Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-02-28
THE CULTURE OF SPEEru.

80 s''>'N >"N " hNh 81 MANY men
must take part. to some extent at
least, in pablic life, 1t is necdful that
the gift of speech should be general,
cultured. 1t has been said tina,
Americans are nation of orators:
and it is quite certain that they ough,
TO be. From the very nature ot
things an American citizen should
be able TO express himself well at all
times aud under all circumstances.
lie is thrown continually into posi-
tiOns where public speech, of 4 kind.
is demanded. Either he must con-
trovcrt an argument. or make Il set
speech, or preside over some dclib-
crate asscmblagc. Whichever he does.
hc needs all that culture Tan bring to
his aid.
Ii is worth much TO any man to b,
able to think upon his fcct-tu face
crowd "t listeners and c""lly. clearly
and logically give expression 10 hi.
thoughts. The ability TO do this is
quite too often called II gift. Som,
persons are more gifted than others
i'll speech, bcyoHd IL doubt, but tn,
least gifted MAY acquire certain de-
gr'r> ut >Uccc>>. Dcmosthcnc>
di,ln' seem cut out by nature ioi
much ut m orator, Yet he got on toll
rrably we'll in that capacity later in
life. Culture did it. Few stammcr-
rr> may attain to like fame, but
almost amy man not afflicted with
some vocal imprdimcnt can by prac-
ticc become II tulrrahlc speaker.
+" this end We believe in debating
D., societies, and similar agencies. And
we suggest Ia every teacher, rs a
means of Improvement quite within
reach of the older pupils, in comnon
schools, the organization of Il lyccum
tor purposes of regular debate.
Nothing but continual practice gives
: one that self control and ilucncN
necessary t" successful pubic speak
l ing. Dcclamatious and the reading
of compositions are good enough i'll
: their way. but neither furnishes
scope cuVugh-ncithrr includes the
| ready delivery of thought born will
the moment and Waiting it> cilcc,
: tive work. EAtemporamcuus speak
| in. is often more moving than an!
written effort can he. for the ucca, ion
inspires what elaborate preparations
could not conceive; and it is certainly
at times the only alternative.
! Then let us have NoiIthful dCbrtcrs
trained up i'll our schools: let us see
| oil hand speech more carefully cult
urcd. You cannot tell what lCcc>si-
II may briall amy lad during his
: career. Every secohd man of youl
acquaintance has nccn more than
once placed where he longrl for the
II gift of uItprancc more than for ought
ciSr- when lac stood in dumb cmbar-
ratmcnt and prayed for he floor to
open and swallow him. Teach your
40 ar .s"od education. by reading
T defamation: but help ,hciiii ~ .,:1rtsa
real "raiory, 10y practice in cxtcinpo-
ranc"u> speaking. The "word, that
burn" burn with Il glow most vivid
when they have not been >motlrrru
III ink. but when they fash forth like
r"d-h"t Lightning striking to the
very heart of them.
E"rGm ON Ben BrTLER.-A New
York paper declares today that
. General Butler was never considered
iacka-> or an idiot. No he Wa
never So considered. What Rutlci
considers himself can he gathered
from liis satisfaction at not "beino
called d-n fool: no matter il
they do call me GI---li scoun,lrcl.'
Ii ought to he added that Butler
never c"n>id"rrd it important As to
hose ini.ial- were on spoons and
such. Appr"p"a of the genial coniis-
Gator of the contents OF disl"yal side
: boards the following story will be
found new and true: While Ben
bus>cd NV Orleans. he informed u
wa"gish but very Ill Confederate
officer. then sick Al his home in the
city. that he must take the oath OF
clear ont. The order was prrc,nptury
The Confederate dcmurrcd rs much
rs possible. alleging that he was used
mp any how. that he didn't believe iit
the old government. and that the
odds were he would soon die and
>cccdc permanently.
Ii was no use, so lie got Ben to
administer the oath to HIM himself.
Ben complied. holding the book
behind the back of his neck SO rs 10
bring ii within range OF his scrvicca-
bic orb. The officer swallowc cd the oath
with severe and suggestive grimaccs.
At its close he seemed rciuycnatcd.
and asked Butler. ".lin't | as good a
Union man AZ Hou now. Gchcral.
~ c>. II YOU live up to your OATH"
replied Ben. And | can nbuse the
South as loud rs any of you:" ingnir-
ed the officer. To YOUR hearts
content. replied the Beauty. We'll,
then Gcnercl," added the sick man.
rising IN bed, and 'fiXing' Buffers
one eye with his two. If Won and I
had that d-d old rebel. Lee. in our
, hands wouldn't we steal his gold
, watch:" The oath-takcr got four
} day in the guard-housc, but hc was
: satisfied with the price he paid for il .
y lad! rorrC> C>pondcnt of the st.
, Louis Republican writes: "Stokcs
=, rest. his curlcd hair on on lace bor-
dcrcI pillows. The adur Of his cell
, pcrmcates the entire tombs. lie
order. his perfumes by the box, and
. every time the soap and hash for the
common criminals passhis cell door
he breaks bottle of musk. In
:, crimson faced dressing gown cm-
broidrrcd slippers ard silk. socks he
smokes the time away. altogether The
= gaycst bit of criminal that ever
y lodged in muudcrcr's row. l don't