258 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



and industrious population ? I know of no sweeter 

 words than those which Shakespeare puts into the 

 mouth of Lorenzo when he greets Portia on her 

 return to Belmont — ^words so simple that every 

 child can appreciate them, and so comprehensive 

 that they need no addition : 



" Dear lady, Welcome home/' 



(Loud cheering.) I ask you, madam, to accept from 

 us our little marriage gift. Would that it were 

 better than it is ! But put into the scale the good 

 wishes that accompany it and it cannot be alto- 

 gether without its value. (Cheers.) That your 

 life, madam, may be as bright as those gems, and 

 that you may have a happy new year for every pearl 

 upon that string — (hear, hear) — is the hearty aspira- 

 tion of all those whom I am privileged to represent 

 to-day, who desire to express to your husband their 

 thanks for the past and their hopes for the future, 

 and to you their affectionate welcome and their 

 cordial regard. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Mathews 

 then presented to Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain the 

 gifts of the citizens. 



Mrs. E. H. Stringer then read the following 

 address to Mrs. Chamberlain, and presented the 

 diamond star : '* Madam, — ^We, the Members of 

 the Women's Liberal Unionist Association of 

 Birmingham, together with some Conservative 

 Unionists who desire to be associated with us on 

 this occasion, offer you a hearty welcome and most 

 friendly greeting. You do not come among us as 

 a stranger, for it is our privilege to claim kinship 



