“Mr. Collins,” said Governor Dangerfield, rising, “your great merits shall not go unrewarded. I have carelessly neglected to appoint a delegate from North Carolina to the annual conference of the Supreme Lodge of the Society of American Liars shortly to meet at Lake Placid, New York. As a slight testimonial of my confidence and admiration, I hereby appoint you to represent the Old North State at that meeting, and your expenses shall be paid from the public purse.”
“The boys wish to see your excellencies before they leave,” said Collins when he had acknowledged the governor’s compliment; and as he spoke the sound of great cheering broke through the windows, and Mrs. Atchison promptly rose and led the way to the broad terraces which were now gay with coloured lanterns.
“Speech! speech!” cried the corps of correspondents. Then Ardmore seized Governor Osborne’s hand and led him forward to the balustrade; but before the governor of South Carolina could speak, the group of newspaper men began chanting, in the manner of a college antiphonal:
What did he say to you?
What did he say to you?
What did who say?
What did the governor of North Carolina
SAY
To the governor of South Carolina?
“Gentlemen,” began Governor Osborne, speaking with great deliberation, “I am profoundly touched by the cordiality of your greeting. (Applause.) Amid the perplexities of my official life I am deeply sensible always of the consideration and generosity of our free and untrammelled American press. (Cheers.) Without your support and approval, my best aims, my sincerest endeavours in behalf of the people, must fall short and fail of their purpose. (A voice: You’re dead right about that.) I am proud of this opportunity to greet this most complimentary delegation of men distinguished in the noble profession of which Greeley, Raymond, and Dana were the high ornaments. (Cheers.) I look into your upturned faces as into the faces of old friends. But I dare not—(A voice: Oh, don’t be afraid, Governor!)—I dare not take too personally this expression of your good-will. It is not myself but the great state of South Carolina that you honour, and on behalf of mine own people, who have always stood sturdily for the great principles of the constitution (Cheers); who have failed in no hour of the country’s need, but have tilled their fields in peace and defended them in the dark days of war, I thank you, my friends, with all my heart, again and again.” (Applause and cheers.)