The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-16
PREMEDITATED PAUSES.
Unexpected Points Made by the Tardv
Ending OF q Sentence.

PREMEDITATED PAUSES.
Unexpected Points Made by the Tardv
Ending of q Sentence.
A familiar form of premeditated
pause is often used by badgering coun-
sci who are wont to pause after each
word of a question. to give the witness
an idea that it is of great Importance;
but this rule is not always effective. as
the following anecdote will show:
Counsel Now hat-did-you-do
-when-as-yo YOU say-the--prisoner
- threw -a-beer glass -at-you?"
Witnes (promptly)-'I lodged"
Sohhe time ago joke turning upon q
premeditated pause appeared in one of
the comic papers. The scene is court
room. and the judge, addressing the
prisoner. says: fear you are great
rogue" With amazing GOODNESS the
prisoner says: mot such a fool. my
lord, as you"-here followed lengthy
and evidently premeditated pause
take me to be-" This manufactured
anecdote WAS doubtless suggested by
the speech made by Lord George Sack
vile during his trial. The words used
by his lordship We're: 81 stand here rs
4 prisoner unfortunately that gentle
notwithstanding the judge -"sits
there as my judge" The result of the
nOn-obsevance of the pause after ''un-
fortunately" was that Lord George
was accused of contempt of court.
Lord Erskine was in the habit OF
making a very effective pause in all
letters applying to solicitations for sub
scriptiOns. He wrote: '.Sir: | feel much
honored by your application to me, and
| beg to subscribe the reader
haI to turn over the leaf-''myself
your very obedient servant" etc.
One of the best instances of this form
of pause occurred in Il letter received
by a popular physician. This gentle
man was pleased with Il certain ;prated
water, and by his recommendations he
managed TO procure for it some celeb
rity. For this he expected neither re-
ward nor thanks. Imagine his surprise,
therefore, when he received one day
from the makers of the mraled water
an ELUSIVE letter, stating that bis kind
recommendations had done so much
good that they ventured to send him
4 hundred Here the pages
turned over. This will never do"
said the doctor; sit is very kind, but I
will never think of accepting any
thing" Here he turned the page and
found the sentence ran: 'Of our circu-
lars for distribution.
1t is always advisable to hear the end
of sentence. \ literary man. for in
stance, once said to one of his lady
friends: "Will you accept my
hand--' Gushing maiden-"Why.
er-so sudden-so unexpected. Lit
erary man proceeding unmoveO-
'book on political economy"
Somewhat similar is story told of
another couple. He: How bright the
stars are tonight! They are almost as
bright as - She expecting your
eyes'O: 80. YOU flatter mer' He pro-
ceeding): They were last night.
Lord PalmerSton once made use Of
some very effective pauses which he
could not have prepared beforehand.
and these are worth quoting in con-
clusion. While electioneering ut Taun-
ton he was greatly troubled by u
butcher who wanted him to support a
certain radical policy. At the end of
one of his lordShip's speeches the butch
or called out: Lord Palmerston. will
you give me plain answer to a plain
question:"
After slight pause Lord Palmerston
replied: IL will" The butcher then
asked: "Wi!l you Or will you not sup
port this measurc-a radical bill?"
Lord Palmerston hesitated and then.
with twinkle in his eye, replied: II
will Then he stopped Imme-
diately the radicals cheered tremen-
dously. Not" continued his lord5hip.
Loud conservative cheers. When these
ceased Lord Palmerston finished his
sentence-''tell YOU" He then imme-
diately retired.-Notes and Queries.