Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-25
REVIVAL OF ORA1oHh"

| northern contemporary calls attention
10 the fact that "an epidemic OF oratory
/ is prevailing throughout the country ana
that we are now having more speec"-
making than we have had TOT lorV
veors II further appears from the edlto-
rial N which we refer that the vocal
battles" are not confined 70 politicians
AVID that some very good sense Is belng
talked Indeed. our contemporary THINKS
this revival Of eloquence is a very healthy
sign. and charitably asserts that the
present era is zone worth living in and
taking part in
Whatever he the cause Of II, there IS
no doubt Of the fact that oratory has
once more recovered its quondam popu-
larity. and that speechmaking has again
| becorne attractive. not only 10 those who
do the talking (as was always the case)'
Int also TO those who do the listening.
| # NAV be that the mastery eloquence
and unhagging zeal Of the Hon. william
Jennines Bryan. in his late campaign
has caused this renewed love Of oratory'
or possibly the issues involved in that
/ campaign developed the disputatious pro-
clivities Of those who otherwise would
| have remained silent At any rate. the
voice of the public speaker, Ike the "tur-
tie" in Solomon's Song. is heard in the
land. and people are listening to it.
Aside from the crowds attracted by
| churches. revivals. etc, thousands go
forth nightly TO drink wisdom from the
fountains Of knowledge which gush-or
are supposed to gush-from lecturers ana
other public speakers. The lecturer, in
particular. is now reaping a harvest, and
it is the fad of the hour to hear him.
With the new craze for eloquence, or,
rather for public speaking. much Of
| the old-time. "spread-eagle' style has
/ been abandoned, though its effervescence
/ is occasionally detected i'm young men,
( who seek glory and fear not perspiration.
! On the whole. however. the public wish
instruction from speakers. and will gladly
listen 70 anything. from discourses on
| Philippine Civilization TO the Habits of
| Ants and Bees. An occasional spark Of
/ humor pleases audiences, too. and the
| young man with young lady does not
/ always object to magic-lantern pictures
| and a darkened lecture-rOom. The coun-
| try is seeking wisdom. 1t isn't particular
| about the kind of wisdom, but 1t must
be some sort. If nothing better can be
obtained, pedestrians are willing TO pause
| on the street corners and hear the virtues
of natent medicines extOlled.
IN addition to the public entertain
ments mentioned. there is quasi ora
tory. which bubbles up at banquets-or,
| rather after banquets-and shows man
at his bcst-to-wt, when he has eaten a
good meal. In this style of speech-making
nearly every man gets an opportunity to
enlighten the world, though quite fire.
| quently the ideas disseminated are those
which have been procured by the joint
efforts of himself and his wife.
There is. in short, no denying the fact
that men like to talk The stumbling,
suffering, drawing, excruciating speaker
may percnance like it less than the fluent
orator. but be likes it all the same HC
never quite realizes what bore he is
though there may be times when he real
ICES that he is all feet and hands.
The moral of all this is that every
man. however modest and however much
inclined to make people believe that he
doesn't think a heap of himself, SHOULD
learn to talk standing 1t may be that
the accomplishment will not serve hin
often or win him great glory, bun pro-
baby there will come at least one time
when the lack of it will make him appear
like a clown. Young persons, above al
others, should study elocution, and cult
vate the grace and art Of oratory. Will,
we cannot all "have the floor" its priv
lcges may fall to many.