Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-03-16
For the Whig and Tribune.
Thoughts for Young Men and Boys
on Pubic Speaking. and the HUI
man Voice.
BY BERT HAY.

An experience of thirty years as
public speaker, renders this expe-
rience worthy of the attention of
those who are aCholly inexperienced,
and who may possibly be looking
for1Oard to public life. l never
read book on elocution in my
life-and my ideas may therefore be
crude, and perhaps may antagonist
with the teachings of the books.
What an exquisitly perfect musical
instrument is the human voice!
How delicate its Eolian organs
How easily put out of tune! Some
inexperienced speakers use the
throat only in speaking, hoarseness,
bronchial disease is the result la
ryngitis. Some throw the voice
from the lungs only, and hemmor-
rageis the result. A public speaker
should try and thrOt0 his vOice from
the abdomen. He should use his
throat, lungs and the nuscels of the
abdomen; make his sentances short,
so as to have 6re1th enough at his
command. He should avoid squal-
ling at the top of his voice. Com
mence in calm, even, clear tone Of
voice, just loud enough to be heard,
by those of the audience .fdrtheSt
from yoI. Some men speak as if
their audience were deaf, or a mile
array, seeming to think that elo-
quence consists in yeEliag loud
enough to be heard above the roar
of raging storms and bowling thun-
der. EarneStnesS as the soul of
oratorg. A decent regard for the
nerves of poor humanity, is in good
taste! You could not extract much
music. from the finest violin with a
Black Jack limb for a fiddle-bow,
nor would the most splendid toned
Piano discourse sweet sounds if
kicked by an ass. Some men have
fine Uoices, but they treat them with
no more gentleness, than a railroad
employee does an old fashioned hair
trunk tied with rope. They sling
it around premiscuously; of course
they crack it, or break it, or shatter
it, and go squeaking along all the
days of their lives, monuments of
folly and ignorance. you have a
good soice, it is Gods good gift-a
priceless gift, a rare lagacy. Your
position when speaking should be
perfectly erect, make every inch tell
in favor of your height. Throw
your chest as far forward as you can,
to enjoy ease Let your lungs have
fair play. Speak with as much
deliberatiOR as possible; to do this,
know thoroughly the nature of your
subject, and the course you intend
to pursue in discussing it, before
you rise to address an audience
write down the plan of discussion;
get it thoroughly in your memory,
throw your paper away, and trust
to the inspiration of the occasion,
and the dignity and majesty of
your theme. If you find your
thoughts confused, your ideas vague
and your words few and far between,
just skirt along the shore of your sub
| ject quietly-take a glass of water,
get your handkerchief-and be
gathering up your thoughts and
concentrating them on your sa6ject.
Your embarrassment may net pass
off, but say something. Time and
experience, will give you the victo-
ry. To learn how to speak well you
must study the science of reading
lceH. Study punctuation, emphasis,
modulation, vocal infections. Study
the spirit of the lCriter. Read aloud
frequently. Putyourselfin the place
of the writer, and try and feel en-
bued with all the emotions and pas
sions which thrilled his soul. Study
the grand speeches of such men as
Curran., Grattan, Sheridan, Pitt,
Fox, Lord Byron, Clay, Henry,
Webster and Calhoun. Avoid q
monotonous tone; it never fails to
act as a sOporfc or anodyne upon
an audience. Study to bring your
| language up to the .fuH measure
of the thought you are deve.oping.
If the subject is grand, avoid weari-
some common place words, and seek
for compact strength, and power, to
convey your ideas to your hearers.
Don't go to sleep or lounge, or loll, or
roll from side to side; avoid all sorts
of grimace and all efforts at lOtc COM
edy. Try and invest the most com
mon and familiar theme with fresh
ness aud life, that win make it inter
esting. In your geSticUlatioH don't
breake your legs ifpossible; you may
need them to JCdlb home, Don't ges-
ture with your shoulders and back; a
dislocation might ensue. Some men
tear themselves all to fragments,
wear out their boots, demoIish the
books, and break the pitcher and
tumblers promiseuously. This is a
peice of useless extravaganza, all
these things cost money. Gesture,
is the patOmime of thought, and
should be guide by the mind, lead on
from exordium TO peroration, in
the hands of taste and judgment.
Don't thunder more than possible
! over a flea, and for God sake don't