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find in it something to respect； something to admire； something to love。
And you shall find the whole joining you heart and hand。 Who was more
patriotic than Joan of Arc？ Who was braver？ Who has given us a grander
instance of self…sacrificing devotion？ Ah！ you remember； you remember
well； what a throb of pain； what a great tidal wave of grief swept over
us all when Joan of Arc fell at Waterloo。 ＇Much laughter。＇ Who does not
sorrow for the loss of Sappho； the sweet singer of Israel？ ＇Laughter。＇
Who among us does not miss the gentle ministrations； the softening
influences； the humble piety of Lucretia Borgia？ ＇Laughter。＇ Who can
join in the heartless libel that says woman is extravagant in dress when
he can look back and call to mind our simple and lowly mother Eve arrayed
in her modification of the Highland costume。 ＇Roars of laughter。＇
Sir； women have been soldiers； women have been painters； women have been
poets。 As long as language lives the name of Cleopatra will live。
And； not because she conquered George III。 ＇laughter＇but because she
wrote those divine lines：
〃Let dogs delight to bark and bite；
For God hath made them so。〃
＇More laughter。＇ The story of the world is adorned with the names of
illustrious ones of our own sexsome of them sons of St。 Andrew； too
Scott； Bruce； Burns； the warrior Wallace； Ben Nevis＇laughter＇the
gifted Ben Lomond； and the great new Scotchman； Ben Disraeli。 ＇Great
laughter。＇ Out of the great plains of history tower whole mountain
ranges of sublime womenthe Queen of Sheba； Josephine； Semiramis； Sairey
Gamp； the list is endless＇laughter＇but I will not call the mighty
roll； the names rise up in your own memories at the mere suggestion；
luminous with the glory of deeds that cannot die； hallowed by the loving
worship of the good and the true of all epochs and all climes。 ＇Cheers。＇
Suffice it for our pride and our honor that we in our day have added to
it such names as those of Grace Darling and Florence Nightingale。
＇Cheers。＇ Woman is all that she should be…gentle； patient； long
suffering； trustful； unselfish； full of generous impulses。 It is her
blessed mission to comfort the sorrowing； plead for the erring； encourage
the faint of purpose； succor the distressed； uplift the fallen； befriend
the friendless in a word； afford the healing of her sympathies and a home
in her heart for all the bruised and persecuted children of misfortune
that knock at its hospitable door。 ＇Cheers。＇ And when I say； God bless
her； there is none among us who has known the ennobling affection of a
wife； or the steadfast devotion of a mother； but in his heart will say；
Amen！ ＇Loud and prolonged cheering。＇
＇Mr。 Benjamin Disraeli； at that time Prime Minister of England； had
just been elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University； and had made a
speech which gave rise to a world of discussion。＇
A GHOST STORY
I took a large room； far up Broadway； in a huge old building whose upper
stories had been wholly unoccupied for years until I came。 The place had
long been given up to dust and cobwebs； to solitude and silence。
I seemed groping among the tombs and invading the privacy of the dead；
that first night I climbed up to my quarters。 For the first time in my
life a superstitious dread came over me； and as I turned a dark angle of
the stairway and an invisible cobweb swung its slazy woof in my face and
clung there； I shuddered as one who had encountered a phantom。
I was glad enough when I reached my room and locked out the mold and the
darkness。 A cheery fire was burning in the grate； and I sat down before
it with a comforting sense of relief。 For two hours I sat there；
thinking of bygone times； recalling old scenes； and summoning half…
forgotten faces out of the mists of the past； listening； in fancy； to
voices that long ago grew silent for all time； and to once familiar songs
that nobody sings now。 And as my reverie softened down to a sadder and
sadder pathos； the shrieking of the winds outside softened to a wail； the
angry beating of the rain against the panes diminished to a tranquil
patter； and one by one the noises in the street subsided； until the
hurrying footsteps of the last belated straggler died away in the
distance and left no sound behind。
The fire had burned low。 A sense of loneliness crept over me。 I arose
and undressed； moving on tiptoe about the room； doing stealthily what I
had to do； as if I were environed by sleeping enemies whose slumbers it
would be fatal to break。 I covered up in bed； and lay listening to the
rain and wind and the faint creaking of distant shutters； till they
lulled me to sleep。
I slept profoundly； but how long I do not know。 All at once I found
myself awake； and filled with a shuddering expectancy。 All was still。
All but my own heartI could hear it beat。 Presently the bedclothes
began to slip away slowly toward the foot of the bed； as if some one were
pulling them！ I could not stir； I could not speak。 Still the blankets
slipped deliberately away； till my breast was uncovered。 Then with a
great effort I seized them and drew them over my head。 I waited；
listened； waited。 Once more that steady pull began； and once more I lay
torpid a century of dragging seconds till my breast was naked again。 At
last I roused my energies and snatched the covers back to their place and
held them with a strong grip。 I waited。 By and by I felt a faint tug；
and took a fresh grip。； The tug strengthened to a steady strainit grew
stronger and stronger。 My hold parted； and for the third time the
blankets slid away。 I groaned。 An answering groan came from the foot of
the bed！ Beaded drops of sweat stood upon my forehead。 I was more dead
than alive。 Presently I heard a heavy footstep in my roomthe step of
an elephant； it seemed to meit was not like anything human。 But it was
moving from methere was relief in that。 I heard it approach the door
pass out without moving bolt or lockand wander away among the dismal
corridors； straining the floors and joists till they creaked again as it
passedand then silence reigned once more。
When my excitement had calmed； I said to myself； 〃This is a dreamsimply
a hideous dream。〃 And so I lay thinking it over until I convinced myself
that it was a dream； and then a comforting laugh relaxed my lips and I
was happy again。 I got up and struck a light； and when I found that the
locks and bolts were just as I had left them； another soothing laugh
welled in my heart and rippled from my lips。 I took my pipe and lit it；
and was just sitting down before the fire； when…down went the pipe out of
my nerveless fingers； the blood forsook my cheeks； and my placid
breathing was cut short with a gasp！ In the ashes on the hearth； side by
side with my own bare footprint； was another； so vast that in comparison
mine was but an infant's！ Then I had had a visitor； and the elephant
tread was explained。
I put out the light and returned to bed； palsied with fear。 I lay a long
time； peering into the darkness； and listening。 Then I heard a grating
noise overhead； like the dragging of a heavy body acro