The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-23
WOMEN AS ORATORS.
Il Is Chiefly Their Lack of Voice That
Randicaps Their success.

Haudicaps Their Success.
Prom the Indianapolis Journal.
Il is not everybody who ha, yet grown
up TO the idea that the female orator is an
essential part Of the social fabric, and yet
we have her suddenly with US aud taking
the prizes away from the sex that hos hith-
erto enjoyed a practical monopoly Of the
oratoricsl arts and graces. 1t is not worth
while 60 question the propriety OF woman's
appearance on the platform. As a matter
OF fact. she appeared there some time ago,
but as a speaker, hardly as an orator in the
proper sense. It has been several
years now since the sight CT a woman
as public speaker created even a ripple of
emotion. She has been presiding over and
addressing temperance meetings and club
gatherings, she has iectured to public as
semblies. she has made political stump
speeches, she has even preached sermons
all without arousing excitement or serious
opposition. The fact is, women have "ar-
rived. ~ and the people who are slow TO adj
just themselves to the situation are at dis
advantage. IL matters not whether public
speaking is in their Sphere women are
making public speeches when occasion seems
to call for them. Conventionalities and
traditions, authorities and prejudices, are
all knocked in the head, to be sure. Even
serenely on-and it must De acknowledged
that no serious calamity has yet resulted.
II they want TO talk out in meeting they
will talk, and it profits no man to say them
nay. On the contrary, there are several
reasons why they should be encouraged to
excel
If a woman will address her fellow citi-
zens from the stage or the stump il is bet
ter that she should do it acceptably. Even
the most ardent friends of advanced woman,
those who have kept her in sight in her
rapid progress toward emancipation, )" are
obliged to confess to a frequent wish that
she wouldn't when she essays 90 electrify
the multitude. She may be earnest and elo-
quent she may be witty and wise, but as a
rule she cannot speak. Her voice gets away
from her. she is alternately shrill and husky;
she shrieks when she would be emphatic;
she whispers hoarsely when she would per-
suede. Sensitive and sympathetic men,
bers OF the audience incline to crawl
under the benches. She has, in short,
voice that was trained by ancestry
and early environments TO domestic
uses, and has not grown to the requirements
of hall. Henceforth this will be different.
Colleges recognize this lack and are pre-
pared to remedy it. II any female students
show oratorical talent or are ambitious to
become spellbinders, opportunity shall be
afforded them. the woman of the future,
and Of the near future. who speaks in public
on the stage may, If she likes, be the Daniel
Webster, the Henry Ward Beecher or the
ChaunceyM. Depew of her sex. Whether the
young woman who so proudly bore the ora
torlcal pennon from the male contestants of
other Indiana colleges on Friday night will
choose to follow up her victory is not yet
known. but if she does she will undoubtedly
win renown. The public will wish her to
'come give us taste of therl quality"