Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-03


tire principles OF the management Of the
Begin low.
Speak low,
Take FIRE,
Rise higher.
When most impressed
Be self-possessed-"
Already the young debaters IN our null
tiplIed schools. and colleges are getting
ready for next spring and summers en-
tertainments. where patrons and friends
are to be Invited 10 attend and hear be-
bates
Almost any sensible speech viii sound
wen il the speager has a pleasing man
ner. controls the voice and is self-pos-
seSsed-
The effects which are generally most
gratifying come from plain. matter-of-
TACT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. addresses, that
everybody can understand and spoken In
q voice sufficiently loud. that everybody
can hear and slow enough to pronounce
each word distinctly and with no more
gestures than would belong 10 animated
conversation in a company OF refined peo-
pie
but few gestures. but IL comes naturally
20 some people 10 be more demonstrative
than others. and when the FIRE burns with
IN them they turn loose and let the steam
on to good effect. provided the action Is
natural
Nothing Is more uresome to me than to
listen 70 stage whispers and see low bow
fngs and genuhexiOns when / am intent
~ listening for the argument. heard
a discourse some time ago with a plain,
matter-of-fact, everyday subject. and the
entire effect was completely spoiled for
me BY excessive airs and graces Of the
wouid-oe orator. Actors on stage In
theatre may use such methods because IL
IS expected they viii be abnormal In grief,
ecstacy and love. People go TO those
places 20 watch the actor transform him
self into the hero or william OF the play.
But the debating contests in our schools
and colleges are supposed 10 be training
exercises for those who viii speak In af
ter life to some good and practical pur-
pose
Therefore such strivings for effect on
the school platform are almost always
painful for the listener to look at. and
useless FOR practical Improvement 10 the
pupil,
Every frst-class speaker has certain
marks Of Individuality. No imltatOr Of
Others can hold on TO public applause
long al a time. because he is only the
copy, not the original document.
This individuality IN nine cases out Of
ten makes the attraction and draws the
crowd. but there must be also clear, dis
tinct enunciatioH and something worth
listening TO at the same time.
II Is painful 70 attend a public gather
ing OF persons equally interested and no.
tice how very few people are able TO get
up and make a plain statement of the
grievance or maybe other object OF the
meeting which had thus called them to-
gether- have seen clear-headed business
men. In various professions In life. who
seemed TO be completely lost on such &C.
caslOns-
have seen. also. some dapper little
speaker whose brain would rattle in a
mustard seed. jump on his feet and tell
the whole business. and lots besides
when those excellent people mentioned
were dumb with embarrassment and quite
unable 70 speak 10 their own resolutions
All these things are affected BY habit
custom. and our American boys and girls
should Be taught 70 say what they are ex-
pected 70 say In plain words. slow. enough
70 enunciate properly and loud enough TO
pc heard perfectly. IL Is n very great ac-
comphshment 10 sing we'll talk well and
speak well before others. and the merit
IN. all three win depend on the. rules here
explained for excellence