The Nevada picayune., 1885-05-14
EAs- Some FaAOes Orators.

Bill Wye: Twenty centuries ago last Christmas there was born in Attica, near Athens, the father of oratory, the greatest orator of who m history has told us. His name was Demosthenes. Had he lived until this spring he would have been 2270 years old, but he did not live, Deraosthenes has crossed tho mysterious river. He hastgone to that bOuine from whence no traveller returns. Most of you, no doubt, have heard of it. On those who may not have heard it, the announcement vii! fall with a sickening thud. The sketch is not intended to cast a gloom over your hearts. Ii vas designed to cheer those who read it and make them glad they could read. l would have have been glad if I could have spared them the pain which the sudden breaking of the news. of the death of Demosthe- nes will bring. But it could not be avoided. We should remember the transltory nature of life, and whom we arc tempted to boast of our health and stceugth and wealth, let us remember the sud- den and early death of Demosthe- nes.
 Dsmosthenes was not born an orator. He struggled hard and failed many times. He was home ly and he stammered in his speech, but before his death they came to hlm for hundreds of miles to get him to open county fairs and jerk the bird of freedom bald headed on the Fourth of July. When Demosthenese's fathec died he left fifteen talents to be devided be. tween Demosthenes and his sister. A talent is equal to about 5000. 1 often wish that had been born a little moro talonted. Demosthenes had a short breath, a hesitation of speech, and his manners were very ungraccfui. To remedy his stam- mering-he filled his mouth full of pebbles and hoyled his sentiments to the angry sea However, Plu- tarch says that Drmosthenes made a gloomy fzzle of his first speech. This did not encourage him. He finally became the smoOthest ora- tor in tho country, and it was no unommon thing for him to fill the First Baptist church of Athens full. TEa-e are no sixty of his oratiOns extant, part of them by his private secretary. When he started in he was gentle, mild and quiet in his manner, but later on, carrying his audience with him, he at last be. came enthusiastic. He thundered {, he roarcd, he whooped, he howled he Jarred tho windows, hs sawed the air, he split the horizon with his clarion notes, he tipped over the tables, kicked the lamps out of the chandeliers and smashed the big bass violin over the cheif fid. dler's head. Oh, Demosthenes was business when got started. It will be a long time before we see anott CT Off.hand speaker like Demosthenss and l sfof one have never been the same man since I learned of his death. 'Snch was the first of orators,' said Lord Brougham. At the'head of ali the mighty mas ters of speech, the adOration of ages has cOnsecrated his place, and the loss of the noble instrument with which he forged and launched his thunders is sure to mantain it nnapproachable forever.' l have always been a great admirer of the oratOry of Demosthene sand those who have heard both cf us, think there is a certain degree of similar ity in our style. And Eov only didI admire Demosthenes as an orator, but as man. and though am no Vanderbilt, l feel as though Iwould be willing to head 8 subscription list for the purpose of doing the square thing by his sorrowing wife if she is left in want, as l under stand she is.
 must now leave Demothenes and pass on rapidly to speak of Patrick Henry. Mir. Henry was the man who wanted liberty or death. He preferred liberty though. If he couldn't have liberty he wanted to die but he was in no