River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-20
Nervousness in Speaking.

A youthful speaker nervous at the pro
iect of addressing literary society on It's
anniversary, was advised by clergy man to
look upon the audiences as ii it were SO m5ny
cabbase-heads The suggestion was not a
bad one, provided the youth had thoroughly
prepared his speech or heads with brains.
The young man, though he dld not know it.,
held in that nervousness, at least, one claim
to a place among orators. For there is
scarcely public speaker whose worcs move
men, who does rot ieel similar tremor
every time he rises before great audience.
"My throat and lips" said Inc late LORD
Dsruy, surnamed tue Rupert oil Debate,
from his dashing, fearless style, when am
going to speak, are as dry IS those OF u man
who is going to be hanged
Mr.. Matthews, III his essay On The Ora
tors Trials" has collected a number OF
cases to illustrate e TACT that the very sen
sibilhy which gives the orator his power
mas es hn neryOusiy anxious before rising
20 address an audlel ce.
Patrick Henry usually began with hesitat-
ing timid ty, which continued until the ex
element of speaking threw II Oft William
PinkHeg, hauty, defiant, and vehement
orator, would tura pale when about 10
spea and his Bnees would trembie, rs
though be were Belshazzar, gazing st the
mysterious hand writing GA the wall.
Even years OF practice failed to repIess this
nervousness.
1t is fortunate for the orator that years
do not do this. For without the sensibility
which beg5ts il one OF the forces OF oc&tory
would be wamlng.
Tristan Burgess, "the bald-eagle of
Rhode Island" while speaking, on some
important QUESTION, in the house of repre-
sen atives, suddenly pointed his fre-fnger
towards his opponent and made long
pause.
THAT pause was terrible" said col
leagus to Mr. Burgess on leaving the hous e,
ito no one so terrible as to me. replied the
orator, for couldn't think of anything to
say"
Nothing but strong excitement and q
great occasion" wrote Lord Macaulay while
he was looked upon as one oitne orators OF
the house OF commons "OvereO- 'eS d GER
tain reserve Ssd mauvaise honte bashtul-
ness1 which / have in speaking; not a mau.
vase homie which in the least conluses ms
or makes me hesitate for q word, which
Keeps me from putting any fervor into my
tone or my action"
Dr.. Storrs, the most finished of pulpit or
ators, whose extempors neous s,rmons are
marvels OF rhetoric, thought and eloque7ce,
it is s4id, made dead failure when he first
preached without notes. After tloundering
for twenty five minutes, he cams to full
stop.
''I sank back in the chair" he said, de-
scribipg his Modification, almost wishing
that l had been with Pharaoh and his b ests
when the Red sea went over them"
"My lords" said the Earl of Rochester
as he began a speech ia the house OF lords
"I-I-I rise this time-my lords, I'll
divide my discourse into four branches.
My lords, if ever rise again in this house.
l give you leave 10 cut me of, root and
branch, forever"
The lesson taught by these incidents is
this: The orator should master, but not
eradicate, his nervousness. Canning, enc
of highlands wi,tiest and most classical of
orators, used 70 say he was sure of speak.
ing the best, if he rose in great fright
The more bis heart beat the more certain
he was that the heart ofthe audience would
soon beat in responsive, sympathetic rhy-
thm