Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-09-01
WOMEN ARE GOOD SPEAKERS

WOMEN ARE GOOD SPEAKERS
Latest Accomplishment Of Fair Sex Is
the Making of After-Dinner
Speeches.
Women as after-dinner speakers ap.
peared for the first time last winter
Perhaps this is the one direction In
which they were not expected to ex-
1ert themselves, but they have won sue
cess, says the Chicago Chronicle.
There was never any reason why
women should not have gained distinc-
ton as speakers" said woman who
is herself considered to have no mean
ability in the line, "but the fact remains
that among the list of women who have
gained prominence in politics and in the
various professions within the last ten
years or more very few could deliver a
speech that was anything more than an
apology. But club life has made calls
upon women for abilities in the way of
reading papers aloud and joining in
public discussions, and, although these
talks have remained somewhat heavy
in tone, there is marked decrease In
the self-consciousness and awkward
addresses that really brilliant women
used to be guilty Of when called upon for
. few words of acknowledgment or the
thanks that courtesy demanded from a
guest Of honor at some public occasion.
women are emerging from this
voiceless condition and at q recent din
ner at which successful young author
was present she responded to toast
proposed in her honor in witty speech,
entirely extempore, and given with an
easy grace and sparkling humor that
were irresistible.
women used to get rid of oratorical
responsibility by reciting some poem
suitable to the occasion. But reciting has
completely gone out of vogue in New
York, although it is immensely popular
In London, and it has grown to be con-
sidered rather stupid to recite. So the
up-to-date women must be prepared to
rise gracefully and without bushes or
tremors, deliver an address as long or
as short as she chooses, but concise, in
telligent and to the point.
III the art of after dinner oratory con-
tinues to be cultivated among women,
it is likely that they will prove them
selves as clever and as eloquent as men
who have made regulations in this way.
After dinner speeches are avoided by
many men, who believe that this kind
Of oratory is not suitably dignified, and
carries no weight whatever, unless it
is especially amusing, in which case they
claim that the speaker is merely an en-
tertainer. But women, who are so apt
and easy in adapting themselves to So
cial exigencies Of all kinds calling for
tact and charm, should excel in this field
Of light Bright talk, which need not be
either logical or eloquent, if it be cheer
full and cause smiles.
MANY club presidents have made a
special study of speech-making, and one
or two of them are famed for their witty
manner of bringing certain faults to
light and reproving offenders without in
any way seeming unpleasant. The
method is more effective than serious
rebuke would be, and members have
learned to dread the'smiling allusion to
some pet failing that may be at once
recognized as belonging to certain in
dividuals.
"At one woman's club the after-din-
ner speaking was found to be most sue
cessful when the orators were not OBJ
liged to rise. BY this method, women
seem to lose certain self-conciousness
that is almost inseparable from being
the one person upon whom all eyes are
fastened. Most women speak best when
adorned with their hats, wells, furs and
other belongings Of their costume"
A woman gains far more confidence
from her clothes than a man does, as
they are In most cases valuable aids to
her good appearance. A mutt or fan
gives her something to do with her hands
and saves her from the somewhat stilted
attitudes of the average after-dinner
speaker Of the male sex. A corsage bou-
quet or fine jewel will, to great extent,
hold the eyes of other women, and gain
n respectful attention which might be
denied to the speakers remarks.
''The late MAJ Pond, who directed
the tours of all the great lecturers and
entertainers of this country, as we'll as
those who came from abroad, once said
to me: There is no reason why women
should not make bright and entertaining
speakers and lecturers, but as yet they
have not done so. A woman who could
deliver really bright, witty talk that
would interest men as we'll as women
could command the salary of prima
donna, for the field is an untrodden one.
Telephone Barred.
The telephone can no longer Le le-
gally used by German physicians in
debating prescriptions to druggists
because of the chances of fatal mis-"
understandings.