raised to the highest point of charity and content. The primitive "desire of meat and drink being taken away," as the old poets have it, attention can be given unreservedly to the feast of reason; that is, if the reasoning be not too hard to follow with diminished mental activity consequent upon relaxation. Also, with the proverbial good nature which succeeds to dining almost any proposition will be assented to that does not cross a listener's political or religious principles at right angles. A certain openness of mind is apt to prevail as the result of genial influences, large companionship, and variety of sentiment expressed. The soul of the guest expands, rises, and diffuses itself like the all-including post-prandial smoke, denied to the ancients, which so softens and narcotizes the atmosphere, making drowsy the sentinel nerves, that men have been known to applaud at midnight statements which they reject with suspicion next noonday. Such indulgent mood also contributes to ready appreciation of what is said, if pitched in the right key. The one faculty which is sure to be wide awake is the sense of humor, and a little wit will go a great way. Altogether the audience is in its most favorable temper, and in striking contrast to conditions which sometimes prevail in political, educational, and religious assemblies. Properly and fairly treated it will be neither excited, bored nor drowsy, but sympathetic, appreciative and inspiring. It will furnish its own share of the entertainment, if the other contributor succeeds in furnishing his.
Of course the weight of responsibility falls upon the speaker, and it is not small, notwithstanding the favoring conditions. These he will be slow to presume upon. The guest who has been notified of what will be expected of him—and no other is contemplated here—will first of all not interpret literally the intimation that he may be called upon "to make a few informal remarks." That is a euphemism—a leaf which covers a trap. Or if the remarks are to be not formal, it will be understood that they are not, on this account to be ill-considered, without form, and void.
Just here the man of experience takes pains to discover in advance how large and what sort of a company is coming together, how many and who the other speakers are to be, and what the purpose of the occasion is, if it has a purpose
