When Sir Felix hesitated at this point because he saw that he was coming to a passage about himself, Señor Garcia at once cried, "Yes, yes! read that!" Then, as the Chairman of the Committee looked somewhat embarrassed, the centenarian said with great vivacity, "Well, give it to me; I will read it." With these words he took over the paper once again and read the concluding words of the speech. "If you will bear with me a moment longer, I should like to say one little inadequate word of thanks to him from whose initiative this wonderful demonstration has sprung,--my friend Sir Felix Semon, with whose name link that of an institution dear to me beyond all others,--the Laryngological Society of London, and its chosen representative, that social Atlas, the Garcia Committee." This brought the first part of the programme to a close, and the centenarian returned to his home, which was inundated with telegrams and baskets of flowers. Here he gave himself up to rest and preparation for that still more trying ordeal which was still to come. That same evening Señor Garcia set out for the Hotel Cecil, where a complimentary birthday banquet had been arranged by the committee. When the carriage had driven into the courtyard of the hotel he alighted without assistance, entered the outer hall, and walked nimbly down two or three flights of stairs to the cloak-room. There was a very large attendance, the Grand Hall being filled with eminent musicians and scientists anxious to do honour to the distinguished guest. [Illustration: OPENING BARS OF AN ARIA WRITTEN OUT BY MANUEL GARCIA WHEN IN HIS HUNDREDTH YEAR, GIVING HIS ELABORATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL MELODY.] Mr Charters J. Symonds was in the chair. In proposing the first toast, "The King," he said that his Majesty was always the foremost in every way in the recognition of merit, and that day he had anticipated their function, and had received Señor Garcia personally, conferring upon him a great honour--the Commandership of the Royal Victorian Order. His Majesty, in honour of Señor Garcia, had also sent Lord Suffield there as his representative. The toast having been loyally honoured, the chairman said that two other European sovereigns had combined with our own King to confer honour on their guest. His Majesty the King of Spain had sent Señor Garcia the Grand Cross of the Order of Alfonso XII., and also a message which he would call on the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires to read. The Marquis de Villalobar said it gave him great pleasure to convey to his illustrious compatriot the message which his Majesty, the King of Spain, had sent to him just now through his Minister of Foreign Affairs. It was as follows: "By command of his Majesty the King, congratulate personally Señor Garcia on the day of the celebration of his 100th birthday. Convey his royal best wishes to the grand old Spaniard who, by his invention and works, has glorified and exalted the name of Spain."