The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-08
POST DINNER WOMEN
Chauncey NJ. Depew's Views on
Lady Speakers at the Table.
An Accomplishment Which He Believes
Many Women Would Soon Become !.
Brilliantly Proficient In.
New York Herald.

successful after-dinner speakers. There is
possibility of them becoming even more
popular in this art than men. / do not
know but what it would be a lucrative pro-
fession for some bright, clever woman TO
adopt But it would not be worth the effort
it would cost unless there was especial
talent"
What do you consider the requirements
for successful after-dirner speaker. par
ticularly in woman?' asked.
"One of the first essentials to build upon
would be ready thinker combined with
fluent and graceful speaking, pleasing per-
sonality, sparkling supply of wit and
humor and well studied diction. All these
attributes are absolutely necessary to sue
cessful after-dinner speaker" he replied.
'One of the finest after-dinner speeches /
ever listened to was delivered after a theat-
rical supper. just as the gray mist of the
morning was giving way to daybreak. by
Fanny was then in her prime, and pref
tier picture Il seldom look upon;
listen to- prs'er as she PeeSh sfeeS there sedS ad
dressing that dinner party. Her words and
movements were poetic, and the talent dis
Mrs James Pender, of London. is an
other brilliant and entertaining after-dln-
ner speaker. She never fails to please her
most fastidious hearers.
Lady Evans, who was Miss de erase
Stevens Van Wart of New York, now wife
of Sir Francis Evans, Gladstonian member
for Southampton, England, made all the
after-dinner and afternoon speeches for her
husband In his absence, during his last
favorite a fascinating speaker and very
much sought after as an after-dinner
speaker.
BRILLIANT WOMEN SPEAKERS.
Brooklyn can boast of one or two Won
derfully talented women who are known
as successful after-dinner speakers But
the very best after-dinner address I ever
listened to by woman was delivered, un-
expectedly, by Mrs. Ballington Booth. If
she would adopt the profession to the ex-
clusion Of all else think she would be the
greatest success the world has ever known
among women after-dinner speakers, and
equally as good as any of the other sex I
have ever heard. Her well-chosen words
are forceful still dainty and poetic; her at
titudes are graceful, and she would always
be the magnet Of a dinner party as a
speaker. She is original, practical and
entertaining, and / predict bright and
successful future for her in this calling.
should she ever adopt it,
After hearing such glowing accounts of
praiseworthy women who are before the
public as ,after-dinner speakers. from the
sought an interview with them. The fol-
lowing is what Mrs. Ballington Booth said
about her ideas of women after-dinner
speakers. her experiences, and why she
does not follow It as a profession:
Il am quite sure that the Hon. Chauncey
Depew Is far more qualified to speak upon
this question than myself, hence his opin-
ion would be much more valuable Still, as
have spoken occasionally in what might be
described as .after-dinner speeches, and as
l have very definite opinions upon the sub
lect, so far as / am personally concerned,
/ will give them to you. lest any misunder-
standing should arise concerning my work
in this direction.
81 have not done so very much after-din-
ner speaking-eight or ten times at the
nnl xyh havo r fo1f fbot fha,-o
was good opening and opportunity for in
Producing the subject of my other work to
people who could not be reached in any
other way, and whose interest and infiu-
ence might be made materially useful to
the lost and outcast ones whose cause we
IF have been successful in this style
of speaking it has, in my opinion, been en-
tirely due to my theme and not to me as
a speaker. My life work and my religion
are vital subjects burnt into my very soul
by God, and as l speak always and only on
these subjects. talk from the heart not
the head of living truths, not fancies or
sentiment or fiction. To talk naturally and
with real mot assumed feeling are two
great essentials to public speaking and
those who live in their subject and speak
out from a heart inspiration are bound to
lose self-consciousness. and, being moved
themselves, they carry their audience with
them without effort. Besides. we believe
that God, whose message we deliver if we
deliver it faithfully, will Himself inspire
our hearts as He did His messengers of
old.
MRS BOOTHS VIEWS
ST should ina gine that dinner itself was
the greatest hindrance in the way of after
dinner speakers. I have never taken part
in such a dinner, but have been on hand
at its conclusion to fulfill my part of the
programme. My first reason for this is
that l am Salvationist and costly ban
quets are distasteful to U.S. as well as
Inconsistent with our lives, which are con-
Secrated TO God for the seeking and saw
ing of the poor and outcast. / should
feel the shadow of this Inconsistency hang
ing heavily over me while / pictured the
need, misery and sorrow of the poor had
gs6 eaH of costly dseT Wanda and
can be done with less effort If one has
eaten spsriingiy, and think th1 this this applies
speaking as well as 10 public platform
addresses. If you to speak at all, you
must speak weilEthat is, you must do
something worth doing, even if the time
allotted to you be only ten or fifteen min
utes.. In my opinion, those, who talk only
silent.
Hence you will see as 1 always have
a purpose in view when l speak, l am
not in a position to Judge of those who
speak only for the entertainment Of others,
and on matters of less serious import
II cannot say much as TO the futures OF
this profession, or of the fortunes to be
made by women in this direction. as / have
never for one moment entertained the
thought of speaking for remuneration
have never taken, mySelf, one cent for any
of my public speaking although on one oc-
casion a very spontaneous collection was
taken up for the work of the army in the
slums, by a club Of gentlemen whom / ad-
dressed. In the interest and enthusiasm OF
the moment they had rolled the fruit Off
the dishes and used the dessert service as
a receptacle for bills of every denomina-
ton.
There is undoubtedly just as much like
lihood of women making a success in this
field as men, providing they take up topics
that women can treat naturally and en-
Enthusiastically. / am of the opinion that
women can do everything that men can do
and that there is every probability that she
will do il better if she follows the bent of
her own inclnations and tender heart and
uses the natural grace and modesty with
which God has gifted her.
Regarding myself, would never follow
this as a pursuit. My life is consecrated to
a very different service, and IL the work
to which 1 have dedicated myself were
taken from me / should by preference re-
tire into quiet private life as / never could
bring myself to speak for money, especially
es feel that any success / have is not due
to any gift or talent of my own but to
Gods special blessing and inspiration. In
this i am sure that voice the sentiTn ents
of thousands Of other women who in the
ranks of the army have become useful and
inspiring speakers.
The Horses Wanted.