The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-05-26


carefully preparing them beforehand. IL
Il rather amusing that so many
speakers try TO produce the impression
that they speak without having
made read Sometimes II IL by be-
ginning with the const tutional
statement that the call upon them is
unexpected or that they have been abb
sorbed with other demands upon heir
time. Sometimes In the opening or
close. VIII ch has been so carefully fix
cd In the memory that the speaker is
secure OF it. he Injects word or refer
ence caught from the ponding occasion.
thus giving the impression that the
whole thing is present inspiration.
Then. too, not TO put too line a point on
the matter. there are some who on this
subject do. with the most unconscion-
able Abandonment. verify the Scrip
ture. that all men are liars. remen-
Der most distinguished man telling
me that long speech of his ut public
meeting was cxtemporaneous when !
heard II read the evening before set up
in cold type for the forthcoming morn
ing paper.
Some of the best stump speakers
very wisely repeat the same speech al
most in totidem verbs as they 60
from place TO place. MS you will learn
when you 60 with them. Some OF them
frankly acknowledge this method;
others will so emphaticaly assure that
they never speak twice alike that you
are bound TO credit them with an
honest deusion. You rarely listen to
an after-dinner speech. however glibly
1t rolls that has not been wrought al
unguem.
should say. therefore, 40 not hest
tate to make the most thorough prep
aration. or to let IL be known il need
be. that you do so. II is good thing,
too. 10 NIX In something of humor.
never coarse. but OF n fine sort giving
flavor as a mite of red pepper havors
a salad. Helpful also is a touch OF pa
thos or sentiment of which in rea-
sonable degree, do not be afraid. With
out humor or sentiment no speech goes
very close to the heart of an audience.
have often found that some little in-
cident, scene. or "Reminiscences or bit OF
landscape has given source from
which TO derive speech. Sitting
down to write il the theme expands.
not forward. but In a circle. Some
leading thought controls. and around
that argument. illustration. applica
ton group themselves. The very pro-
cess of writing, cspcc ally second
copying. will develop new trains OF
thought and illustration or reference.
A word as you write It becomes sug-
gestion and your pen creates almost as
IL 1t were independent of your mind.
A vocabulary is. OF course. vital re-
source for speaker. though some
seem to have been born to full one.
The great aid to this is reading and
also committing good authors. disci-
pline doubly valuable because II fur
nishes a stock of facts aud a stock of
words.
\ ! think the great thing in a speech Is
earnestness Of purpose aud especially
of delivery. | would not advise the
slightest attention TO gesticulation. for
that will take care OF itself with an
earnest speaker. and some of the most
earnest aud effective seem to dispense
with il altogether. The manner is
everything in public speaking. You
may hear two speakers, one stirring
you to the depths. the other drowned
in your own yawning. and yet had you
read them Ia your evening newspaper
they would have been equally as good,
or equally as commonplace.
A good speech consists OF sound,
wholesome array OF facts. thought or
argument, relieved in the treatment by
a picture. touch OF humor. or play
OF fancy or sentiment. not afraid OF
the embellishing OF reasonable fringe
OF rhetorical flourish. clearly enunci-
atod in the speaking. and delivered
with all the force. feeling. earnestness
and approval that yon would put into
n struggle for your life John d. Long.
ga March W,iter.