The Monitor-register., 1896-01-31
Public Speaking.

Someone writes to US that he is study
ing at law school; that, besides knowh
edge of law, he is desirous Of attaining
the art of oratory, and he asks that we
will give him such advice as our expert
ence may suggest.
We can hardly hope to be of much
service to the inquirer. We do not know
his temperament, his disposition, his
attainments, his habits, all of which
would modify any instructions likely to
be of benefit. 1t is personal and peculiar
advice that each man needs, and that
must be given by some one who knows
the circumstances of the applicant.
Some general hints applicable to all
young aspirants for public speaking may
answer good end.
1. The earlier one begins to practice
public speaking the better. For although
the gift, in point of fact, develops late in
life, it is only in the case of those who
have strong, though it may be dormant,
talent for it. No man has learned any
art until he can practice it spontaneously,
without conscious volition. If this
proves true in music, In drawing, in the
dance, or graceful posturing, it is even
more apparent in oratory. Parents and
teachers should encourage children to
narrate, to conversation storytelling
and fluent conversation are essentially of
the same nature as oratOrv
2. The habit of thinking on ones feet
is invaluable. Great .orations may be
prepared with elaboration and study, not
alone in their substance, but in form.
Such we know to have been the prepara-
tion of orations which continue to be
read from age to age.
But for the purposes of American life,
one must be qualified to speak well with
out Iaborious preparation of language,
and this only can be done " hen one can
command his thoughts in the face of an
audience. The faculty of doing this is
greatly helped by an early and persistent
practice. Aspirants for oratorical honors,
without neglecting the severe preparation
of the study for special occasions, should
lose no opportunity Of speaking of hand.
One should not be downcast at failures.
They are often far better for the student
than successes. He who goes to school
to his mistakes will always have a good
schoolmaster, and will not be likely to
become either idle or conceited.
8. Public speaking means business, or
ought to. Although there is great deal
of fancy talking, after-dinner speeches,
complimentary speeches, and religious
exhortations, all of which are meant to
fill up time, yet public speaking, in its/
nobler aspect, is an attempt to gain some
definite and important end by the use of
reasons and persuasions. When man
seeks his neighboT for business CONVEX
sation, he knows just what he wants and
he settles with himself by what method
he will get it. This is the very genius of
good preparation for a speech, to know
definitely what you wish to gain of an
audience. and the means by which you
propose to secure it. All true oratory is
practical psychology.
4. A man may speak deliberately or
even slowly, but no man can succeed who
speaks hesitatingly-whog goes back on
sentence and begins again. Such a
speech is like a shying horse or balky
mule. AT all hazards, the young speaker.
must learn to push Onto keep current
moving from beginning to end of his
address. If you drop stitch, don't stop
to take it up. If you stumble on a word,
let it go. Don't 60 back to it. Keep
right on, no matter what happens, to the
end. Momentum is of more value than
verbal accuracy. OF course, the best
speech is that which is full of good SUBJ
stance, expressed by the best language
and fiuently uttered. But while one is
learning, he should never let himself he
tripped up by a word, or the want of one.
Jump the gap-run over the mistake.
Keep right on. 1t will be time enough
the next endeavor to profit by the expert
enoe of mistakes.
5. If one is slow of thought, dull of
feeling, very cautious and secretive in
nature, without that talent of combative.
ness which tends to project ones mind
upon another's, or if one be excessively
sensitive, SO that mistake gashes like a
lancet, it is not likely that be will suc-
ceed as public speaker. et
But one may as well stop here as any.
where. The theme opens like an endless
prairie. Perhaps somebody will ask for
light on some special point and retrench
this immense generality.-N ?. Ledger.