The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-08
WOMEN AS SPEAKERS.
a Factor in English
Public Life.

Only recently have women them
selves begun to recognize the high
level of ability for public speech that
the sex possesses. If the suffrage
movement had done nothing else, 1t
would nave given women cause for
pride in the evidence it has furnished
of the immense reserve of good speak
ers who can express their thoughts
clearly and with eioquence to be found
among women.
Those who nav been attending the
meetings of the causes in which wom-
en- have d special interest have known
for years that the average of speaking
similar. gatherings of men. Lady Henry
Somerset on the platforms of the
British Women's Temperance Society;
Lady Carlisle on the same. or at
gatherings of Liberal women; the
Countess of Aberdeen on many oc-
c~asions, and u host of others, have
given evidence that women have the
gift of public speech. 1t is not too
much to say that the speaking at the
meetings of the annual conferences of
the Women's Liberal Association is so
far as form Is concerned on a higher
plane than that of similar meetings of
men. The Countess of Jersey inc a
number of other well-known ladies are
famous among Conservatives for their
powers of speech.
Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs. Humpliry Ward,
Mrs. Besant and many another that one.
ca,tI6 f,1onfinn r ttncet tho fhanr<r Sn
often true of men, that the writer is
n t the speaker. Where can one hear
better speaking than at the annual
dinners of the woman writer's. at each
of which at least one notable utterance
suffragists speak well-one or two of
them are fine natural orators.
The ordinary woman who has to at
tend meetings at which any but the
most famous men speakers are ON the
platform finds herself appalled, by the
hesitation, the constant interruption
for thought or word, or from mere
nervousness and the utter lack of CO.
herence that characterizes the average
man when talking in public. 1t is a
matter of amazement that with genera
tons of tradition behind them, and
with opportunities for practise men
speak so lanely and with such a ON
plete failure to appreciate the value OF
god elocution and consistent thought.
Ask a man to account for the poor
quality of the speaking of his sex and
he answers that though many women
may speak better, their utterances have
not the same weight of thought. No
better of concealing this weight
of thought could be selected than the
schoolboy stammering that so often
passes for public speaking. Really it
ought to be regarded as an insult for
a man to take the time of an audience
without giving thought to the means
by which he can present he has
to say most effectively and attractively.
Certainly women have nothing like
the same difficulty in expressing what
they think, and n may add that the
average woman with no experience on
the platform at all will make a far
more creditable appearance If suddenly
called on than will a man. The self
possession of the sex is then an in
valuable asset. Far more accustomed
TO carrying herself easily in trying cir
cuinstances, the woman who has been
thoughtlessly made to speak puts a
brave face on the matter, and frequent
ly energies with brilliant success. If
women can take a greater part in poll
tics they will do something to place
public speaking on an altogether higher
level than has satisfied this genera
ton. w Gazette. y