"THE LADIES"

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3080, 14 April 1927, Page 3

"THE LADIES"

SPEECH IN RESPONSE,

PRIMROSE LEAGUE BANQUET,

At a recent dinner in connexion with the Horley (Sussex) Habitation of the Primrose League, Sir Trevor Laurence, in felicitous terms, proposed "The Health of the Ladies" and informed the company that the toast was coupled with "a lady."

Miss Marryatt, who was enthusiastically applauded, rose and said:—"Mr Chairman, Mr Vice Chairman and gentlemen, as none of the senior dames of the League have risen to reply to this toast, I trust you will not consider me

over presumptious in rising to return thanks on behalf of my sex for -the many nice things Sir Trevor Laurence has said in his speech about us, and for the very cordial way in which those sentiments were received (cheers'). T believe it is rather unusual for a lady to respond to this toast, but I fancy the custom has arisen somewhat in this way: It is not uncommon, I am told, in London and certain other cities, for some 200 or 300 gentlemen to get to gether and have grand banquets all to themselves, while the ladies arc banished to a gallery to look at them through the railings, feeding (laughter) just like you see the animals fed at the Zoological Gardens (much laughter). I have not seen it myself, but it must be a horrid sight (laughter). Well, having thus wilfully banished the fairer sex from their society, of course when they go through the hollow farce of drinking the health of the ladies they have to put up some unhappy man to reply (laughter), but really on these occasions when the noble beasts—l beg pardon, the noble sex (laughter) unbend so much as to let us feed with them, I think the least we can do is to relieve some unhappy man of the task and reply for ourselves (loud cheers and laughter). If, too, you will con sider for a moment, you will see what an absurdity it is for a man —a bachelor, too, I believe generally —attempting to reply to a toast on the subject of which lie needs must be woefully ignorant (laughter). For if he is an old bachelor, his life lias evidently been passed uncheered by the sunshine of woman. If a young bachelor, he is pro bably too much taken up with admiration of himself to study the opposite sex (laughter). A married mau, now, might know something about us, but I suppose they are never allowed to re ply, because I imagine you gentlemen have the vulgar and erroneous idea that if lie were to dilate on our charms —as he doubtless would do—he would have a rough time of it when he got home (cheers and laughter). Well, Mr Chairman and gentlemen, in again thanking you for the cordial % reception of this toast, I only say it is one to which you can never do more than justice, for after all, where is there a more perfect thing in this world than a good English woman (loud cheers). Look at the good labourer's wife —what a happy, Comfortable home she can make for her husband. Take a good farmer's wife — what a wonderful, bright, useful helpmate she is in these hard times. Look at a good squire's or parson's wife — what a blessing they are in a village that has one; and to go still higher, where is there a better type of good English woman than our beloved queen (cheers —who has for the last 50 years set every Englishwoman —aye, and every Englishman—an example of all that is pure and good. It is in the belief that such types of ladies you had in your minds when you drank this toast that i thank you on behalf of the ladies for the way in which you have received it. I will only remark, in conclusion, that whatever may be in store for our sex in the future—whether you admit us to many branches of science.

art, and honours, or even give us women's suffrage, and many other things from which we are now excluded—yon may depend upon it that th<> higher tbo

seule of duties and responsibilities to which you raise your women—and you will find us tit for when the time com- ■ ■ es—the higher will you raise yourselves in the scale of civilisation, and the

greatest number of perfect English women you will produce (loud cheering).