The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-15

TIE Boy ORAToR.-On the evenings Of
Friday and Saturday. Master Dudley Waller
addressed large audiences at Capital Hall
Master Waller is apparently about ten years
old, with a full sized, although not large
head, profusely covered with brown curls.
BE has q nervous sanguins temperament,
bis features rather sharp, and his ordinary
speech rapid, and motions very quick, and
be possesses much liveliness OF feeling, with
good health and overlooking vitality. he
IS not q premature man, bat boy in every
act, look and motiOn--a very good looking
boy Just such an one as the ladies would
Ike to cares and pet, as they did Tom
Thumb. But we are told that Master Waller
repels al advances Of this kind made by
the fair sex. considering it beneath bis dig
nifty, Ito 20 round kissing women"
Master Waller Is advertised to speak any
one Of l,50O pieces, and il Il therefore con-
cluded that he must have 4 prodigious
memory. But we are rather incredulous on
this subject. II, In Lansing, he was only
tested on soma fifteen pieces, how do We
Fnow that he would have been equally per-
feet on the other 1857 Fifteen hundred
pieces committed to memory would consti-
tute very large magazine, the greater part
Of which, We apprehend, exists only in the
imaginations Of the crodulOus; or, if il be
thus large. we believe that II the several
wares were brought out and tested, one by
one, II would be found that at least fourteen
out OF the fifteen hundred articles would be
found so rusty as 10 be wholly unit for use.
But It requires no miraculous gift Of men,
ory 10 remember perfectly those few pieces
which he recites a hundred times year
In judging ofMaster Walters excellsncies,
It Is to be considered that his performances
are narrowed down to one thing-a mere
recitation Of what others have said or writ
Ten. BE is not called on 10 think, invent,
reason or argue. He an actor rather than
orator. And in this narrow sphere we must
admit that, although not perfect, he has ex-
cellencles Of a high order. We have hssrd
many public speakers. and have listened to
quite a number OF professional teachers Of
elocutiOn; but We cannot now call 10 mind
more than one who, In all respects, was
more perfect In speech and gesture than
This little speaker. This is saying much,
but We cannot truly say less. But he IS lit
orally bog orator. His voice is boyish,
although It was heard most distinctly In the
gallery; AMI after he has personided the
manly defense OF Emmett before his judges,
Or TIE address Of the dying boy to his
mother on New Years eve, SO perfectly as
10 draw tears from many eyes, he instantly
la'o"s on The Inspiration of the speeches,
and laughs chats and acts like little child.
There was something SO peculiar and IN
expected in this that Il attracted the alton
ton Of every one.
SnaA We pTolong this article by any In
curry as TO how this boy excels ten thou
'and other bOys-yes, and ten thousand
sun men, who would gladly equal him
something has evidently been done for him
Ttrainins. Somebody has taught him to
peak bis words distinctly, to speak loud,
% speai faster and slower on different sub
lse1s &c But boy or a man may be
sTlled 10 this way, as q soldier Is drilled in
&c ranks, and yet never become famous as
= 0faIor' Something more is necessary.
'O'us, looks, motions, gestures are nothing
: a. only as they shOw the workings Of
~s soul within; as sEcA, they have 8 ire
-suuOaS power. An orator must have
w. ne must have thought and feeling;
Soo he must be capable Of deep excitement,
y '1at these thoughts and feelings may low
w Without restraint in their natural chan
-s'S Hence We see that, In ordinary con-
's'saton, every person grows more elo-
s-en' as be becomes more excited and
Sa'aes1i and without earnestness there viii
10 eloqaence. and. other things being
H'al' TIE greater the esrnestness. the more
sss'ses IN expressing his thoughts anu feel
- VII each person become. Look at those
."o angry men in the street, just ready to
sa~ See their cienched. appraised fists.
~ - 'oses-ns OgoNs, theirHlshiug eyes and
.S'so 10 Tie words Of intense hate aud
~, r'O'H lnat come Kissing like so many bullets
-'Vusn Their closely set teeth, and note the
-''Sa slides OF the voice as they mock and
es' !" each other. These men are orators
'@fefy high order, perhaps without know
snAt the word orator means. But IA
as taught them; and they could not
es1ied BY the art Of Cicero or Garrick
80 20 to the cell OF the chained mailman,
- really believes that bis room IS on
a0e ne Is about to be consumed with
49,. sVss ne need teacher Of oratory in Or