A CHAMPION OF THE LADIES.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 634, 10 February 1870, Page 4

A CHAMPION OF THE LADIES.

The following amusing speech is said to have been deliveredAby . Mr Mark Turner, at the Gorrespondfents- Glub Dinner, Washington :-—'*]yir President,-— I don't know why I have received the greatest j distinction^ of 'th'e'eVemhg i forsdtheoflice ! of replying to the tbast of ' Woriian' hds been regarded in eVery age. But lam prftud of the position, because, Sir, I love • the sex, I love airwomen-, Sir, irreapec- : tive" of age or colot: (Laughter.) Mean intelligencies cannot estimate what we owe to woman, Sir. She sews oh our buttons, mends bur clothes, confides ib us, tell us whatever she can find out about the little private affairs of the neighbors, (Laughter.) She gives us advice and plenty of it, she gives a piece of her mind sometimes, and sometimes ail of •-it. ' (Laughter.) Wherever you place woman, Sir, she is an ornament: to that place which she occupies, and a treasure to the world. Look at Cleopatra, look at Besdemona, look at Florence Nightingale, look at Lucrezia . Borgia. (Voices : * No. no.') (The speaker pauses as if in doubt.) Well, aiippose you lei Lucrezia alide : ? (Latfghter:) Look a;t Mother Eve. (Cries of 'Oh, pHr and laughter.) You neejd not look at her unlesi you want to (pauses reflectively)— but Eve* .was aiir ornament, Sir, 1 particularity' before : the ; fashiop changed. ; (Renewed' laughter.) I repeat, Sir; look at the illustrious Widow Macree, look at Lucy Stone, look at- Elizabeth S^anton, and, Sir", I say it witha bowed head and' deepest' veneration, look at the mother of Washington • she dragged up' a boy that could riot lie ;Could not lie I It might have been different if he had belonged to .a Newspaper Corr.es"pondehts' Ciub. (Groans, hissesy cries of ' Put 'Mm out,' and laughter.) I repeat, Sir, that in whatever position you place a woman she is- an ornament to society and a treaisiire ■ to the wor].d. As a sweetheartvshe Has few eq^ual3,-|«ndno superior^,- (Laughter.) AW a- cQU3.in;, . she .is convenient .; as ! a wealthy grandmother,; with an incurable distemper^ slie •is iunapeakably precipus. "V^hat would the 'beople of the earth be wji^hQut wptoaji ? M liey- Would, be scairce/ Sir, perfectly^^ scarce. (Renewed laugMer.) Then-let usicherist her, let us protect her, le;tius give her our suppoFt, ourericpuragenient, oursympatKy, ourselyea if!we-gi:.ta chance; (LaughtfelO) P ; ut .jesting aside, Mr P. resident, wpbatos loveaWe, kind of heart, ,gracipu,s,^b;|autiful, w^hy respect,; of all deffetence,' : Not will refuse to.drink.her.heal-in,.Tight^^^cor-dially, in: this gobletiof wine,: foreach.and every •■ one '■■ of us has :: kabwn,t loved,- and honored the best of ; them- all— his own mother." (Great applause.)