The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
TIr1ID GREAT MEN.
Noted Orators Who Were Afraid of
Their Audiences.
CasseIl's Saturday journal.

CasSells Saturday Journal
1t has been recently stated by those who
knew him we'll that Mr.. Spurgeon was still
another example of the fact that public men
often quake on the eve of their great suc-
cesses. Though few guessed il. he was nerv-
Gus in speaking. and one result of the disas-
trous panic at the Surrey Gardens in 1856
was that he ever afterward dreaded excite
ment I'm great audiences. At the Free Trade
Hall in Manchester, 1872, the orator was ia
buoyant and brilliant form. Yet before de-
liverng his address he had been attacked
by nervous sickness in the ante-room.
As We have suggested, this curious pre-
llminary recoil seems to be d frequent
characteristic of the efforts that establish or
increase fame. Inquiry shows that some
form of timeronsness dogs distinction like
its shadow. Ii may have peculiar or even
eccentric features. Mr.. Edmund Yates has
mentioned the case Of distinguished
living politician, noted for his dash and
aplomb while in the House of Commons, to
whom on one occasion Sir Henry Halford.
the eminent physician, gave an account OF
railway accident. The narrator was elab-
crate in his description, and il was too
much for his listeners nerves. In the
midst OF the story the doctor had to break
off. HIS friend was on the point of fainting.
Condition of mind bordering on pauic has
often prevailed up to the test moment with
men who have had to face critical audiences.
Inc idlt l-OIU DclDy tu6 ute Oh
the Rupert OF debate" from his dashing
alacrity, but he declared: "When | am
going to speak my throat and lips are al
dry as those of man who is going to be-
hanged" He never rose TO speak withou.
experiencing peculiar ana very unpleas-
ant nervous tremor." Tie same was said
of Lord Lyndhurst. That eminent jurist
and statesman was totally unable to free
himself. from beginning to end of his career.
of trrpldation and nervous emotion when he
got upon his legs TO address either q court
or Parliament. Canning. too, told his friends
that he knew beforehand. by disagreeable
set Of symptoms, when he should win and
hold the ear of the House and extort the
admiration even of his adversaries. lie was
always conscious OF an Ominous chill of fear.
1t meant not failure, as was his dread,
but fine GRAFTON. Emilio Castelar,. the sill
yer-tOngued Spanish Tribune. Is simply
miserable on the eve OF a great speech. His
unrest and anxiety on such occasions are
characteristic feature of the man. He wan
ders dIsIraught bout the building in which
the Cortes is in session. "He rushes into
the cafe TO take glass OF water; seems TO
be seized with fever; fances he will not
know how TO put the words together; that
he will be laughed at or Missed not single
lucid idea of his speech remains in his
head-he has confused and forgotten every
thing"-until the moment when he delivers
the first sentence of his address. Then
words do not fail; they come TO lis help in
stately sonorous order. Then courage does
not flag. He is a statesman with mission,
inspired and earnest. Every atom of tim.
Or0uSness has evaporated.