Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-12-16
ADVICE TO HUSBANDS
Give Up Your Barren Scepter as
Master of the House.
JOHN HAYS FIRST SPEECH.
A Witty Response to tho Toast "Our
Countrywomen" at Banquet In
Paris When He Was Secretary Of
Legation In the French Capital.

Legation IN the Frencn Capitai.
BY official proclamation President
Johnson set apart the first Thursday
of December. 1865. as day Of ma
tionaI thanksgiving. The American
residents and visitors In Paris deemed
1t an occasion to be celebrated with
more than usual ceremony. The re-
suit was that at 3 O'Clock on the even
ing Of the 7th Of December some 253
Of our countrymen sat down to
dinner In the spacious dining room Of
the Grand hotel in Paris. then regard
ed by travellers as the most elegant
public dining hall in Europe.
After a succession OF speeches the
chairman closed the entertainment
with toast to Our Country women"
and asked Colonel John Hay. then
secretary Of legation in Paris. to re-
spond to 1t. As this was probably the
first public speech MIR. Hay had ever
made and though nothing he then said
could possibly add any luster to his
subsequent career. II may justly be
said that II was more successful than
the first public effort In oratOry either
Of Sheridan or Of Beaconstield. He
replied in part as follows:
my COnntrymen land | would say
my countrywomen but that the for
mer word embraces the latter when
ever opportunity offers'-l cannot un-
derstand why ! should have been call
ed upon to respond TO this toast of
all others. having nothing but theo-
retical IDEAS upon the subject to be
treated-one. In fact, must be pre-
sumed never to have handled. Laugh
ter and applause.
II have been called up. too. by COM
mittee of married men. can think Of
no claim | have to be considered an
authority In these matters except what
might arise from the fact Of my hav-
ing resided In early life In the same
neighborhood with Brigham Young.
who has since gained some reputation
as a thorough and practical ladies'
man. IGreat laughter | am not con-
scious. however. of having imbibed
any such wisdom at the feet of this
matrimonial Gamaliel as should justly
entitle me to be- heard among the
elders.
so | am inevitably forced to the
conclusion that these husbands cannot
trust each others discretion. The se-
crets of the prison house are too i'm
portant to be trusted to one of the
prisoners. SO ignorance Of the matter
In band has come TO be held an abso-
lutte prerequisite when any one is to be
sacrificed to the exigencies of this
toast
II really do not see why this should
be so. 1t Is useless for husbands to
attempt to keep this thin veneering of
sembance of authority. The SYM
bols of government they still retain de-
ceive nobody. They may comfort them
fort themselves with he assurance of
some vague. invisible supremacy. like
that of the spiritual nikado or the
grand Hal but the true tycoon IL the
wife. witty and profound observer
the other day said. Every husband
doubtless knows he Is master In his
own house. but he also knows his
neighbor's wife is master In hers
Laughter and cheers.
"Why should not you. husbands uf
America. admit this great truth and
give up the barren scepter! Things
would go much easier If you ceased
the struggle to keep up appea RANGES.
The Indies will moi he hard on Won
They will recognize the fact that. after
all. you are their fellow creatures. and
you can be very useful to them In
many little ways They will doubtless
allow you to pay their bills. take care
of their children .and carry their votes