Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-21
WOMEN AS SPEAKERS.
Becoming a Factor in English Pub
lie Life.

Only recently have women themselves
begun to recognize the high level of abil-
ty for public speech that the sex pos
;esses If the suffrage movement had
lone nothing else, it would have given
women cause for pride in the evidence it
has furnished of the immense reserve of
good speakers who can express their
thoughts clearly and with eloquence to
women; the Countess of Aberdeen on
many occasions, and host of others,
have given evidence that women have the
gift of public speech. 1t is not too much
gatherings of men. Lady Henry Somer-
set on the platforms of the British w om-
ems Temperance Society; Lazy Carlisle
on the same, or at gatherings of Liberal
be found among women.
Those who have been attending the
meetings of the causes in which women
ave special interest have known for
,ears that the average of speaking on the
platforms is such as to shame similar
o say that the speaking at the meetings
# the annual conferences of the Wom-
Liberal Association is 60 far as form is
,ncerned on higher plane than that of
similar meetings of men. The Countess
of Jersey and number of other we'll
known ladies are famous among Con-
servatives for their powers of speech.
Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs, Humphry Ward,
Mrs, Besant and many another that one
could mention upset the theory, SO often
rue of men, that the writer is not the
speaker. Where can one hear better
speaking than at the annual dinners of
the woman writers, at each of which at
least one notable utterance has been
made? All the prominent su1fraglsls
speak weil-one two of them are fine
natural orators.
The ordinary woman who has to attend
meetings. at which any but the most ia
nous men speakers are on the .)la&orm
finds herself appalled, by the hesitation,
I he constant interruption for thought or
word, or from mere nervousness, the
tier lack of Conference that character
5 the average man when talking in
public. 1t is a matter of amazement that
with generations of tradition behind
hem, and with opportunities for rrac-
ice men speak so lamely and with such
omplete failure to appreciate the value
f good elocution and consistent thought,
Ask man to eccount for the poor
uality of the speaking of his sex and he
nsWers that though many women may
peak better. their utteranceS have not
he same weight of thought No better
neans of concealing this weight of
bought could be selected than the school
10Y stammering that SO often passes for
public speaking. Really it ought to be re-
ardcd as an insult for a man to take the
ime of an audience without giving
thought to the means by which he can
resent what he las to say most effective
ysand attractively.
Certainly women have nothing like the
anne difficulty in expressing what they
hink, and one may add that the average
woman with no experience on the plat
orm at all will make a far more credit
able appearance if suddenly called on
than will man. The self-possession of
he sex is then an invaluable asset. Far
more accustomed to carrying herself
easly in trying circumstances, the wom-
an who has been thoughtlessly made to
speak puts brave face on the matter,
and frequently emerges with brilliant
success. If women can take a greater
part in politics they will do something to
place public speaking on an altogether
higher level than has satisfied this gen.
Grafton. From the Westminster Gaze
tearl