New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06
HOW MRS. STEEL TALKS.
THE POPULAR NOVELIST SHINES AS. AN
AFTER-DINNER SPEAKER

London Letter in The Chicago Times Herald.
One of the best after-dinner speakers in Lon.
don is woman. have heard her several in
teresting occasions. when for felicity OF phrase,
aptnesS OF Illustration. constituencies to humor
and distinct. clear-voiced articulation her re-
marks have entitled her to somethins, very near
to the first honors of the evening. This esti.
mable lady is the distinguished novelist. Mrs
Flora Annie Steel. whose ON the Face of the
Waters and other works have brought her a
sudden fame In the evening glow OF her years.
Though she is grayhaired and speaks of herself
as il she were type OF the grandmother. she
has that fresh vitality of look and ANNA ton
OF expression and manner which offer the lie
circumstdntial to gray hairs. ard the trace OF
age becomes an adornment, an additional charm
Last evening ut the dinner of the New Vasa-
bond Club Mrs Steel. who followed such eff
fective speaker Hall Caine. and such
spirited Arthur Diosy. quite capti-
waited the great roomful OF guests by ten or
fifteen minute talk that for cleverness dizziness
wit and neatly adjusted sobriety OF thought
would have done credit to some CT those Ameri.
cans who. knowing so we'll the art of after-din.
speech. have gained thereby a national
celebrity. Mrs. Steel has also the un- English
characteristic of using anecdote easily and hep
fully. at once to illustrate and to brighten her
speech Nothing is so rare AS an English speaker
who knows how to impregnate his speech with a
gracefully, pointedly and fifty told story. That
American accomp ishment is at once the envy
and the despair of oratorcal English
cousins, whose minds are constituted on the
ponderous plan. and whose huncr has in II q
gravity that converts IL into philosophical
homiiy as it falls from their lips
Brother John has not yet learned that the
keenest enjoyment Of q clever mot. anus
ing anecdote. flash of wit. to tho
nearer from his sense Of discovery The speaker
must seem to be unconscious Of the fact that he
is an entertainer. Like Marc Antony, he. must
speak right IN. leaving his listeners to miss or
grasp the jest eor themselves. But this is not
the method of our English cousins. A solemn
preparedness Is laid upon the nearer. When the
speaker approaches his anecdote he begins to
square himself for it. His manner tells you that
something is coming. He takes attitude.
He looks about him half-quiExically His ex-
preston lights up hopefully. resoiutely De-.
meanor and expression say: BE alert. now:
it's coming don't let il pass you" Then. with
a smile that gives a grotesque touch to the
habitual solemnty. he tells the story. and.
having reached mis- climax stands at ease, as
who would say: This Is where you laugh; take
your time to it, Mrs. Steel has none of this.
She trihes with anecdote as lady toys with the
lace about her throat quite unconscious as IL
We're. that she is heightenirg her fascination.
She therefore Drovokes the laugh of surprise,
and is not emptily rewarded by that soulless
guffaw that comes by urgent solicitation. II was
a treat to hear the quick, responsive. ripping
laughter that greeted her sallies, and a delight
to see how !nnocently she made her little hits
and effects, now and then looking about in q
gently inquistive way, as If she wondered what
had occasioned this merry Interruption Of her re.
marks But they tell me Mrs. Steel has nevsl
been In America,