The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
DINERS VINO WILL CRATE.
Tact and Courage Required In TonstmnSters
TO Handle the Men Whom thcWlne Has In.
e~pired-Smith. the Banr ofToasimnatersin

Ia not so slmp pie q matter as IL would appear to
the average attendant of such functions. 1t
might be supposed that any man who can
make n good speech and ia able. with a few i'm
promptu remarks. to introduce the speaker OF
the occasion. would MI the bill. But the speech
making feature is only part OF the toastmas-
ter's duty. His is the responsibility of the con-
duct OF the affair after the coffee is on the
table. He must preserve order; he must
keep the orators from taking up too much
time. and he must be ready to smooth
over with diplomatic words any acrimo-
nlous discussions that may arise at a banquet
where many men OF many minds sit down to
the feast and rise up afterward TO talk. Within
the last 1--WE years there has been a dinner
given In New York by one of tho most dignillcd
OF the dining bodies at which only the personal
efforts OF the averted a general
and disgraceful war OF words II not Of more
dangerous weapons. And any number Of
times the thanks Of the dining community
have been due to some chairman who has had
the courage to intimate quietly 10 some en-
thusiastic but i'll advised speaker that he was
overrunning his allotted time. Not all presid-
ing officers. unfortunately. are so courageous.
But among all the banes OF the toastmaster's
existence the first place by a wide margin be-
longs to the man who hasn't been invited to
talk. but suddenly feels himself called upon to
do 80. and will have his try at 1t though men and
angels weep. There isn't u man in New York
accustomed to preside at ~banquets who doesn't
know half a dozen Of these pests and regard
with feelings ofkeenest anxiety their presence
at the table. The worst OF II is that there is no
way OF telling when this sort OF individual will
break out. 1t depends largely upon how we'll
he has dined. At one dinner his conduct may
be Of the most exemplary character. and on
the following night he may attend an
other banquet where he will make a public
-,,g -. - t.~..1 :,
will hustle him out when he begins his orator
ical antics. or ~contrive to suppress him: but
usually he surrounds himself with kindred
spirits. who. though they may not attempt to
speak themselves. will aid and abet him in his
attempts being in the same ufter-dinner con-
dition. And on the followin day they will all
be heartily ashamed Of the whole performance.
and will doubtless make good resolutions.
which promptly disappear at the next occasion
whore wine flows freely. Speaking OF a prom
inent member Of this class Of nuisances. a
weIl-known lawyer. who is greatly in demand
as a presiding officer. once said:
when I'm asked to be toastmaster, the first
thing l want to know is whether Smith will be
there. II he is expected. I insist that he shall
be seated among men whom l know and who
know him. and will sternly suppress him as
soon as he shows signs OF getting on his feet
to address a few well-choscn remarks to the
a. Va Il toN' ~ - W q IIIl
on the list OF speakers. but he always would |
assure the committee that he was no orator
and preferred to come in an unofficial capacity.
There are several others almost rs bad as
Smith. but none OF them is so regular in his at
tendance upon oil the large public banquets.
The man referred to as Smith. which is not
| who, when sober. is said to be OF a reasonable
quiet disposition. He is a large man with IA
powerful voice. and whom he makes up his
mind to be heard IL iS almost i'm DoaSibla for I
anybody else TO get a chance. Since 1892 there |
h hos h iDtor 9esm e ye ef least in Una ais smith w 9aS
a aa sdi'Shm Im to at te ! : Speee Mit TShic9 a IR SptS . had I'D
dinners OF the season. His behavior on this
occasion was Just what it has bcen on many
years. Besides drinking literally Of wine dur.
ing the course Of the dirner he ordered more
II O'Clock. Just as one, Of the regular orators
had finished his remarks and the toastmaster
Tss % s%it, 70 to ihnisr2 iuiI hsi ffS next speaker up
Mr.. Toastmaster.'' he said, holding to the
fin1e II Wish to ar Be k sTaTR "'eS''' might escape
A our next speaker said the toastmaster.
any attention 70 him Y have s the pi ea @as'% q
ing95,roducing the Hon. Shakespeare Milton
NAM nMr i TSo s 2 Sanp shouted Smith. Il de-
n@aUtG rierI ordnrIo sit down =, .,Koen stiu,,
cried erie = The { other btr diners; but Smith didn't pro
o" "stan SdIHvsi here s%eT upon i%,a' tRs Constitution aRSpi Of our
S f"astmsste ne of he!!fs stand II np 5onG %t sh rIsS Sh1 ut , the
sPss Tssy" CAP @s aR@y % np!' Fa"' 81 Sd II w You're
otupk have Sa eRe dozen t5o% e cantinue eaf sm Il t at the Eoq fon
on n MS sei powerful tn y9ise. and l will be heard.
But at this point the patience of the other
s sWent S GsvG 6i 4" te SR6 d. the , st0 w9ni ID S,s orator was
and cries tor order. The toastmast Hr' mca xrfans
standing patiently waiting for II chance TO pro-
s sGeH w subs sRS Ee Gut he S %ns not 2t dome sne fo aygFG nE4
Tying himself with another bottle Of wine, no
m rsastne arose. 90 ef To fi ntIddu rne a n eSw time the toast %s
time the toastmaster simply waited until tho
A. hy cry a. ,Ta int inti m to this effect given
but when no saw nnmistaksble evidence that
and soon after took his departure subs.
alently three, other men. inspired by his ex-
but they we're disposed Of without much dHiGniI..
Guilty: A. another dinner not, long before Smith
cal bearing whatever as rejecting upon The
orga1izatlon OF which no is q member and in
II y on the records that once. and once only.
Smith met his match at interrnntinR, The oc.
and important organization held, last year at
tne y " yt alq9 3L,r AZ ne termination Of a set speech
Smith. OF course, All except Smith and one
other were speedily shouted down hut those
two stnck to j. y%aIiantly. The other man was
greater vocal. powers, Finding himself dividing
the lonors Of tho aoor with another 1.-THE toast-
master had given up In despair and sat down.
PPeTTIously m0tiored for silence Smith
let out his voice. and the candela6rt
on the tables ratified, Such a voice
was never before heard in that place. II
drowned out smith. u drowned ont the Misses
and the shouting with equal ease, and tho
crowd was fam to give its owner the opportu-
nifty he wished, ho didn't speak long and he
dldpt say ANYTHING worth recording. hut what
and sustained pitch that when he sat down the
diners actually apnlauded him for his exhibit
ton OF. y~ocality, When it was over Smith arose
and said humbly:
" yield the floor to the gentleman with the
foghOTn In his throat"
II was the big mans last appearance in this
vicinity 40 far as is known. He must have been
q stranger in town. for nobody eemed TO know
him; There are, various committees which
Smith and others Of his kind.