Briefly stated, it is to bring into one focus the thought of an assembly.
While the good things of the table may be satisfactory, and conversation
free and spontaneous, there is yet need of some expedient for making all
thought flow in one channel, and of blending the whole company into a true
unity. There is one way, and only one, of doing this--the same that is
used to produce unity of action and thought in any assembly, for whatever
purpose convened. When the destinies of empires are at stake, when great
questions that arise among men are to be solved, the art of speech must be
called into play. So after a good dinner has been enjoyed, the same potent
agency finds a field, narrower, indeed, but scarcely less operative. And
this object--of causing a whole assembly to think the same thoughts and
turn their attention to a common topic--is often well attained even when
the speeches do not aspire to great excellence or pretension to eloquence.
A commonplace illustration will make our meaning clear. Suppose a great
reception, where many rooms are filled with invited guests. There is
conversation, but only by groups of two or three persons; refreshments are
served; larger groups begin to gather around prominent persons, but there
is the same diversity of sentiment and purpose that is to be found in a
chance crowd in a public park. The guests are not in one place, with one
accord. But now, on some pretext, the power of public speech is evoked;
perhaps a toast is offered and responded to, or a more formal address of
welcome or congratulation, or anything else suitable to the occasion.
The subject and the manner of introduction are not material, so that the
living, speaking man is brought face to face with his fellows; at once,
instead of confusion and disorder, all is order and harmony. The speaker
may hesitate in the delivery of his message, but his very embarrassment
will in some instances contribute to harmonize the thought of the assembly
even more powerfully than a more pretentious address. But a good and
appropriate speech will indelibly fix the thought, and be far more
satisfactory.
Where no particular kind of address is indicated by the nature of the
assemblage, stories and humor will generally be highly appreciated. A good
story has some of the perennial interest that surrounds a romance, and if
it is at the same time humorous, an appeal is made to another sentiment,
universal in the human breast. If people thrill with interest in unison,
or laugh or cry together for a time, or merely give attention to the same
thoughts, there will arise a sense of fellowship and sympathy which is not
only enjoyable, but is the very purpose for which people are invited to
assemblies.
More ordinary after-dinner speeches succeed by the aid of humorous stories
than by all other means combined. In a very ingenious book of ready-made
speeches the turning point of nearly every one depends upon a pun or other
trick of speech. While this is carrying the idea a little too far, still
it fairly indicates the importance placed upon sallies of wit or humor as
a factor in speech-making. The fellowship that comes from laughing at the
same jokes and approving the same sentiments may not be the most intimate
or the most enduring, but it is often the only kind possible, and should be
prized accordingly.
The chief use of toasts is to call out such speeches, and thus lead the
thought of the assembly along pleasant and appropriate channels--all
prearranged, yet apparently spontaneous.
A long speech is selfish and unpardonable. It wearies the guests, destroys
variety, and crowds others out of the places to which they have been
assigned and are entitled. When the speaking is over, the company will have
been led to contemplate the same themes, and will have rejoiced,
sympathized, and laughed in unison.