The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-09-24

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men-haye-thcir-price" theory of polit.
ical human nature. Yet, ON the
other hand, we know that few men
are without their weaknesses. These
may provoke smile from the un.
thinking, who have not observed
what powerful factors little things
are in determining the success or
failure.
Mems vanity, or their sclf.con-
sclousness, or their love of approba.
tion, not infrequently mar their for
tunes. We had this fact recalled
while running through Prof. Mat
thew's entertaining book on "Orato.
ry and Orators"
Erskine, the most eloquent of Eng
lish advocates, being a very vain
man, was morbidly sensitive to any
appearance Of inattention from the
court or even from the spectators in
the court room. An opposing attor.
noy once used this weakness of the
orator for the advantage of his (the
attorncy's) client.
The case was of such a nature as
to begct Interpretation that Erskine
would make one of his thrilling adj
dresses to the jury. The shrewd,
unscrupulous attorney hired a sleepy.
headed man to plant himself beneath
the Judges seat and directly oppo.
site where the eloquent lawyer was
won't to stand while speaking to the
court and jury.
!. The fellow had received his in
| lIstssIe! tons, and just ss~Rrskfne was
wofIihs UP a most impassiohate. eli
max the man made u hideous grim
ace, expressive of weariness. Frs
kline was confused, hesitated, STAN
mcred, and the climax was ruined.
Recovering himself, the advocate
went on. Soon he made one of those
impressive pauses, so effective in or
atory, when well and timely DONE
The fellow destroyed its effect by a
fearful yawn.
The peroration was splendid
Judge, jury, and spectators listened
in breathless silence. Suddenly the
orator was staggered by a snore so
loud that the ushcrs cried, "Silcnce
in COURT" This last attack was too
much for the vain, selfconscious ora.
tor. He abruptly sat down, and left
his speech unfinished.
A worse failure ruined Erskinc in
the House of Commons. Again its
cause was the mans vanity, a weak
ness which is the little fox that has
spoiled many an oratorical and polit-
ical vine.
When he rose to make his maiden
speech, Pitt moved over 10 q table
and took up pen, as if to make
notes for reply. Listening intent.
ly for few minutes, he suddenly
threw pen and paper on the floor,
and with u contemptuous smile went
back to his seat.
Erskine's voice faltered; he hesita-
ted, and, though the most voluble of
orators, stammered through u much
shorter speech than he had intended
to deliver, and sat down-a failure.
He never recovered from Pitts real
or feigned expression Of disdain.
The moral Of these two conspicu-
Gus failures should not be overlooked
by the youthful aspirants after ora
torical power. If Erskine had on
either Of these occasions, been more
possessed by his subject than by his
vanity, he would have rushed over
the malicious obstacles which tum-
bled him flat on the ground.
An advocate more anxious to i'm
press the jury with his cause than
with. his fame as an orator, a states.
man less nervous about the reception
Of himself than about the adoption
of his ideas, would in their head long
ea:nostness have swept away such
petty obstacles as the avalanche
sweeps away village which bars its
mighty rush.
InCentral Africa large number Of
Jewish negroes have been discovered.