Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-01-03
PUBLIC SPEAKING.
BY HENRY WARD BEEuHER.


Some one writes to Us that he Is
studying at law school that, be-
sides a knowledge of law, he is desir-
Gus OF attaining the art Of oratory. and
he asks that we will give such advice
as our experience may suggest.
We can hardly hope tObe Of much ser
vice to the inquirer. We do not know
his temperament, his disposition, his
attainments, his habits, all of which
would modify any instructions likely
to be of benefit. It is personal and
peculiar advice that each man needs.
and that must be given by some one
who knows the circumstances Of the
applicant.
Some general hints, applicable TO
all young aspirants for public speak
ing, may answer a good end.
!. The earlier one begins TO practice
public speaking the better. For al
though the gift. in point Of faet, de-
velOps late in life, IL is only in the
case of those who have q strong,
though, it may be, dormant talent for
it. No man has learned any art un-
til he can practice it spontaneously,
without conscious volition. If this
proves true in music, in drawing, in
the dance, or graceful pOsturing, It Is
even more apparent in oratOry. Par
ents and teachers should encourage
children to narrate, to eonverse-for
story telling and fluent conversation
are essentially Of that same nature as
oratory.
,. The habit of ninkinq on ones
feet is invaluable. Great orations
may be prepared with eIaborationsand
study, not alone in their substance.
but in form. Such we know to have
been the preparation of orations
which continue to be read from age
to age. .l
But for the purpose of American
life, one must be qualified to speak
without laborious preparation of Ian
guage, and this can only be done
when one can command his thoughts
in the face Of an audience. The fac
ulty Of doing this is greatly helped by
early and persistent practice. Aspir-
9nts for Oratorieal hOnors, without
negleeting. the severe preparations of
the study Tor special occasions, should
lose no opportunity to speak off-hand. /
One should not be downeast at fail
ures. They are often far better for the
student than successes. He who goes
to school to his mistakes goes to o
good schoolmaster, and will not be
likely to become either idle orconceit- |
ed.
8. Public speaking means business,
or ought to. Although there is a
great deal Of fancy talking, after-din-
ner speeches, Complementary speech !
es, and religious exhortations, all Of !
which are meant to fill up time, yet /
public speaking, in its nobler aspect, |
Is an attempt to gain some definite 1
and important end by the use of /
raesOns and pursuasiOns. When a
man seeks his neighbOr for a business
he knows Just what he /
wants, and he settles with himself by
what method he will get 1t. This Is
the very genius Of a good preparation
for speech-tO know definitely
what you wish to gain Of an audience,
and the means by which you propose
to secure it. All true OratOry is prae-
Lically psychology.
4. A man may speak deliberately or
sven slowly, but no man can succeed
who speaks hesitatingly-who goes
1n a sentence and begins again.
such e speech Is like shying horse
1r baking mule. At all hazards
he young speaker must learn to push
In-to keep q current moving from
to end of his address. III
you drop a stitch, don't stop to take it
lp- If you stumble ON . word, let it
90. Don't go back 10 it. Keep right
1n, no matter what happens, to the
end. Momentum is of more value
han verbal accuracy. or course, the
best speech is that which is full Of
good substance, expressed by the best
and fiHently uttered. But
while one is learning, he should new
II let himself be tripped up by g word,
n the want of one. Jump the gap
'un over the mistake. Keep right on.
{ will be time enough the next en-
leavor to profit by the experience OF {
he mistake.
5. II one is slow Of thought, dull Of !
ceiling, very cautious and seeretive in
nature, without the talent eombative-
less, which tends to project ones
mind upon another's, or if one be ex-
sensitive, so that a mistake {
ashes like a lancet IL Is not likely I
le will succeed as public speaker. s
NetD York Herald.