The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-09
SOME NJ GREAT MEN.
Orators Who Once 9unked and shivered
IfAEnre A uNIenaes.

Orators Who Once 9uaked and shivered
Betore A audiences,
1t has been f6centiy stated by those who
knew him that Mr.. spurgeon was still an-
other example Of the fact that great men
ofton quake on the eve Of thoir great anc-
cssaes, says Casselrs Saturday Review.
Although few guessed IL, he was nervous in
speaking. and one result of the disastrous
panic at the Surrey gardens In 1856 was that
he ever after wards dreRded excitement in
great audiences. At the Free Trade hall IN
Manchester, 1872, the orator was ~ buoyant
and brilliant form. Yet before delivering
his add ess he WAS attacked by nervous
sickness In the nnte-room.
As we have suggested, this curious pre-
liminary recoil seems to be u frequent
characteristic of the etforts that establish
or increase fame. Inquiry shows that some
form of timorousneHa dogs distinction like
its shadow, 10 may have peculiar ana even
eccentric features. Mr.. Edmund Yates
has mentioned the case OF q dis
%tinguished living politician, noted for his
dash and aplomb while in the house or
to whom on one OCCASION Sir
Henry Halfotd. the eminent physician,
gave an account of II railway accident. n
narrator was elaborate in his description,
and il WAS too much for his listeners nerves,
In the midst of til. story the doctor had to
break off. His friend was on the point OF
fainting. Condition OF mind ordeii ing ON
panic has often prevailed up to the test
moment with men who have had to face
critical audiences.
The late Lord Derby earned the title of
the Rupert of dobate" from his dashing
alacrity, but he declai ed: When | AN go
ing to speak my throat and lips are as dry
as those OF Il man who ls going TO DC
hanged" He never rose to speak without
experiencing n peculiar and very unpleas-
ant nervous trenior.' The same was said
of Lord Lyndhurst. That eminent jurist
and statesman was totally unable to free
himself, from beginning to end OF hi'
career, of trepidation and nervous emotion
when he got upon his legs to address either
a coult or parliament. Canning, too, told
his friend that he knew beforehand, by II
disagreeable set of symptoms, when
he should win and hold the ear
Of the house and extort the admira-
tion even of his advers aries. He WAS al
ways conscious of an ominous chill OF fear.
1t meant not failure, as was his dread,
but a fine Grafton. Emilio Castelar,, the
silver-tongued Spanish tribune, is simply
miserable on the eve of n great speech. His
unrest and anxiety on such occasions are a
characteristic feature Of the man. He wan
ders distrauRht about the building in which
the cortes ia in session. HE rushes into
the cafe to take a glass Of water; seems &c
be seized with a fever; fancies he will not
know how to put the words together; that
he will be laughed at or Kissed; not a single
lucid idea of his speech remains in his head
he has confused and forgotten every.
thing'-until the moment when he looked
round upon the expectant faces and deliv-
crs the first sentence Of his address. Their
words do not fail; they come to his help il
stately, sonorous order. Then courage doei
not flag. He is a statesman with a mission
inspired and earnest. Every atom of tim
or0usness has evaporated.