while her sweetheart had a chair very close by.  And you remember, too, another person who used it more than all the rest—­that peculiar kind of maiden, well along in life, who, while she spun her yarn into one “blue stocking,” spun herself into another. [Laughter.] But perhaps my toast forbids me to touch upon this well-known class of Yankee women—­restricting me, rather, to such women as “comforted” the Pilgrims. [Laughter.]

But, my friends, such of the Pilgrim Fathers as found good women to “comfort” them had, I am sure, their full share of matrimonial thorns in the flesh.  For instance, I know of an early New England epitaph on a tombstone, in these words:  “Obadiah and Sarah Wilkenson—­their warfare is accomplished.” [Uproarious laughter.] And among the early statutes of Connecticut—­a State that began with blue laws, and ends with black [laughter]—­there was one which said:  “No Gospel minister shall unite people in marriage; the civil magistrates shall unite people in marriage; as they may do it with less scandal to the church.” [Loud laughter.] Now, gentlemen, since Yankee clergymen fared so hard for wedding-fees in those days, is it to be wondered at that so many Yankee clergymen have escaped out of New England, and are here to-night? [Laughter.] Dropping their frailties in the graves which cover their ashes, I hold up anew to your love and respect the Forefathers of New England!  And as the sons of the Pilgrims are worthy of their sires, so the daughters of the Pilgrims are worthy of their mothers.  I hold that in true womanly worth, in housewifely thrift, in domestic skill, in every lovable and endearing quality, the present race of Yankee women are the women of the earth! [Applause.] And I trust that we shall yet have a Republic which, instead of disfranchising one-half its citizens, and that too by common consent its “better half,” shall ordain the political equality, not only of both colors, but of both sexes!  I believe in a reconstructed Union wherein every good woman shall have a wedding-ring on her finger, and a ballot in her hand! [Sensation.]

And now, to close, let me give you just a bit of good advice.  The cottages of our forefathers had few pictures on the walls, but many families had a print of “King Charles’s Twelve Good Rules,” the eleventh of which was, “Make no long meals.”  Now King Charles lost his head, and you will have leave to make a long meal.  But when, after your long meal, you go home in the wee small hours, what do you expect to find?  You will find my toast—­“Woman, a beautiful rod!” [Laughter.] Now my advice is, “Kiss the rod!” [Great laughter, during which Mr. Tilton took his seat.]

JOSEPH HOPKINS TWICHELL

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