, 1890-12-14
A SPEAKERS FRIGHT.
LILLE peVEREux BLAKE TELLS HER
EXPERIENCES.
whea She Began 70 TAX In Public She
Wa Greatly Embarrassed and Nearly
Failed. bot Persistent E.44avor BroaEht
Success.


Failed. bot Persistent E-daavor BroaEht
Success.
Copyright by American Pre- AssociEtio1l
1t is an ancient saying that "a poet
is born, not made, but our orator is
made at the expense OF his audiences"
No truer words were ever uttered II
any man or woman would become q
public speaker let him or her constantly
practice public speaking. A celebrated
pulpit orator was once asked by q young
aspirant how to achieve success. His
reply was:
"Holler, holler, holler!"
There may be an element of impress
siveness in the loud voice of some son
Of thunder" though we have all been
bored by people who made such a noise
we literally could not near what they
said; but l would say rather to the
youthful inquirer, Speak. speak,
speak,"
Speak on all possible occasions in sea-
son and out of season. At every meet
ing where any one will give you a chance
speak. Do not be scornful of any place
however humble; speak wherever people
are gathered together who will listen TO
you. 1t is absolutely the only way in
which to acquire facility of utterance.
In my early days of speaking 1 went to
many queer places simply because |
could be heard, and often l have been
met by the astonished faces of reporters
who exclaimed, you heret" with ele-
waited eyebrows. The places were al
ways respectable, of course, but they
were often very unpretentious.
Private practice will not take the place
of public effort; you cannot be eloquent
to the chairs and tables in your own par
lor; you must nave an audience. Nor
can you become an orator by reading a
carefully prepared paper or repeating a
memorized speech.
All el~oquence that is worth being so
called is spontaneous and comes hot
from the heart in the words that spring
to the lips at the moment. l do not
mean that a speech should be unconsid-
cred. No one has any more right to go
before an audience carelessly prepared
in mind than ~carelessly dressed in body
Every speech should be thoroughly di-
gested, illustrations culled and heads ar
ranged in order, but the language in
which 1t is delivered should be up to the
impetus of the moment. OF course in
debate many OF the u~tterances cannot be
kstudied beforehand, as the topics viii
naturally be suggested by what others
have said.
Thinking on ones legs" as the En-
glish phrase is, and the power to put the
thoughts into well chosen words, is a gift
only acquired by strenuous practice.
Many would be lecturers think they
can begin at once by addressing a large
audience in a handsome hall, and that
anything else is beneath their notice. In
the first place no beginner can command
such an opportunity except through the
kindness OF friends, and then will only
exhibit any imperfections on a large
scale.
There must be "a day of small things
in oratory as in everything else, and all
our great public speakers have realized
this. Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd
Garrison, Henry Clay and hosts of other
celebrated men began talking to small
audiences in country villages without
compensation but by each effort building
up the reputation that was to be fame.
In my WI experience the revelation
that l might be a speaker came to me
not until after l was married. 1 had al
ways been a talker at home, being the
member Of the family called upon to en-
terrain guests, but in the conservative
circles Of my rearing the thought Of
public speech in a m was regarded
with horror.
No one will ever know what the world
has lost by this prejudice. Edmund
Burke had a~sister, Mrs. Fraser, who WAS
famous as q conyersationalist and who,
had opportunity been given, might have
riyaled him as an orator; for it is safe
TO say that any man or woman who talks
well will make at least a fair public
speaker.
In the summer Of 80 1 became active
ly interested in the woman suffrage
movement and began attending the
weekly meetings of the society held in
New York. They took place in a hand
some private house on Twenty-third
street, and there was nothing about them
to offend the most fastidious. l was
deeply interested in the discussions and
ere long vas moved to say a few words.
l started 10 my feet full of an idea, halt
said it, then saw every one looking at me
and hurriedly sat down overwhelmed
with confusion. However, l gradually
gained a little courage, and, never miss,
ing q meeting, began to take part in
every debate.
Before long | was invited to be the
principal speaker on a certain afternoon.
A friend advised me to write out my
remarks on foolscap paper in large let
ters, SO hat l could read with ease. ]
did az h suggested, but when the time
came / found that | could not fix M
eyes on the paper; 1 wanted to look at
my audience. 1t seemed AS If only SC
could l make them understand rs ]
wished, and laying my manuscript down
| said just about what 1 had written il
words that came at the moment All
my nervousness vanished; l was absorbed
i my subject, and spoke with tenfold
the earnestness with which I could have
read.
l began then to think that | might
have some power as a speaker and to
practice on all possible occasions. doubt
less often at the expense of my audiences.
A convention was held at Newport in
August and there / made my first speech
from a platform. For a long time pre-.
Tously / had been much excited over the
prospect, my nights sleepless, ray days
restless, all my energies absorbed in the
preparation of my addresses.
At last the fateful arrived.
The pretty hall in the gay watering place
was well filed, for there was a brilliant
array Of speakers present. Ny place was