Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-07-09
! SPEECH PaeSERvER.
som~ NsIusblo Hints to Orators. Young
aud pId.


All the books on oratory that have ever
been written omit the only important rule
for an orator to observe TINS rule is Of
service to all speakers, good, bad and indif
ferent. and practically Is worth more than
all the rules of Quintilian, Whately, Quack-
enboss and their kin IL aids the best
speaker and prevents tie worst from making
fool of himself.
This is the rule: Begin 10 study, think over
or commit youI speech 10 memory at is end,
not at it, beginning.
The prosperity of a speech depends upon
its peroratlon. not it, exordlum. Indeed, to
begin stumbling and to end flying Is itself
clever trick of rhetoric. and makes an agree
able climax. A speaker oftener begins fly
ing and ends in a slough. The reason is oh
yious: he has thought out the first part of
his speech clearly, but he trusts to the syren
inspiration for the rest
A striking instance: During the oil excite
ment years ago, | passed few weeks at the
city OF Pithoe, Nenango county. An cleo
tion was held while | was there, AMI two or
three thousand men gathered before the main
hotel, the only spot whtce You could stand
an CIR without SINKING ever head and ears
in mud Here thick I.lanks had been laid IN
the street OF which the sidewalk looked
down from a height of nve feet.
The street for a handred yards was crowded
thicker than a sardine box with an oily mass
of good natured rapscailIonadoes, while mil
lionaires, swindleIs ami Iueu Of genius
thronged the sidewalk.
In a nascent society most men who can
write their names are eager TO make their
mark The occasion seemed inviting 10 30
generous AN ambition. Look there Is Plum
McCalmott: lac is thinking busily how he can
. ha mi l. S,.slI
A moment later he advanced to the edge of
the sidewalk. and in answer 10 calls of
Speech ''Speechf' stretches forth AN arm
whose grace would make pump handle eu-
vious.
During half dozen sentences he holds his
audience spellbound; but, alas he does not
know my rule lie has begun at the wrong
end. lake the carnal philosopher, he is try
ing to reason from the known IL the un-
known Look he has got 20 the end OF his
memory: he falters, he stumbles, he catches
at a sentence, at a word, at a breath. A de
risive laugh greets the nascent statesman.
Some one pushes him from behind: he tot
tiers moment ON the edge of the sidewalk,
over he goes. aud disappears ike brick in
an OIL tank. ., ,,-c-,..
all of them heavy purses and big brains,
rose and fell like rockets, each in as many
minutes. What would they not have given
for my rulel
Suddenly Todd, Barnes, Gregory and
other mischievous spirits called out my
name, and before i could refuse found my
self pashed to the sidewalks perilous edge.
Fortunately my instinct had forewarned NE
of danger, and had thoaght over dozen
seutencee with which to end a speech.
Like Plato, and all great reasoners, be
can with the unknown. | fiounuerei about
a few minutes in the infinite. and
was about TO be pushed headlong
fiy sentence / had committed TO
memory. Then after dallying awhile with
danger. | began the closing part of my
speech, and ended like the binding light
ming.
The audience were delighted, aad had
wished 10 grow up or rather grow down
with the country-for Of the five thousand
then inhabitants there remain but n bakers
dozen-I might have become justice Of the
neace and Of the quorum