Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-04-30
For the Republican.
EiOQuence.

GAOQuehCes
, Speakers may express themselves in stri,
accordance with the rules of Grammar, an
yet not be eloquent. There may indeed b
total want of eloquence, when languag
dramatically speaking is as good as it cal
be. Eloquence does not consist in mer,
words or their arrangement. 1t is the pow
, er of moving upon the heart; and this fac
ulty has closer connection with deep e.
motion than anything else.
Let us for illustration, suppose cases
which frequently occur in real life. See
that wife, pleading with an executive Off
Ger for the pardon Of her husband, who has
been condemned to death. She does not
speak IN formal manner Her feelings
are too strong. Laying aside all studied
rehnement IN language, she pours out her
soul IN pathetic entreaties Under these
circumstances she cannot fail to be elo-
quent, because deep feeling inspires every
thing that she says or does.
I See again the Individual who has found
peace in the Savior. Long perhaps has he
been seeking the pearl of great price. Deep
anguish of spirit has he passed through.-
Finally his burden is rolled away. and the
full beams of the Sun Of Righteousness
SHINE into his heart. How changed now
his feelings. a heavenly intercourse exists
between him and his God, an undesirable
peace fills his soul. He wishes to tell to
all around him what dear Savior he ba.
iound' but language is inadcquate-hs has
TOO much to tell. Still his countsnance cx-
pressing happiness in every lineament; his
eyes beaming with holy JOY aud his broken
words, indicating plainly by his manner
that they are the outgushings of an over
flowing heart; these have an eloqucnce,
which the most studied oratory can ncith
or equal nor initiate. There is frequently
more eloqucnce in sentence, er word. or
gesture. or look, or tear, than there is in
" i""oiSo HaiiullSuv.
1t cannot be doubted, that many speak
ers are too much tramcled by system, and
artificial rules. to be eloquent. The pow
er OF their words is greatly weakened, by
strained, slavish effort to be precise and
methodical. Ifspontaneous thoughts come
up burning from the heart, they are kent
down, for fear that something will be said
that is not SO Systematically correct as it
should be. To be eloquent under such
circumstances, is it seems to me impos,i
ble.
Subjects that are to be spoken upon
should be carefully matured All the ideas
that can be obtained should be pressed into
service. But when before congregation.
the mind should not be tied down ricidlv
to aprcscribed train of thought, or routin.
OF words. My views on this subject are
expressed N the directions of an old divine |
to young speakers. Fill yourselves" said
he completely with the subject, then let
nature capcr."
All public speakers who take an interest
IN what they say, are aware, that. when
engaged in the delivery of discourse, spon-
taneous ideas are frequently awakened by
the subject or surrounding circumstan
ces. Their best ideas are generally brought
out in these impassioned moments. When
speaker becomes warmed up in his theme,
when the fire of cloquence begins to burn,
then gems of thought frequently dart into
the mind which nc. amount of cool study
could elicit. These should not be sun
pressed Let these have utterance. They
form the life of discourse. If old chron- :
&c system is crossed little, the effect upon
those who hear will more than make it up.
Words warm from the heart always move .
IN audience.
From what has been said the following
conclusion isdrawn. Those whose words
IRE prompted by strong feeling can hardly !
all of being eloquent, though thought may )
e broken and language lame On the l
thor hand there can be no eloquence with 2
ut feeling; no matter how much learning
nd talent is called into action. One cold Z
cart cannot warm another. 8
w. /