The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-30

is an hour when a mans mind is not usual
ly active. It is time when he is accus-
toned to sit at home in his slippers. taking
his ease. allowing his mind to vegetate. An
after-dinner speech should never be more
than thirty minutes long, and I rarely
speak more than twenty.
''Now, as to the necessity of having after
dinner speeches lively and entertaining. In
the twenty minutes that ! consume in an
after-d dinner speech I never devote more
than five to humor. The faculty of saying
things in an interesting manner must be
natural to man, and cannot be acquired.
| md it necessary to keep my fun down
this connection 1t is noteworthy that the
newspaper press has taken much broader
view of after-dinner speaking than 1t did
formerly. In former years the reporter
would Gull out of speech only the funny
sayings and the next day when the public
learned really very little of what had been
said. But when you consider the variety
of subjects touched upon after dinner, and
the many persons who are interested In
them, it is not surprising that the newspa-
pers should find it necessary to give more
space to the HEN important parts OF the
persons all over the country who are anxious
to know what is said at the after-dinner
speeches in New York City. I said to Mr.. Reid
of the Tribune some time ago that he made
q great mistake in not paying more atten-
tion to the speeches made after dinner in
this city nearly every night in the year, be-
cause there was really very large number
of persons who would like to read them.
It must be remembered that many of the
dinners held in this city are given by soci-
cites or professional men. The remarks at
these dinners touch upon subjects which
are interesting to many men all over the
Conntpu Svh fhn"oo0voo ho nra0ont
Mr.. Reid acted upon my SUGGESTION. and
rs result | know personally that his
paper has built up a circulation throughout
the country among people who buy 1t sim
ply because they want to read the after
dinner speeches delivered in New York.
important dinners held in this town. He is
himself a frequent speaker, and is widely
quoted. Mr.. Wiman took radical issue
with all the other gentlemen quoted.
II think it is true" he said, that speak
ers do fall into specialties. rnan can
speak best upon the subject of which he has
made specially. In these busy days men
quire all kinds of information. Therefore
they devote themselves to particular SUBJ
jects upon which they can speak with the
knowledge of an expert. have never been
able to make decent speech in New York
city. for the simple reason that / have not
uttO u CuduCo W tuAA UPON tuO 0uOJoCt viii
which am most familiar. have devoted
myself almost entirely to the question of
reciprocity between Canada and this coun-
try. Upon that can talk at any time with
as much power of interesting my audien-
ces, think, as anybody. I spoke at one
meeting in New Haven last week where
there were over 1900 persons. At Bridge
port the hall was also packed to overflow
ing. On both occasions datter myself that
did my subject justice. spoke at Montre-
al not long ago upon this same subject.
had some misgivings when / went to the
hall. because there are good many biRots
in that city who would think nothing of
disgracing man who spoke against their
convictions. had many fears of violence
before entered the hall, and pictured to
would be in II somebody should hit me
with rotten egg. very much wished my
self back in my library on Staten Island,
and thought what an ass was to have left
1t upon such an GRAND. just before went
upon the platform, however, l received q
note from the master workman of the
Knights of Labor there saying that he had
received information that was friendly to
the workinRmen, and had spoken in favor
| OF Several of their pct measures. He as
sured me. therefore. that need not have
any misgivings, as he had go of his men in
TIE front of the hall, and any persons who
might attempt to assail me would
have to pass over their dead bodies. That
assurance put fresh courage into me and l
went upon the platform fully prepared to do
speech and won the enthusiastic applause
of my audience. One of the essential
points for public speaker TO remember IL