The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-12-13
ExtemporaneOus Speakers

EAlcllpOTducOuS DpcdkCTS
The mind seems able to perform
Offices the instant rapid is lis versati-
ty; and :f watched ls operations in ourselves more
closely, we should cease TO wonder at the power
which Bonaparte it is said, possessed, of debating
several distinct and separate oommuncatons-Per-
haps an army bulletin, treasury circular, and d.
plomatic leuer-a the same time. This versatility
nay be as in the instance OF Napoeon-ihe highest
form Of the power OF concentration although often
sdered as evncing n total want OF it, In nothing is
this mistake otener made than in judging Of extempo
raneous speakers by their luency; which really is
not the slightest of the possession of this power
We rather suspect the shalown Of the fhe
be a young man especially-who has volatility
Why is this? Simply because-wi,hout stating to
ourselves him of a of the power Of
coneentrafion-The surest evidence Of great mind
Yet many people would deny that this is the reason;
"(or'' say they, 1--WE attribute want of this power
the speaker who hesilaes, catches and trips in his
speech" II is true that they do but this hesitancy
moy--Ond generally does--prove perfectly contrary
So far the latter assertion that may be doubt
ed whether any tpuly great man, who has succeeded
extemporaneous speaker subjects requiring
local discrimination and accuracy, ever, afrs found
VI
nuency and grace
recolloct listening when a boy, TO conversation
between two Baptist clergymen-the one uneducated
but yolube extemporaneous speaker! the other
educated man, and writer Of beautiful, clear, and
logical sermons, but notorious for the hesancy which
he manifested whenever he undertook to preach,
''without notes" GLOW is il, brother l.. 'sad the
latter "that you without your education, able TO
get up at a moments warning, and speak well,
while just certainly fail as attemptIit?" swell,
brother s., I'll tell you You're just like rich far
mer, who goes into his dollhouse to get hoe, and
finds many there that il takes him half an hourto
pick out the best; and, as likely as not, after all,
goes of in hurry with poor enc; while I'm jnst
like Of his men who no hires out by the duy,and
comes in the morning to the cornfeld, ready for
work, tcih his old hoe on his shouder.' The thor
oughly educated man very often fails as an extempo-
raneous speaker, from mere excess Of thought and
good taste; while toad stool Of fellow, without
education, and without scarce brains enough to fur
nsh the head ola clever parrot, "goes off, in stead
stream Of words as il he were rain spout IN
thunder Storm "Aiany a full barrel Of cider once
said witty friend Of mine slower than nearly
an empty one, which runs all the faster when
nearly out that it has to be propped up behiud.''-
Boston Courier
AGENuINE MoDHl. FOR GOVERNOR Mr.
Vickery, The Wing candidate for Governor of Mich-
gan, built school house on his land; and, be-
cause competent teacher could not be procured,
taught the school himself through last winter
Prentice of the Louisville journal, proposes to try
the "co'd cure" on several old soakers Of his
acquaintance. .i
PREMArURE BURIAL The Apalachcolu Ad-
yeriser saws that at the removal Of the remains Of
person lately, the lid Of the coffin was removed, and
TO the horror of those present. the corpse was found
with its face downwards The lining OF the coffin was
torn in several paces and human hair scattered about
showing that desperate struggle had been made to
escape frou the ''living tomb"
p There are six widows who live In New Jersey,
within the distance Of half mile whose united ages
amount to five hundred and twenty years! Their
ages are as follows: one 81 years, one 90, two 81
one 81, and one 81, .. r.. .. .r
The following curious oath is administered in the
courts OF China. s'I hereby swear, that am ready
to emf the cocks head off in the truth OF what now
say
PHRENoLoG1cAI. Firmness-A brat squalng
half the night and not staying put 10 sleep