The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-02
TIMID GREAT; MEN.
NOTED ORATORS AND PUBLIC MEN
WHO QUAKED AND sHIVERED
BEFORE AUDIENCES.

| 1t has been recently stated by
those who knew him we'll that Mr.
opargeon was still another example
of the fact that pnblic men often
quake on the eve OF their great sue.
cesses. Though few guessed 1t, he
was nervoue in speaking, and one
resul. Of the disastrous panic at the
Surrey Gardens in 1866 was that
he eve, afterwards dreaded excite
ment in q great audience. At the
Free Trade Hall IN Manchester,
1872, the orator was ia buoyaut and
brilliant form. Yet before deliver
Ing his address he had been attack.
g by nervous sickness in the ante.
room.
AS we have suggested, this Curl
Gus preliminary recoil seems to be
a frequent characteristic OF the
efforts that establish or increase
fame. Inquiry shows that svme
form of tlmorOusness dogs distluc-
tion like Its shadow. It may have
peculiar and even eccentric featu-
res. Mr.. Edmund Yates has nen>
toned the case Of a distinguished
living politician, noted for his dash
and aplOmb while In the House of
Commons, to whom on one occasion
Sir Henry Halford. the emlnent
physician, give an account of a rail-
way accident. The narrator was
elaborate in his description, and 1t
was too much for hls listeners
nerves. Ia the midst of the stoIy
the doctor had to breake Oft. His
friend was on the point OF faintlng.
Condition Ut minl bordering on
panic has often prevailed up to tue
lest moment with men who nav.
had to face critical audiences.
The late Lord Derby earned the
title of the "Rupert of debate from
his dashing alacrity, tut he declar-
ed: When | am gong to speak
my throat and lips are as dry as
those of a man who is going to be
hanged" He never rose to speak
without experiencing a peculiar and
vrry unpleasant "nefvous tremor."
Tue Same was said Of Lord Lynd.
hurst. The eminent Jurlst and
statesman was totally unable to free
himself, from beginning to end of
his career, of trepldat.on and ner-
vous emotion when be got upon bis
feet to address either a court or
Parliament. Canning, too, told his
friends that he knew beforehand,
by d disagreeable set Of symptoms,
when he should win and hold the
ear of the House and extcrt the adj
mlrat.on even o! his adversaries.
He ives always conscious Of al
ominous chill Of fear. 1t meant not
failure, "s was his dread, hut
fine Grafton. Emilio CASTELAR,,
the >llver-tongueI Spanish rrib .nc.
ls simply miserable on the eve Of Il
great speech. His unrest and anx-
iety on such occasions are u charac>
teristic feature Of the man. He wan
ders tiistraoght about the hciidiog
in which the Cortes ,s in session.
':He rpshes into the cafe to take
glass Of water; seems to be seized
With fever; fancies he will not
know how to put the words togetbar;
that he will be laugh he'd at or hissed
not single lucid idea Of his speech
RENAME in bis beud-he has confns.
ed and forgotten everythine"-un-
til the roment when he LOOKS round
upon the expectant faces and deiiv-
ers the first sentence OF his ad-
drese. Then words d. not fail they
come to his help IN stately, sonorous
order. Tnen courage does not dag.
He ia a statesman with mission.
inspired and earnest. Every atom
Of timucousneaa has eyapOrated