894-03-08
ENGLISH WOMEN SPEAKERS.
That Is to Say, Some Of Those who Do
Their Talking In Public.

That Is to Say, Some Of Those who Do
Their Talking In Public.
One of the most remarkable Of our
representative women speakers is the
Countess of Carlisle. who is exceedingly
lucid and at the same time 80 pleasant
that she will hold an audience entranced
for an hour and make it seem but five
minutes to her listeners. This she does
without note of any description. Un-
fortunately she is not at all strong and
cannot, therefore, take much part in pub
lie work. One of the most noticeable
women speakers we have Is just now out
Of England--the Countess of Aberdeen.
She is the president Of the Women's Lib
eral Federation and remains in that po-
sition in spite of her absence. She is an
admirable chairwoman, and ii is some
thing wonderful to see her manage the
great meetings over which she has to
preside every spring. Mrs. Gladstone
was the president Of the Women's Lib
eral Federation before the Countess of
Aberdeen, when the federation split over
the suffrage question.
Lady Henry Somerset is probably the
most fascinating speaker of the day. For
tho time, ut ali events, sine wins ali hear
ers by her supreme charm of manner and
her exquisite delivery. And even If you
entirely disagree with her views you yet
cannot resist her singularly winning per-
sonality. She is perfectly fluent and
maintains an easy, almost conversations
al, manner, while her English is so accu-
rate and her power Of grammatical con-
struction 80 completely under command
that her speeches, if taken down word
for word, would probably require very
littlo correction. She works up to eli
max, but gradually and almost imper-
ceptibly, and with SO subdued and pol
ished manner that her feminine listen
ers are surprised to find themselves with
wet eyes.
At the same time she has a quaint
sense of humor and will raise laugh
occasionally. But her power is reli-
gious pathos, and some of her speeches
professedly upon temperance really
shape themselves into eloquent essays
upon what it is, we believe, considered
the proper thing in these emotional
tricks to call 'the love of humanity"
She is adored by her followers, as is only
natural, being very royal in all her do
ings. Mrs. Massingberd of Gunby, for
years member of the executive board
of the British Women's Temperance as
sociation, of which Lady Henry is presi-
dent, is speaker of an entirely different
type-electric, passionate, exciting. She
makes most admirable lieutenant to
hal ofx lac ,,1 f.os.. l.
OF speaking being 30 absolutely different.
Mrs. Massingberd rouses her audience
again andsagain and achieves q climax
several times IN the course of O speech,
instead of steadily ascending to one to-
ward its close. She has the great gift
OF knowing how to make an audience
laugh and often uses this power in or
der to rouse and move her hearers Just
before making very serious appeal to
them. Her gift of what one must call
electricity, of rousing and startling her
audience, is remarkable and places her
quite alone among women platform
speakers. AS temperance worker she
is indefatigable and is considered by her
friends to have given practical proof of
her devotion to the cause by running
coffee taverns for the worlingmen.
She has a large one at Bournemouth.
and on her own estate has converted
what was once very prosperous public
house into temperance hotel. The
Massingberd Arms at Burgh is one of
the prettiest and pleasantest temperance
hotels in the country and is well patron
lied, not only by the better class of Wis
itors, but, so it is said (and wonderful
though it be), by the drovers and work
men who usually support public houses.
Mrs. Wynford Philips is another not
able temperance speaker and a member
of the woman's suffrage special appeal
committee. Her strong personality
makes her most interesting and per-
suasive speaker.
She is trained elocutionist and DOS
sesses singularly rich, deep voice,
which can be heard with ease in the
largest hall. Mrs. Eva McLaren, the
honorary treasurer of the Womens Lib
eral federation, is another very success
full speaker. She is clear and as logical
as is possible for q Women's Liberal
federationist, speaking in short, sharp
sentences, and with taking manner.
Her influence is greatly helped by a
charming personality, She is a very
hard worker, and when there ie great
deal to do can be relied on to stick to it
all day and every day.-St. James Bud
get