Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-25
One Person an Audience.

One Person an Audience.
1t is by no means the man who has the
most people in his mind, as he speaks or
writes for the public. who influences the
greater number by what he writes or says.
Indeed, it is commonly the case that
mans effectiveness in impressing the pub.
lie through his utterances is largely in
proportion to one concentration of his
thought on single hearer or reader, rath-
er than on the many. as he shapes his
thought for its expression. 1t is not that
he aims his address at an individual, nor
vet that he seeks to reach or to please
single person only; but that by having in
his mind one who is representative in
needs, or in ability, or in worth. or in in
fuence. he may conform his utterances to
n proper standard. and may meet the wants
which he would fain supply.
At the republican national convention
which nominated General Grant for the
presidency. in 1863, it devolved on Gen.
Joseph R. Hawley, as its chairman, to
make an opening address. He is brill
liant and impressive orator, and when he
attempted to hurriedly write out the words
he would speak, one Of his mpulsive
friends said to him earnestly. "Oh. away
with your written speech! Just 90 before
that crowd without any manuscript. and
ring out something that will bring them to
their feet with shcat." No, shall
not" said the thoughtful general. as he
pointed TO a telegraph operator, whose in
strnment had been brought into the build
ing that the convention proceedings might
be the more qnickly flashed over the whole
cour try. " DO you see that man yondor,
with the telegraph instrument before him?
I've got him in my mind while make my
opening speech. I'm weighing my words
because he hears me. He represents forty
millions of people. What are five thou
sand persons in this house in comparison
with themr Nor is the telegraph opera
tor the only man who becomes represen-
tative one, So that his ears or ewes are
worth those of ten thousand others. There
are men whose weight of character or
measure of ability is such that they out
number the rest of their community in the
estimation of those who would influence
that community. L" He is himself pub
lic," was the tribute of respect to one such
man of independent greatness. Said one
of the more distinguished and fearless
American editors, in speaking of we'll
known thinker who had recently died, -
used, unconsciously, to have that man in
mind rs | wrote my more thoughtful or
Otherwise important editorials. didn't
know that he would ever see them. Most
of them he wouldn't see. But thought
how he would look at this thing; how he
would consider my arguments, or my pur.
pose. or my spirit; and | tried TO keep VI
to standard which would have his ap-
proval." And because of his having that
one good and grand man before his mind
as he thought and wrote, that editor was
all the more effective in influencing the
general public by his writings. while he
was at the same time none the less indie
pendent as thinker and writer. from
his clear recognition of high ideal which
was illustrated before him in the character
of one to whom he looked up with feel.
ing akin to reverence.
One person in almost any audience Is
, better worth the speaker thought than nj
the others. in the line of the desired result:
of the hours effort, Take II lawyer argu.
ing court case in II room crowded witt
observant listeners. Whose standard had
he better have in mind, as he progresses
with his argument-the peoples abou
him, or the judges upon the bench9 If he
thinks of the many, instead of the one, hi
whole effort is failure; his ease in hand
and his ultimate reputation are sure to suf
, fer. And the preacher in the desk com
monty does best for his hearers, not whel
r he thinks of his congregation rs whole
and presents truth which is suited to ever,
body alike, but when he has in mimi som
one person or another with want or
. sorrow, or Il temptation, or II sin which i
> both special and representative; and. il
r suiting the truth to that case. suits it spe
/ officially to many others. Even in givin
. out the results of thought and study an
| culture, most preachers are the gamer
n from having in mind the best and bright
est of NIL their hearers, rather than lh
average mass. DR.. John Brown tell
: this. in Spare Hours" of his old fathe
l.. as IL preacher; " But he often said, wit
p deep feeling, that one thing put him a
a ways on his mette-the knowledge tn;
!. yonder in the corner, under the gallery
a sat. Sabbath after Sabbath, man VIII
"a knew the Greek Testament better than
. did, There is many another preache
"a who, Sabbath after Sabbath. is put on h
Is mettle by single hearer, and who woul
"a not keep always up to his present hig
.t attainment if he missed the stimulus an
" inspiration of that one person who's
u standard is to his mind well worth striN
~ ng after. And the most finished as wei
NJ rs the most effective editorial work is con
4 monty stimulated and inspired in simls
,r way. The question with the true eGiior
n not, what is everybody's want just now
but, whose particular need is it importal
now 10 meet because it is represenlatiy
need? Again, not, how will the publ
1. generally be pleased with the spirit IN
ID substance and style of this writingp bu
s how would the spirit and substance ar
a. style Of this writing commend themselv,
70 to the noblest and purest and most di
70 cernng and judcious of all my readers
il of all those of whom l have any know
ld edge, whether reader of this paper or no
T. 1t is n good thing for public speak
- or writer--a preacher or an editor, or ~
m one else who would impress and infiuen'
lie the public in the right direction-to cou
ed one person AN audience, and to make h
" address accordingly. In fact, there is vel
+ little right-down practical good dol
p through addresses to the public on al
~ other basis. But it behooves the publ
10 man To see to ii that the cases ut which
lis aims are representative oases-that i
10 work for the public shall not degenern
IN into purely personal channels; and that Il
IN standard which he holds before himself
IN high standard--higher than his own bt
etanInr1 eto Iar t. x.rh;nh h,,1 1,,oko