ther officials were high…toned and admirable officers； yet the general administration of the city government had in the course of years become so bad that there should be a general reformation。 The reform movement was successful； it spread over to New York and there again succeeded； and the movement for municipal reform became general in the country。
The next anniversary dinner attracted an audience larger than the capacity of the club； and every one of the thirty has been an eminent success。 For many years the affair has received wide publicity in the United States； and has sometimes been reported in foreign newspapers。 I remember being in London with the late Lieutenant…Governor Woodruff； when we saw these head…lines at a news…stand on the Strand： 〃Speech by Chauncey Depew at his birthday dinner at the Montauk Club； Brooklyn。〃 During this nearly third of a century the membership of the club has changed； sons having succeeded fathers and new members have been admitted； but the celebration seems to grow in interest。
During the last fourteen years the president of the club has been Mr。 William H。 English。 He has done so much for the organization in every way that the members would like to have him as their executive officer for life。 Mr。 English is a splendid type of the American who is eminently successful in his chosen career； and yet has outside interest for the benefit of the public。 Modest to a degree and avoiding publicity； he nevertheless is the motive power of many movements progressive and charitable。
Twenty…four years ago a company of public…spirited women in the city of Des Moines； Iowa； organized a club。 They named it after me。 For nearly a quarter of a century it has been an important factor in the civic life of Des Moines。 It has with courage； intelligence； and independence done excellent work。 At the time of its organization there were few if any such organizations in the country； and it may claim the position of pioneer in women's activity in public affairs。
Happily free from the internal difficulties and disputes which so often wreck voluntary associations； the Chauncey Depew Club is stronger than ever。 It looks forward with confidence to a successful celebration of its quarter of a century。
I have never been able to visit the club； but have had with it frequent and most agreeable correspondence。 It always remembers my birthday in the most gratifying way。 I am grateful to its members for bestowing upon me one of the most pleasurable compliments of my life。
A public dinner is a fine form of testimonial。 I have had many in my life； celebrating other things than my birthday。 One of the most notable was given me by the citizens of Chicago in recognition of my efforts to make their great Columbian exhibition a success。 Justice John M。 Harlan presided； and distinguished men were present from different parts of the country and representing great interests。 Probably the speech which excited the most comment was a radical attack of Andrew Carnegie on the government of Great Britain； in submitting to the authority of a king or a queen。 Canada was represented by some of the high officials of that self…governing colony。 The Canadians are more loyal to the English form of government than are the English themselves。 My peppery Scotch friend aroused a Canadian official； who returned his assault with vigor and interest。
It is a very valuable experience for an American to attend the annual banquet of the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris。 The French Government recognizes the affair by having a company of their most picturesquely uniformed soldiers standing guard both inside and outside the hall。 The highest officials of the French Government always attend and make speeches。 The American Ambassador replies in a speech partly in English； and； if he is sufficiently equipped； partly in French。 General Horace Porter and Henry White were equally happy both in their native language and in that of the French。 The French statesmen； however； were so fond of Myron T。 Herrick that they apparently not only grasped his cordiality but understood perfectly his eloquence。 The honor has several times been assigned to me of making the American speech in unadulterated American。 The French may not have understood； but with their quick apprehension the applause or laughter of the Americans was instantly succeeded by equal manifestations on the part of the French。
Among the many things which we have inherited from our English ancestry are public dinners and after…dinner speeches。 The public dinner is of importance in Great Britain and utilized for every occasion。 It is to the government the platform where the ministers can lay frankly before the country matters which they could not develop in the House of Commons。 Through the dinner speech they open the way and arouse public attention for measures which they intend to propose to Parliament； and in this way bring the pressure of public opinion to their support。
In the same way every guild and trade have their festive functions with serious purpose； and so have religious； philanthropic； economic； and sociological movements。 We have gone quite far in this direction； but have not perfected the system as they have on the other side。 I have been making after…dinner speeches for sixty years to all sorts and conditions of people； and on almost every conceivable subject。 I have found these occasions of great value because under the good…fellowship of the occasion an unpopular truth can be sugar…coated with humor and received with applause； while in the processes of digestion the next day it is working with the audience and through the press in the way the pill was intended。 A popular audience will forgive almost anything with which they do not agree； if the humorous way in which it is put tickles their risibilities。
Mr。 Gladstone was very fine at the lord mayor's dinner at Guild Hall； where the prime minister develops his policies。 So it was with Lord Salisbury and Balfour； but the prince of after…dinner speakers in England is Lord Rosebery。 He has the humor； the wit； and the artistic touch which fascinates and enraptures his audience。
I have met in our country all the men of my time who have won fame in this branch of public address。 The most remarkable in effectiveness and inspiration was Henry Ward Beecher。 A banquet was always a success if it could have among its speakers William M。 Evarts； Joseph H。 Choate； James S。 Brady； Judge John R。 Brady； General Horace Porter； or Robert G。 Ingersoll。
After General Grant settled in New York he was frequently a guest at public dinners and always produced an impression by simple； direct； and effective oratory。
General Sherman； on the other hand； was an orator as well as a fighter。 He never seemed to be prepared； but out of the occasion would give soldierly； graphic； and picturesque presentations of thought and description。
Not to have heard on these occasions Robert G。 Ingersoll was to have missed being for the evening under the spell of a magician。 I have been frequently asked if I could remember occasions of this kind which were of more than ordinary interest。
After…dinner oratory； while most attractive at the time； is evanescent； but some incidents are interesting in memory。 At the time of Queen Victoria's jubilee I was present where a representative of Canada was called upon for a speech。 With the exception of the Canadian and myself the hosts and guests were all English。 My Canadian friend enlarged upon the wonders of his country。 A statement of its marvels did not seem sufficient for him unless it was augmented by comparisons with other countries to the glory of Canada； and so he compared Canada with the United States。 Canada had better and more enduring institutions； she had a more virile； intelligent； and progressive population； and she had protected herself； as the United States did not； against undesirable immigration； and in everything which constituted an up…to…date； progressive； healthy； and hopeful commonwealth she was far in advance of the United States。
I was called upon immediately afterwards and said I would agree with the distinguished gentleman from Canada that in one thing at least Canada was superior to the United States； and it was that she had far more land； but it was mostly ice。 I regret to remember that my Canadian friend lost his temper。
One of the historical dinners of New York； which no one will forget who was there； was just after the close of the Civil War； or； as my dear old friend； Colonel Watterson； called it； 〃The War between the States。〃 The principal guests were General Sherman and Henry W。 Grady of Atlanta； Ga。 General Sherman； in his speech； described the triumphant return of the Union Army to Washington； its review by the President； and then its officers and men returning to private life and resuming their activities and industries as citizens。 It was a word…picture of wonderful and startling picturesqueness and power and stirred an audience； composed largely of veterans who had been participants both in the battles and in the parades； to the highest degree of enthusiasm。 Mr。 Grady followed。 He was a young man with rare oratorical gifts。 He described the return of the Confederate soldiers to their homes after the surrender at Appomattox。 They had been four years fighting and marching。 They were ragged and poor。 They returned to homes and farms； many of which had been devastated。 They had no capital； and rarely animals or farming utensils necessary to begin again。 But with superb courage； not only on their own part but with the assistance of their wives； sisters； and daughters； they made the desert land flourish and resurrected the country。
This remarkable description of Grady； which I only outline； came as a counterpart to the triumphant epic of General Sherman。 The effect was electric； and beyond almost any that have ever occurred in New York or anywhere； and Grady sprang into international fame。
Joseph H。 Choate was a most dangerous fellow speaker to his associates who spoke before him。 I had with him many encounters during fifty years； and many times enjoyed being the sufferer by his wit and humor。 On one occasion Choate w