Polyglot Post-Prandial Oratory.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1898, Page 4 (Supplement)

Polyglot Post-Prandial Oratory.

The Empire, published at Manchester, England, says : * Mr. Louis N. Parker has added a new tenor to the horrors of afterdinner speech- making. The other evening the London brai*ch of the Wagner Societyentertained Herr Felix Mottl, the conductor of the " Nibeilungen Ring " at Covent Garden. The guests having fed themselves after the custom, of the country, Mr. Parker rose and hurled at the modest Mottl's defenceless head a prose paeon of praise, couched in no leas than three languages — English, French, and German. Hitherto, the average after-dinner orator has contrived to make himself misunderstood in one language only, but with the accomplished Mr. Parker's example to tempt him to wander about into various tongues, it is to be feared that he will make confusion wors%ccaifounded.'

The number of licensed saloon keepers in the United States, was reduced 10,34:0 during last year. In. 1896 the total was 216,358 ; in 1897, 200,018. Of the latter 11,074 are licensed to sell malt liquoi-8 only.