FIE8T ANNUAL BANQUET. 121 



itude which we all experience as citizens of St. Louis, in 

 the thought of the broad, bountiful, beneficent and far- 

 reaching scheme as a whole. We unhesitatingly place the 

 name of Henry Shaw upon the lustrous roll of honored 

 citizens, living and dead, who, having been merchants, 

 manufacturers, lawyers, clergymen, or physicians, have 

 been more than merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, clergy- 

 men or physicians in their'relation to the progress and well 

 being of our City. 



This is the first annual meeting under a peculiar and most 

 commendable provision of your Trust, — the first of a series 

 which, with ever-changing constituents, may, and probably 

 will, extend through centuries. 



Now, when most of those of us who are privileged to be 

 present remember Mr. Shaw as a personal friend, — when 

 so many are here who have often shared the hospitality of 

 his house and home, — a characteristic which will diminish 

 with the years, — now let us make a record of our sense of 

 his high character as a citizen, his public spirit, his broad 

 sympathy and generous help in all that was ennobling 

 and uplifting, his intense love for our City, his simple, un- 

 ostentatious and useful life. Honor his name as we may 

 in the present, as we move away from the years of con- 

 temporary knowledge of the man, the appreciation of his 

 splendid beneficence will increase, and our successors will 

 come to measure the man, — not as we do by his personal 

 qualities, but by the magnificent result of his life. 



Private munificence in varied forms is one of the distinc- 

 tive and most honorable characteristics of our American 

 civilization. In a government like ours, the things which 

 mostupliftandennobleacommunitymustof necessity spring 

 from the people, as individuals. Government may protect 

 individual rights in person and property, may promote 

 public works of a necessary character, may clear the way 

 for personal enterprise and thrift, and give them a fair field ; 

 but it cannot, in any due degree, as a government, where 

 the use of money is required, do much to stimulate or de- 



