eard in a large room,
and consequently the audience sometimes does not appreciate lady
speakers to the extent that they deserve. However, I know a lady who
possesses a powerful, masculine voice, and who is a very popular
speaker, but she is an exception. Anyhow I believe the worst speaker,
male or female, could improve by practising private declamation, and
awakening to the importance of articulation, modulation, and--the pause.

Another class of social functions are "At Homes", tea parties, and
receptions. The number of guests invited to these is almost unlimited,
it may be one or two dozen, or one or two dozen hundreds. The purpose
of these is usually to meet some distinguished stranger, some guest in
the house, or the newly married daughter of the hostess. It is
impossible for the host or hostess to remember all those who attend, or
even all who have been invited to attend; generally visitors leave
their cards, although many do not even observe this rule, but walk
right in as if they owned the house. When a newcomer is introduced his
name is scarcely audible, and before the hostess, or the distinguished
guest, has exchanged more than one or two words with him, another
stranger comes along, so that it is quite excusable if the next time
the hosts meet these people they do not recognize them. In China a new
fashion is now in vogue; new acquaintances exchange cards. If this
custom should be adopted in America there would be less complaints
about new friends receiving the cold shoulder from those who they
thought should have known them.

In large receptions, such as those mentioned above, however spacious
the reception hall, in a great many instances there is not even
standing room for all who attend. It requires but little imagination
to understand the condition of the atmosphere when there is no proper
ventilation. Now, what always astonished me was, that although the
parlor might be crowded with ladies and gentlemen, all the windows
were, as a rule, kept closed, with the result that the place was full
of vitiated air. Frequently after a short time I have had to slip away
when I would willingly have remained longer to enjoy the charming
company. If I had done so, however, I should have taken into my lungs
a large amount of the obnoxious atmosphere exhaled from hundreds of
other persons in the room, to the injury of my health, and no one can
give his fellows his best unless his health is hearty. No wonder