The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-13
FIRST STEPS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING. III

In last article we tried to show the need
of language to the public the necessity of
a vehicle in which to ship his goods. The
vehicle secured. it now seems proper to
consider how to get the goods to ship, and
how to get the speech ready TO deliver.
This brings US to the
PREPARATION OF THE ADDRESS.
This must necessarily divide itself into
two distinct departments-one language,
one thought. Each should to certain ex-
tent be pursued by itself Yet neither can
advance far without the other. Language
without thought is the empty husk with
out the kernel, and thought without
language is nude and cannot be handled.
Assuming that everyone has some Ian
guage to start with, and is resolved to
have more, we begin with thought or
matter, which is technically called
subjector.
The first step then in the preparation Of
the address is the selection OF theme.
This must be done with care;
First-With reference to your ability; !.
e., a theme about which you know some
thing and can know more. You may be
able to say something about temperance.
industry, honesty, when you could say
nothing about finance, civics, atomic
theory, nebular hypothesis and the like.
You may have easy access to facts In the
former class while little or none in the
latter. Law-You must have before you
can say. lou can't pour wine out OF an
empty jug.
Second--Interest. Young speakers often
make the mistake of choosing themes
about which they care nothing, or at most
care but little. They choose for show
rather than interest and thus violate a
fundamental law Of oratory. namely, feel
ing. Oratory is. very cold, when
ing is generally wanting when there
is no interest. Feeling gives warmth and
fexibility to the faculties, and as a conse-
uuence they seize and tighten round the
subject as they would not and could not
if cold.
Third-wen defined or bounded A
theme may be so loosely stated that
to do. When men start to travel they
usually know where they want 10 go; so
in speech A single word makes great
change. He went to the lakes. round the
lakes, over the lakes, II practicable, under
the lakes; TO, round, over and under are
very different things. Same in themes.
All men are mortal; some men are mortal,
a blessing gold is usually blessing; gold
in the hands of good men is a blessing
Here we see the change wrought by a
single word Here the study of language
is needed; first. to determine the exact
meaning of words; second, TO know their
exact modifying or limiting power.
Law-Try to know the exact size Of your
contract before attempting to fill it.
Fourth. Distinction between term and
a proposition. Here young speakers often
stray, and we fear sometimes older ones.
A term is often a single word, as gold,
labor, nouesty, learning, truth, etc. Some
times it is several words consisting or one
principal and several modifiers. or ad-
iuncts: as gold in California; labor with
the hand; learning in the Dark Ages, etc.
These modifying words may be increased
to almost any extent provided they do not
take in a verb The verb Is the differenti-
ating element between the term and the
proposition, thus: Gold, term; gold Is
heavy. proposition. Man, term; man
is mortal, proposition. IL Will be seen;
first, that term says nothing, il neither
affirms nor denies; propositions always
one or the other Gold Is a metal; gold is
not a gas. Second, While a term may Be
only one word. proposition when written
in fuln must have three, subject, predicate
and copula. Third. These differ IS widely
in treatment As they do in form Terms
are TO be unfolded, propositions proved
1t is quite obvious that you cannot prove
gold. or silver, or gas, D1t they can be IN
folded or cut into sections Ihe process
may be illustrated thus: First, Origin. |
Second, How mined Third, How miated |
Fourth. How put into circulation fifth, |
How increased.
Now il viii be observed that the speaker
Is at liberty 70 take any one OF these first, |
any one second, and 40 on He is allowed
great latitude, only required 70 keep in
side OF his theme. II be begins, |
begins, in the case above. 70 talk OF the
specific gravity OF water, or the price OF
butter. be Is over the boundary, hence Of !
his subject A term admits Of much more |
wandering than does TIRE proposition. |
Men are usually talking On terms when |
they make long. narrow, crooked and |
rambling speeches. Pray yOu avoid these. |
On the other hand, propositions hold mec |
20 line, demanding proofs here - tie |
value u the study u geometry. GsoTneEFJ |
nat i not proof - not anything Hence /
here was wisdom in ErEkIne's looking oar /
bis geometry before entering a dlfacuit |
case At the bar. Ths cooTts furnish tie /
hnest examples OF ibis pE0posl- 1
tlonsl and proof work. Every isdief- !
meat = or ought 70 be & clear and distinct /
nrooosition or propositions. Thus. Wm
Roe killed joan Dee; Patrick Muigix /
stabbed james StumFx OI course these 1
ruay have Eaodiherx, as on or zeout TIE !
arzt Of January N tee city q Chicago N /
TIE county of-ard state of--and eta, !
prsva4sus a2d dominant ssEoughsGs. so