The female voice is soft and low, it is not easily heard in a large room, and consequently the audience sometimes does not appreciate lady speakers to the extent that they deserve.

However, I know a lady who possesses a powerful, masculine voice, and who is a very popular speaker, but she is an exception.

Anyhow I believe the worst speaker, male or female, could improve by practising private declamation, and awakening to the importance of articulation, modulation, and--the pause.
Another class of social functions are "At Homes", tea parties, and receptions.

The number of guests invited to these is almost unlimited, it may be one or two dozen, or one or two dozen hundreds.

The purpose of these is usually to meet some distinguished stranger, some guest in the house, or the newly married daughter of the hostess.