The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-24
CAN Be ANALYzED
Personal Magnetism in Public
Orators Mat 1t Is.
TALK TO WlCHITANS
By Or. Hoss Who Examines
Subject Closely


wholly resist analysis, as is so often
claimed.
In paper read before his school the
last week. he essayed 20 show that its
elementary properties can be reached
He said:
The term magnetism or magnetic as
applied 10 the speaker is as often and as
gIibly on our tongues as any word in the
oratcric voca bulary. IT'S almost as com
mon as the word Speaker and is the chos-
en- epithet of praise OF condemnation He
is magnetic or he is not. or phrased other
wise, he has magnetism or he has TO
magnetism.
This is the element that makes the
popular orator, the one that draws" and
its absence makes the term speaker. me
one that does not draw"
This being an element o. such potency
It's worth our while to try TO find out
what it is. whether a gift or develop
ment. whether a simple or complex power.
This is no easy task, but discussion
may bring some light. BY analogy with
the material or terrestrial magnet, We
set that property that draws" The
terrestrial magnet is easily defined as
metal having the property that draws or
holds other metals, as iron. nickel, cobalt
etc. when in contact or near by. This
is simple. scientific and adequate def
nition Ii states the fact Just as it is, and
i entirely satisfactory If you don't pry
too closely. But if you are earnest TO
get the essence of things and ask a ques-
ticn behind or below this namely. What
is that property that does this wonder
ful and mysterious work? The superb
cial answer is. it is the hidden and mys-
FERROUS power given the body by nature,
0n the terrestrial magneO.
Here you have only changed words with
some not very helpful ones added. You
have substituted power for properly
which on a little reflection brings you no
nearer the essence than YOU were before.
Another teacher or writer richer in
words than ideas, may tell you tbs that
inhering and mystical quality superim-
posed by the divine and creative hand
In this. stripped of its rhetoric. you get
quality instead Of property" or power.
but no further in your search for essence
than before.
On little reflection. the reason is OBJ
vious: you are at the ultimate. and the
very meaning Of the word ultimate, says
there is nothing beyond, i. C., nothing be
yond open 10 human reason
Now this analogy, from the last point
Of view, is discouraging. IT'S our work
TO Try TO show that this only holds IN
part and does not hold in whole, and
therein we get our help If any IS to be
had
1st. Perfect Analogy. Animal or hu-
nan magnetism is that power in one hui
man being that draws" other human be-
ings to him. This is simple and clear
end convincing as above. II this be in
in order it makes him magnetic. and If
he be the private tslker or business man.
it alike makes him magnetic. as we all
know.
Now comes the all important question.
What is this power? You say this is
subtle. mysterious indehnable power Yes
subtle and mysterious 10 a degree, but
7 hope not 'fndefnable." II so, We are
al the ultimate, as above. and hence at
the end.
Now, pupils. some patience here. Gen
erically. this divides itself into knowl-
edge. power and function
!. KnowIedge-The speaker must know
human nature or so much OF human ma
ture at least as 10 read his audience. Are I
they susceptible of being moved by ex-
alted motives as patriotism, phiian
thropy. moral or social reform. Are they
niercenary and susceptible only 20 gain, /
with display of grosser pleasures Are !
they lower, living almost wholly in the
sensuous and sensual. concerned about I
eating. drinking and animal passions and I
desires.
The speaker knowing this. knows
enough TO know that every different mo- /
tives-moving force-nust be applied 70 /
these different classes
Q He must know that the psychologist. /
hence oratoric law. the m0tive-moving 4
force-which ne wants 10 exist and work j
i'm them. must exist and work in himself 4
RI he wants them 10 feel for suffering /
humanity or a suffering community. or
individual he must feel first: Two laws
here la Feeling begets feeling o. strength 4
Of feeling leads. rules.
Herein then. We find a second factor
OF element. namely. feeling. He feels
first and stronger and they follow. This
law IS primal and universal. No escape
from IT. No magnetism without g. He
touches the key notes and THY respond
Here is the anology IN music. II you
strike q given note 81 an Instrument :
every instrument in the room having the
same key VIII respond. II We take the
poets idea % the human soul as harp
OF a thousand strings" the magnetic era
tor would only need 70 touch the desired
chord in his own soul and the same
chord in his auditors would respond
Hence II b. strikes the chord patriotism
he gets patriotism fl rssponse. ~ heToisn
rer0isn II erief the responsive note
comes rnuf7ed with signs ard SPRAYED
with tears
s third factor IS Imagination This
works beth 90 the speaker md audience.
n The speaker can. throuE Dis mag
iratfa- clearly sec THE scene BE- would
paInt-vheth4r ~ soy or s7rroV-sisrces'
~ failure Do ran shershv make bis aud
fsnca see more clearly. ard through their
ears. ard ~ consequence. ca1 move them
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