The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-07-31
soME TRICKS IN oRAToRY.
Rssorted to by Famous Speakers to
as # Gain Their Point.

which he had taken Such
Ssherioc means to eradicate. A STAN
|Nfner is most effective trick some4
sStimes; and we know that Alicibiades
Found his lisp by no means the least
useful Of his many winning ways. The
4 trick in .oratory. combines both the
unconventional meaning Of the word; it
ssSis sometimes a. habit, sometimes a
Twill, sometimes both. .'..
Ss.t Addison tells a capital story of a
trick in forensic oratory. At West
minister Hall "there was counsellor
Who never pleaded without a piece Of
81 lspsckthread in his hand, which he used
ITO twist about his thumb or finger all
athe while he was speaking; the 'wags
Sgof those day called it the thread of
NEiis DISCOURSE for he was not able to
2Shiitter word without it'-as fool
SSish client proved once to his own cost,
Sfor he stole the thread and his advo-
lsscate came to utter grief.
Sl, 1t is the second description Of trick,
8sthe '"taking dodge" to borrow a
gSphrase from the vernacular, which is
the more generally interesting. The
5 classic instance which naturally oc-
I ours to every one in Burke's famous
"dagger scene" in the house of COM
mons when he emphasized his pero-
ration regarding the Reign of Terror
in France by, dramatically throwing a
dagger on the floor of the house as an
example Of the methods of the apos-
ties of liberty and fraternity.
In way this recalls an incident Of
the recent election, says the London
Globe, though the oratorical trick in
this case was unpremeditated. A can
didate-there is no need to mention
names-was advocating tariff reform
when a Jealous free trader threw an
unwholesomc tomato at him, an car
gument' which greatly delighted the
Jealous ones faction. "Rottcn, of
course,' remarked the candidate, ESQ
much for cheap imports"
One of the tricks credited to Sheri-
dan was very much on the lines of a
famous 'score' of classic times. A
member whose admiration for the
brilliant statesman was not tempered
with discretion greatly annoyed Sher-
idan by. continually circulating,
<'Hear hear!" without rhyme or rea-
son. Sheridan determined to give him
a lesson. At the close of one of his
speeches, denunciatory Of some indi-
vidual, he. used the words, 'Wherc
shall we find Il more folish knave, or
more knavish fool then hc?' Hear
hear!' came as usual from the trou-
biesomc, enthusiast. Sheridan bowed,
thanked him for SO obliginsly supply
r ing the required information, and re-
sumed his seat.
And long centuries before Demos
themes, inveighing against an oppo-
nent who was suspected of receiving
subsidies from the court of Persia,
passionately asked the crowded audi
ence, els he not Misthotos--a hire
ing" But, as though inadvertently
he pronounced the words SO obviouS-
~ that the audience shouted out cor
rections from all points" Misthotos
Misthotos - the effect of which was
to make citizens themselves apply tho
opprobrious epithet.
Not very dissimilar in character is
one of the many tricks attributed to
Curran. lEc engaged on case whcrc-
in. the principal witness On the other
side was gentleman of position
whose evidence, if accepted, would be
conclusive. In his opening speech
Curran inreighcd with all the bitter
ness and cloquencc in his power
against the chief witness for the other
side, but without actually mentioning
his name. When the time came for
the witncss--a Mr.. Legcr--to be
sworn Curran interposcd in the bland
est way that this way surely a need
less formality; Mr.. Leger's character
was such that he felt sure the jury
would accept his simple assertion. The
unfortunate man fell into the trap. ct
am glad, Mr.. Curran, you have a bet
ter opinion Of me now then when you
first spoke.' "You admit, then sir,
that, though | named no names, you
recognized my description as applying
to, yourselfq"
. Another Of Curran's oratorical
tricks is not unlike one Sheridan per-
petrated on the house. In this case,
the last sneaker. If will he remcmhcrod