UNITED STATES AND CANADA 257 



on whom you once relied, then, sir, rely on the 

 closer confidence and the warmer sympathy of those 

 who are still true to you. (Cheers.) We welcome 

 you, sir, as one of the most prominent and the most 

 patriotic of our local public men. (Hear, hear.) 

 We have not forgotten the services you have ren- 

 dered to the cause of education, or that you were 

 three times Mayor of Birmingham — (cheers) — or 

 that you recreated, as it were, our great municipality 

 — (cheers) — and that you taught us that the fore- 

 most and best amongst us may find in the faithful 

 discharge of municipal duty an ample field for 

 an honourable ambition. (Cheers.) Above all, sir, 

 we welcome the man who for many years has so 

 closely identified himself with the public and the 

 private life of Birmingham, who has served in his 

 own person every honourable office, and has en- 

 deared himself to thousands of our people by 

 numberless instances of thoughtfulness, generosity, 

 and goodwill. (Cheers.) And now, what shall I 

 say of the charming and winsome lady — (loud 

 cheers) — ^whom you, sir, have induced to leave her 

 home on the other side of the water, and to take up 

 her residence amongst us. At least, madam, you 

 have not come amongst strangers — (hear, hear) — for 

 English and Americans can never be strangers to 

 each other. (Loud cheers.) It is true that you 

 have left a brighter and a sunnier country than ours, 

 but you have come to a people who — ^at any rate 

 when you are present — ^will always carry plenty of 

 sunshine in their hearts. (Cheers.) In what words 

 shall I give you the hearty greeting of this teeming 



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