Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-01-07
Stories, Sketches, sc.
ODDITIES OF ORATORS.

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The methods Of preparing speech
es, and the manner of speaking
among celebrated orators, are as
variousgas the orators themselves.
Some with a great talent of express
sion, and a natural ability to give
easy and rapid utterance, to thought,
trust to- the inspiration of the
moment, and speak off hand, at
least without written preparation.
Such is the case with many noted
preachers, among others, with Spur
geons and Beeeher. Others make
notes or headings of their subject
and frame here and there sentence;
they leave the rest to a careful study
Of their subject and to the moment
of speaking. Others, again, care
fully write out the whole of their
speech, and either commit it to mem
DRY or con it over thoroughly before
appearing in public to deliver it.
Webster and Everett always care
fully prepared their orations in this
way, while Clay often spoke with
little or no preparation.
John Bright makes notes and
headings of his speeches, and with
great care writes off and commits to
memory their most important pas
sages. Gladstone lots dewn only
racTs aud ngures, and for his express
sions trusts entirely to the moment
of speaking. Lord Derby wrote out
every word, and usually committed
his speech to memory. NJ. Theirs
was usually as precise, while Gam
beta, the greatest Of living French
orators, speaks extempore, and his
marvellous eloquence is the result of
the inspiration of the moment.
Sumner precomposed verbally his
great speeches in the laboratory of
his brain, memorizing them, after
ward able to produce the eloquent
sentences in the order in which he
had thought them out. A gentle
man, who once called at his room in
Washington, was told by his young
negro servant: "Massa Sumner, he
gone up to de Senate to make him
speech" .- Sg
"What speech ~ asked the gentle
man, in surprise. @
"Why, dat ar speech he's been
hollering out in bed cherry mornin'
desc free weeks.' @
Orators are peculiarly liable to
that momentary sensation which
Collins, in his "Ode to the Passion
has graphically described:
First fear his hand, its skill to try,
. Amid the cords bcwildered laid,
And back recoiled, he knew not why,
Zen at the sound himself had made y
AS a rule, orators manifesto pain
full anxiety about their speeches.
They are uneasy and nervous, as if
anticipating failure. This is due to
the very sensitive organization which
makes them orators. SIZE
! "Why, how nervous you are ="
said friend, on taking Canning's
hand, just before he rose to speak.
Gam I?n was the Prime Minister'S
reply. "Then | shall make good
speech.
Daniel Webster, on the other
hand, was cool, calm, collected. His
nerves were of iron. Everything has
been thought out before he rose to
speak.
"Mr. Webster" asked friend,
grasping him by the arm,
on the morning when he was ready
TO reply to Hayne. "Mr. Webster,
are You ready?n
The great man, bringing his open
hand vertically down into the palm
of the left, quietly said: 81 have
got four fingers ill.,"
"Four fingers was, among sports
men, the mark Of an unusually heavy
charge for gun. Mr.. Hayne found
out how heavy the load was.
A Junior counsel once congratula-
ted Sir William Toilet on his perfect
composure in the prospect of a great
case he was about to try. Sir
William merely. asked his friend to
feel his hand, which was wet from
nervous anxiety.