The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-05-06
How Conk1ing Became an Orator.

Roscoe Conking gained fame as an orator when but twenty three years. f
age says the Literary Digest, in presidential campaign; and he ALWAYS advised
aspiring young men to take acoure of campaign training ifthey aspired to inau,
ece IN public life All that he considered necessary for any young man of good
education and fair ability tod do to become a master of oratory was to cultivate
thu art with rs persistent toll rs a musician expends upon his art His own
power, Mr. E Jay Edward tells us in werners Magazine, came from lust
such toll;
'Conklings power rs an orator vas due to years of patient toll in his vontb
and, in fact throughout his life and he bestowed upon eyeryo ne Of the crpat
oratlons which he delivered as much labor and rs great care asst the greatest Of
musicians gives in learning to- enorma musical composition written bv a master
In us early days Mr. Conking made it a habit to read at least al bour or
TWO every morning from one of the best writers Of English prose. He read Nil.
ton that he might gain a rhythmial and melodious flow of language Ia md
led Macaulay' committing many passages from Macaulays most brilliant ESSAYS
and to that habit he attributed whatever gift he aferward revealed of fascinating
narauon' Mr. Conking in speaking once to the writer, said that he
had ben accustomed to read Byruns poems, the book Of Job son Of shakes
peares plays Millions Comus' and had made it a habit. while drssinp IN to
morning to commit from six to ten lines taken from some Of these noeus -
memory and he attributed such facility a he had in the use Of English n facility
"eisters day to this habit Of commttnge extracts to memory and of storing his
mind witt treasures from the best Of English poets So that this aston,.binoo 90
patiN when distinguished Conking above most Of the orators of his time was
lot a native gift but was only acquired after yean Of discipline.
Then, too Mr. Conking pracdced as frequently q possible elocution IA
did ct disdain to stand before a glass that he might observe the effect Of gestures
which, he made His idea of oatory was that in some respects IL was akin to tho
oranane at n thatthe most successful orator must be in q measure an anor.
rNooaoV ~ 1851 striking feature Of Conklings oratory wss his disinctnessI
Oh nt1erance Wherever the sound of his voice could be heard. the wonasc onid
be plainly distinguished Asked for the secret Of this uttpranre ~ ma .na.
That is on OF the most important perhaps 1 should "a the element ~
cnet Importance to successful oratoy Yet there is n o reason why q should
'' w Me eSdy mastered than some Of the other requirements. II is very
Simple " depends entirely upon distinct enuncistion OF the yoweli ~ .vo-r
word. II you taks care Of the vowels the consonsnts will take car a. hemss,,a.
instance take the sentence Rdl, mighty ocean, roll q AZ n an tbv 0r,nd.r-,
~ speak M words y that the novels IRE sounded with perfect dstinctness
a "r y. NV w. Z q ay psr1on within sound f vopF voice will have no doubt
let ne give you . word Of advtce. Fnt x Ill b. mrs hat ~ he's ~
something to say; that you have . message for those whom q n,ono.s ~ =
Z an Let lib ths your ], own though. and not the thought s anybody else. That's
o %. you re after all nothing more than I mimic q ther Actor u N Rs a y y
viii Viii ne n sI r. Ss, 81 y nnr vo W Ar AZ onsion s worthless miles, il j. heard. a and nd
a ~ Is . habit acquired only BY discipline" '-'o"s e~e