Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-04
THE TOAST TO WOMAN.
The Eloquent Response of Rev. r. B.
Eggleston at the Pythian Banquet

Eggleston at the Pythian Banquet.
The response to the toast, woman"
by the Rev. II. i. Eggleston, of the
Court Street Presbyterian Church, at
the Pythian banquet Thursday night
being of an admirable nature, the Vir-
ginian-pilot reproduces ii for the bene-
fit of its readers:
~ am glad to be with you tonight
on this happy occasion, my brethren of
the Pythan order. j feel honored that
I am member of such an order of
men. Since listening to the eloquent
speeches of my hOnored friends, who
have preceded me, feel that my hum
BILE message will fall without force
upon your ears. However, I will pro-
coed with my inspiring subject. Now
TO woman. / would not say "Remem-
Der Lots wife / would not say
1--WE may do without poetry, music,
and books,
But civilized men cannot do without
cooks
although We would not be here tonight
filled with happiness and everything
else good without them.
Il would not point to what is ex-
pected Of the woman of the twentieth
century by the advanced thinkers. l
would not say who is going to be Hob
sons wife: but you are pointed with
modest delight to woman as she is in
the sacred home, TO the hand that rocks
the cradle and rules the world
1T was the hand of gentle woman
that brought the great leader, Moses.
out into the arena OF public duty; it
was the hand, and heart, and life, and
character of woman that qualified Il
Washington, Jefferson, a Madison, a
Cleveland, Il Mckinley. Il Sampson, a
Schley, Otis. Dewey, and many others
to serve their country by honorably
filling positions Of prominence and
trust.
Il come daily in contact with woman
ana see her as she paveS the way for
great public thought and trains the
mind TO mould public opinion.
Again, you are pointed to her as she
gently and wisely leads those of anoth-
er sex. her companions. to think upon
those things which are uplifting and
cnnobling in life. See her as she leans
over the languishing body of the SOL
der, or sailor, rs Il ministering angel
TO give comfort, to give relief from
pain. We would see her as mother, sis
ter, wife. friend, Installing with I'M
paralleled success the good, the beau
tiful and the true in the mind ana
heart and life of those physically
stronger than herself.
Yea. brothers OF the knights of
l'ythias, we would ascribe to her no
less glory than to ourselves for filling
the hearts of the noble hearted with
friendship, with beneVolence, with
courage, with bravery.
We honor her as mother, sister, wife,
friend; we honor her for her grace. her
charm in social life, her beauty of
character. We honor her, filled. as she
is. with faith and hope and charity.
strength and honor and purity are
her clothing. In her hand is the instru-
mcnt OF usefulness. Her children rise
up and call her blessed.
con one occasion, In n Western State.
gentle, noble mother wanted her son
to receive the advantages of q COL
leEiatc course. She was without means,
but was willing to make any sacrifice.
to do any work, to carry out the pur-
pose OF her life, to make her boy some
thing in the world of men. She went
before the faculty of the college and
stated that she would be willing TO do
anything, even the laundry work of the
students, in order to obtain means to
defray the expenses of his tuition. The
faculty consented to her request and
the coming fall mother and son entered
upon their respective duties. The end
OF the first college year came to n close
and that boy was distinguished in all
his classes The second year came
and ended. the mother. all along doing
the laundry work. and her boy was dis
tinguished.. The third year rolled
around. at the end of which the son
received the highest distinctions. the
mother faithfully carrying out her ar
duous part of the contract. The fourth
year finds them hard at work. Gradu-
alton day finally comes; the boy has
been distinguished and the mother no
less distinguished. Tire Il AZ rrHtie-
tees meet: only one medal is given. and
who should receive that but the son of
the noble widowed mother?
The president announced the name
Of the recipient of the prize. to which
was tied piece of ribbon. Everybody
IL, l,.. Len, ,
10 the echo, every heart was glad. The
boy gracefully acknowledged the honor
conferred upon him. and went down
from the rostrum. pressed through the
crowd. back to the last bench of the
hall. whore sat an humble. but noble
woman; 1t was his mother, clad in a
calico dress.
The boy gratefully took the medal
Slipping the ribbon over the head Of
the mother. with these words: Here
mother take this medal. IT Is yours
had il not been for you I should never
have received it,
This is but one instance OF the great
worth Of woman in the life of man. in
hcr mission OF mercy Many are. I'M
went, unhonored unsunS. yet their life
and character and work are telling on
the world to-day with greater power
than that with which gravity acts in
the solar system.
In conclusion. the strongest argu-
mont for woman's worth Is that the
Almighty recognized the fact that man
could not do without her. so created
nor for his hclp-mnte. All honor to
woman the mother. the sister, the wife.
the friend
DEATH OF MIR. C.A.E.ETHEREDG
Mr.. \. Il. Ethercdge. of the firm of
j.. c. Brooks 81 Co, received n tele-
gram yesterday announcing the death