The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-01
fame won
AT BANQUET.

In this country tne after-ulnneI pat
form is the only one that allows unre-
strained discussion Of every character
which interests the state. the church, and
society, says George Barry Nation, inan
article on Some After-Dinner Humor-
lists" published in the current number of
Ainslees Magazine
The after-dinner orator may, under
cover OF the special privileges and hos
pitalities of the occasion, with humor as
a sugar coat ventilate his views, utter
criticisms and draw the razor OF his sa-
tire across the Haunting humbugs of the
time as he would be permitted TO do no
where else.
When His Excellency Wu Ting Fang.
the Chinese Minister with whose name
the word clever is now invariably link
ed made his first after-dinner speech in
this country less than two years ago the
American people claimed him as their
own.
His speech was so replete with humor,
so filled with solid advice, and so delicate
ly critical OF some OF our national char
acteristics that he leaped into instant
popularity.
DR.. Depew's style of humor and oratory
IL well known. The speech that is made
by "A man like Depew after two hours OF
sympathetic contact with the diners Is al
most sure of holding an audience.
To be able TO make a good speech on
such preparation n man must not only
know how 10 play upon ceaseless humors
OF us all. but he must have a mind well
stored with facts.
HE PREFERS AFTER DINNER.
The question Is more or less humorous
rk.e eHnv. Yer
talks best after dinner or before dinner,
or without any dinner. DR.. Depew selects
after dinner as the time, but he says that
a man who eats much or drinks much
cannot make a good speech. He drinks
only champagne, and very little OF it
The two other members OF what was
known as the big Three" are Joseph IL.
Choate, now ambassador To the court OF
st. James and our ambassador TO France
General Horace Porter.
At the dinner table Mr.. Choate's dry
wit and brilliant intellect give him a per-
ennial charm. Mr Choate is not a popu-
lar hero Ills own disposition has pre-
vented him I'm many ways from becoming
a more conspicuous figure in the public
eye.
Though he Is democrat In his faith
and liberal in his views, he s. I'm many
ways retiring and. in It's best sense aris-
tDGlAtlFs Aits Y NNhAf = lithtll'N " ifA tiA'
sharp Wit run amuck has not infrequently
stirred up bitter criticism.
His auditors never quite feel sure that
when his turn comes 10 speak he may not
amuse himself at their expense.
Mark Twain said sadly not long ago:
'"The funniest thing IN the world Is the
truth Tell the plain truth. and the peo-
pic will always laugh at it. II I get up
al a dinner and refer 10 "a man as an iu-
SINCERE galoot--I mean who Is present dt
the dlnner-he as well as every ono else
will laugh.
when Mark Twain returned to New
y ork last fall after his long stay abroad
it was particularly appropriate that his
first formal welcome home should come.
as IL did from the Lotes Club. and on
that occasion iov was unconflned. Mr..
Clemens told some truths that evening
which proved the correctness OF his
theory.
In fact. most of the humor ~ the after
dinner speeches which he has made this
past winter has been IN his presentation
Of truths MIR Clemens speaks with a slow.
playful drawl. and occasionally his eyes
almost close.
when laughter interrupts him he opens
his ewes mods and looking along tho
line ~ faces opposite him. he sometimes
smiles in enjoyment of the joke with
them.
Augustus Thomas IL one OF tho very
l.v AMsfisan playBrishts Hke IAN IA