The age-herald., 1901-10-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
The Lona.Wlnded onea.

The Lone-Wlnded ones.
 Tt IS one of the most astonishing facts of real life that men who are reason ably intelligent respecting ordinary pub lie affairs, and in some few instances fair- ly successful in their own work, cherish the belief that they can entertain a pub lie audience by speaking at great length or indefinitely" said an old political cam paigner who sees nothing but harm in long-winded speeches.
 There is not so far as I know a man in Alabama who can interest or enter tain Q mixed audience for more than hour at the utmost no matter what his subject may be. whether political, re- ligious. legal, scientific, humorous, what noti I doubt if there is a man in the state who could hold the thoughtful attention of any audience for as long a period as sixty minutes.
 And it would be a happy condition for the public just at this juncture if the fact that long speeches are not only boring but positively hurtful could be impressed alike upon men who are ora tors and men who believe themselves to be orators. It would prevent a great deal of annoyance irritation and loss of time, and the loss of voters to the side repre- Ones.
 Tt is a common experience of the long suffering public to be confronted by speakers who are illogical, rambling, ranting and leather-lunged, and whenever one of this type speaks he hurts the cause he represents. The average man re- sents being imposed upon by 'oratory.' He gets into political or other worldly meeting or into a church, and is cor nered. There is under existing custom practically no escape for him and he is forced to listen to words, words, words, until his patience is exhausted and he is thrown into a secretly rebellious condi- ton of mind. Then this average man will take stand against the side represent ed by the speaker who has imposed upon him.
 ''No public speaker who has got any thing to say can consume over an hour in saying 1t. If he has got nothing to say, 1t may take him two or three hours in which to say his speech. That Is the difference. Few men who are really en- frightened upon the subject they have to discuss require more than half hour each in which to marshal their facts and present their arguments.
 "A notorious sensational preacher once asked one of the pillars of his church the question:
 aalr m about on Sawbuth?
 '"About fifteen minutes was the wise answer to the unreligious inquiry.
 "The lesson thus taught is one that in spirit needs to be taken to heart by all men who deliver public speeches, whether on the stump. in court rooms or in churches. The Long-Winded Ones should realize that long speeches are a public nuisance. and that men who achieve greatness in oratory never talk against time.
 Personally I-never listen to any pub lie speech that can avoid, for the very reason that all speakers bore me after thirty minutes. I never served on a jury, but if ever that misfortune befall me l shall conscientiously inform the judge of my mental inability to resist prejudice against the side of the case at issue rep resented by the longest-winded lawyer | engaged.
 But the public have this matter of long speeches in its own discretion for action. Let every man make up his mind to leave a meeting if any speaker speaks too long!"
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