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We have been excited at different times to an absorbing extent by the stories of explorers。 None were more generally read than the adventures of the famous missionary； David Livingstone； in Africa。 When Livingstone was lost the whole world saluted Henry M。 Stanley as he started upon his famous journey to find him。 Stanley's adventures； his perils and escapes； had their final success in finding Livingstone。 The story enraptured and thrilled every one。 The British Government knighted him； and when he returned to the United States he was Sir Henry Stanley。 He was accompanied by his wife； a beautiful and accomplished woman； and received with open arms。
I met Sir Henry many times at private and public entertainments and found him always most interesting。 The Lotos Club gave him one of its most famous dinners； famous to those invited and to those who spoke。
It was arranged that he should begin his lecture tour of the United States in New York。 At the request of Sir Henry and his committee I presided and introduced him at the Metropolitan Opera House。 The great auditorium was crowded to suffocation and the audience one of the finest and most sympathetic。
We knew little at that time of Central Africa and its people； and the curiosity was intense to hear from Sir Henry a personal and intimate account of his wonderful discoveries and experiences。 He thought that as his African life was so familiar to him； it must be the same to everybody else。 As a result； instead of a thriller he gave a commonplace talk on some literary subject which bored the audience and cast a cloud over a lecture tour which promised to be one of the most successful。 Of course Sir Henry's effort disappointed his audience the more because their indifference and indignation depressed him； and he did not do justice to himself or the uninteresting subject which he had。selected。 He never again made the same mistake； and the tour was highly remunerative。
For nearly a generation there was no subject which so interested the American people as the adventures of explorers。 I met many of them； eulogized them in speeches at banquets given in their honor。 The people everywhere were open…eyed； open…eared； and open…mouthed in their welcome and eagerness to hear them。
It is a commentary upon the fickleness of popular favor that the time was so short before these universal favorites dropped out of popular attention and recollection。
XXIV。 SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS
The most unique experience in my life has been the dinners given to me by the Montauk Club of Brooklyn on my birthday。 The Montauk is a social club of high standing； whose members are of professional and business life and different political and religious faiths。
Thirty years ago Mr。 Charles A。 Moore was president of the club。 He was a prominent manufacturer and a gentleman of wide influence in political and social circles。 Mr。 McKinley offered him the position of secretary of the navy； which Mr。 Moore declined。 He came to me one day with a committee from the club； and said： 〃The Montauk wishes to celebrate your birthday。 We know that it is on the 23d of April； and that you have two distinguished colleagues who also have the 23d as their birthdayShakespeare and St。 George。 We do not care to include them； but desire only to celebrate yours。〃
The club has continued these celebrations for thirty years by an annual dinner。 The ceremonial of the occasion is a reception； then dinner； and； after an introduction by the president； a speech by myself。 To make a new speech every year which will be of interest to those present and those who read it； is not easy。
These festivities had a fortunate beginning。 In thinking over what I should talk about at the first dinner； I decided to get some fun out of the municipality of Brooklyn by a picturesque description of its municipal conditions。 It was charged in the newspapers that there had been serious graft in some public improvements which had been condoned by the authorities and excused by an act of the legislature。 It had also been charged that the Common Council had been giving away valuable franchises to their favorites。 Of course； this presented a fine field of contrast between ancient and modern times。 In ancient times grateful citizens erected statues to eminent men who had deserved well of their country in military or civic life； but Brooklyn had improved upon the ancient model through the grant of public utilities。 The speech caused a riot after the dinner as to its propriety； many taking the ground that it was a criticism； and； therefore； inappropriate to the occasion。 However； the affair illustrated a common experience of mine that unexpected results will sometimes flow from a bit of humor； if the humor has concealed in it a stick of dynamite。
The Brooklyn pulpit； which is the most progressive in the world； took the matter up and aroused public discussion on municipal affairs。 The result was the formation of a committee of one hundred citizens to investigate municipal conditions。 They found that while the mayor and some other 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