The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-11


stage fright. It Is not self conceit, but
the lack of 1t. In the girl child it is the
beginning Of false education; in the
grown woman it is the distressing re-
suit of that education. Women have
been trained to regard the tout ensem-
bic of mere physical appearance as
the all In all of the female being; con-
sequently they are always in stew
in regard to that appearance.
This eternal self consciousness Grip
Piles woman when she would speak in
public. 1t peeps out evermore in the
oratory of clubwomen. 1t is the direst
enemy to their success in that field.
Get rid of 1t, then. But how? Well.
resolve once for all that you will get
rid of it or die. Make yourself cease
TO think about the impression you are
making on others, IL you find you are
doing this in spite of good resolution.
check yourself instantly. Think of
something else. DO this in all the If
fairs of life. In proportion as you do
It, In proportion as you can merge your
petty personality into the infinite, life,
to that exact degree you will really be-
gin to be somebody
Would you like to make a speech?
Sit down first, quietly and alone. and
think very earnestly with all your. pow
ers Of concentration OH what you want
to say. Don't for one second let the
chilling, killing. accursed thought of
1Fst han "A
you, Jane Smith, brilliant and wise. re-
main in your mind. Just think of what
you, Jane Smith, desire to say in all
good will and modesty Make per
feet picture la your mind of yourself
standing before the audience speaking
this matter.
Then prepare your speech. Never
read it If you can possibly void 1t, but
speak it. Stand up like man and look
people In the eye and let yourself go.
Hurl your sentences winged with the
magnetic force of your soul. Women's
clubs will fall to pieces if women do not
stop reading those long, stupid papers.
Ii you have only five or ten minute
address to make, do not write it at all.
Put upon paper the heads of what you
would say; then talk the speech over to
in your mind till you are IA
the best way of all to make speech
Then speak distinctly. in clear
voice. How acquire this clear, distinct
voice? Bring your voice forward from
your throat and issue it from your
lips, opening your lips moderately wide |
so it can get out 70 understand ex-
actly what l mean. take. for instance. |
the sentence Braid broad briids, my |
brave babes" Pronounce It first back |
in your throat in the ordinary crude, |
sloFenly way in which we American |
people manage the voice; then throw I
your tone forward and send it from /
your front teeth and the tip of your
tongue, drawing your lips Slightly |
backward at the corners to give the |
sound room to get out. and you your |
self will be surprised at tie difference. |
Pitch. your voice on q low key. so
you will not shrek or squeal, then, in |
The name of all the saints, speak loud I
enough. 4 woman who cannot make |
herself heard in a given audience has
40 right to waste their time by at
.empting it. Life is short
A last word as TO dress. Do you
want your bearers to pay attention to
Tou instead Of to what you have to
tay2 Then trick yourself out In your
nest shoW-offish rig. putting on all
.our war paint and feathers and fur
oelows. Do You want them to heed
ThSt You have TO say? Dress yourself
With the utmost neatness. particularly
IS to your feet, hair and neekwear, but
otherwise be Just as plain and Hilorra
aented as Is compatible vii h being
sell dressed Ard don't wear your
III while 1ealsiEg
LAR s HE1oLI,