Evening journal., 1904-05-02
MONDAY, MAY 1, 1904.
oIcsAo oE NEWARK.

CICERO OF NEWARK.
The editor Of the Jeffersonian is stin
diseoursing on the topic OF oratory, but
he leaves much unsaid that is perth
nent and which cannot be omitted IN
any exhaustive treatise on the subject
II is to extend his line Of thought and
to add an Illustration or two to illum-
Inc the more abstract passages that we
take up the question.
IL was Henry Ward Beecher who said
that the FIRST requisite OF an orator is
to be "a gentleman. and while he did
not extend the qualification to the
wieider Of the pen. yet we think It is
safe to do 30.
Professor Baker, Of Harvard, in one
of his works says tritely enough: Don't
speak unless you have an idea and that
idea is definite"
James f. Murdock used to say that
the great essential was to be natural
but that many people never learned
how, using noise instead Of discrimi-
mating forms Of expression.
The president OF great university
said that there are so many speakers
who mistake language for ideas that
he thought a course in public speak
ing to show men the requirements OF
the work, most desirable.
so we might go on multiplying these
words. not forgetting Shakespeare who
would not have one "overstep the mod
esty Of nature But would they apply
10 the genius whose eloquence Is as
great when he uses a pen as when he
holds the rapt attention OF listening
thousands not his oratory a gift Of
the gods, native and untaught2
Sometimes we have been inclined to
answer, Yes" but knowledge Of the
facts prevents. There are old men IN
the town OF Smyrna who on winter
evenings sit around the stores ana dis
course on the making OF an orator.
Now there is Levin" they win re-
mark, do you remember how he used
TO haunt the woods and marshes down
the creek practisln' in order that he
might be ready when he should be
called to go TO Congress?" Bushes
were trampled and paths were moved
through the forests while Levin was
'leafnin' how TO become a orator"
But it was time well spent, energy
nobly directed. 1t was this practice
which enabled him when he came into
his own to interest Congress to the ex-
tent Of sixteen speeches a day to one
idea.
1t was this assiduous attention to
gesture and vocalization that was the
pride and wonder OF Smyrna, which en-
abled him to go through that cam
paign down in Somerset county last
fan. One who knew the facts tells us
that Levin was so much a master Of
himself that he had his tear-glands
under control. and that when he loosen-
ed up the farmers felt that the drought
was over. This person says that II Is
impossible to give an adequate impress
sion Of the earnestness and passion that
he put into these appeals. but here is
an attempt;
"Oh, my brothers; you have back
slid; you have gone astray, but II is
not too late to return. The great Cor
man stands ready to receive you! You
have been like lost sheep, but the door
OF the fold is open to the truly pani-
tentl Turn before it is too latel Just
nowl Let all who wish to return TO
the old Democratic faith risei Thank
you brotheri An. there il anotherl
Thank you. Thank you'll Let every
body who desires TO follow the match
less German stand up. All. you don't
know how this rejolces my heart. ana
brings tears to my eyes-excuse me
Che weeps) my joy is fun and the coun-
try is saved"