The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-19
Succeed as an Orator
Col. Robt. G. Ingerso|I Points
Out the Way.

Col. KODt. y. IngerS0lI POINTS
Out the Way.
/ Copyright, 1898. by $. S. Mcclure Coz
In the short list Of American names Of
our time that stand as synonyms for
brilliant and powerful oratory that Of
Robert G.. IngersOll has a secure place.
And, in spite Of much assertion TO the
contrary. the influence of Skillful ora
tory has not ceased 10 be an element in
the world progress. The spoken word
STILL has its share in molding popular
opinion and action, as well as the print
Ell word: though it is probably true that
our national campaigns are determined
more by printed documents than by
platform speeches. When. however. We
remember that no longer ago than 1896
the national convention of one of the
two great parties was carried by storm
by 4 single speech. and forthwith nomi-
mated the man who made it for prcsi-
dent, it is idle to say hat effective ora
tory is without practical value III these.
rs 1t has been in all previous times. To
the young man who aSI;reS to be 4
leader of men. whether in political af-
fairs or otherwise. it is quite certain
that the art of public speaking is as
useful now as it ever was. And Col.
lngcrsOll, as a past master of the art, is
probably rs Well qualified as any man
living to give useful advice to the thou
sands Of young Americans who aspire TO
oratorical success. He was found at his
York. the other evening. and induced to
talk on the subject.
! Wlat advice would YOU give to q
young man who was ambitious to be-
conte a successful public speaker of
orator: he was asked.
MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY
''In the first place. said Col. Inscrsoll,
Il would advise him to have something
to s~ay-something worth saying-some-
thing that people would be glad to hcal.
This is the important thing. Back of
the art of speaking must be the power
to think. Without thoughts words ar,
empty purses. Most people imagine that
almost any words, uttered in a loud
voice and accompanied by appropriate
gesture, constitute an Grafton. | would
advise the young MAJ to study his sub
ject, to find what others had thought.
to look at it from all sides. Then |
would tell him to write out his thoughts
or to arrange them III his mind, so that
he would know exactly what ne was
going to say. Waste no time on the
how. until YOU are satisfied with the
what. After you know what you are to
say, then You can think of how Ii
should be said. Then YOU can think
about tone. emphasis and gesture; but
if YOU really understand what you say.
emphasis, tone and gesture will take
care of themselves. All these should
come from the inside. They should he
~ ,nrfn.t h, r,,np = with fila fnn1JnuS
Voice and gesture should be governed
by the emotions. They should uncon-
s~ciously be IN perfect agreement with
the sentiments. The orator should be
true to his subject. should avoid any
reference to himself.
The great column of his argument
should be unbroken. He can adorn il
with vines and flowers. but they should
not be in such profuSion as to hide the
column. He should give variety of cpl
scdc by illustrations, but they should be
used only for the purpose Of adding
strength to the argument.
STUDYING LANGUAGE.
The man who wishes to become an
orator should study languages. He
, should know the deeper meaning OF
, words. He should understand the vigol
and velocity of verbs and the color Of
adjectiyes. He should now how. to
, sketch Il scene. to print 4 picture, to
| give life and action. He should be Il
poet and Il dramatist. q painter ard an
actor. He should cultivate his imagina-
ton. He should become familiar with
the great poetry and fiction, with splcI-
did and heroic deeds. He should be u
student Of Shakespeare. He should read
and dcvour the great plays. From
Civ ,.,a 80 1n .,.lJ Io,,, @Io ,"+ "a
expression. Of compression. and all the
secrets Of the head and heart.
The great orator is full of yariety-of
surprises. Like a jugglcr he keeps the
colored balls in the ar. He expresses
himself in pictures. His speech is Il
panorama. BY continued change he
holds the attention. The interest does
not flag. He does not allow himself to
be anticipated. He is always in advance
He does not repeat himself. \
! picture is shown but once. So.
an orator should avoid the common
place. There should be no stuffing. no
filling. He should put no cotton with
his silk. no common metals with his
gold. He should remember that ''gilded
dust is not as good as busted gold"
The great orator is honest, sincere. lie
does not pretend. His brain and hear
go together. Every drop of his blood is
convinced. Nothing is forced, lie Knows
exactly what he wishes to d~o-EnoWs
when he has finished if, and stops.
KNOWING WHEN TO STOP.
Only Il great orator knows when and
how to close. Most speakers 80 on af-
ter they arc through. They arc satisfied
only with Il ''lame and impotcnt con
clns:on.' Most speakers lack variety.
They travel a straight and IuSty road.
The great orator is full of episode. lie
c%onvinces and charms by indirtction.
He leaves the road. visits the fields.
wanders in the woods. listens to tho
of springs. the songs of birds.
He gathers flowers, scales the crag>
and comes back to the highway re-
freshed, invigorated. He does not move
in a straight line. He wanders AND
winds like q stream.