New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-26
FEMALE ORATORS
UOmeR Join Gibbs TO Learn
Public Speaking.

The hurricane OF women's movements
now sweeping over the world has robbed
men of one of their distinctions. Formerly
they possessed pretty nearly a monopoly
Of the different kinds OF bad speakers
under whom audiences have writhed or
slumbered since time immemorial But
women have their share now. Any body
who attends the meetings OF women's clubs
cannot doubt that the sex. i'm its ambition
10 rise. is committing all the OTatOTical
sins of which men were ever guilty.
There is the woman who talks as II she
had forgotten To swallow the last mouthful
of her dinner. That's the kind of speech
under which you can't go comfortably TO
sleep. because you get fascinated watching
10 see II she won't swallow il by and by.
but you might Just as well sleep straight
through IL for all you can hear OF what
she says. Then there's the mechanical
doll speakers. Sentence No. I. and the
speakers right arm jerks out at right
angles with her body. Sentence No. =.
and the speakers left arm makes sim
liar excursion. Sentence No. 3. and both
arms arc extended TO the front. then drop
iniexibly 10 the sides IL il weren't that
there's nobody behind her pressing il. you
would feel perfectly sure that she was
back Then there's the maddening speaker.
who pitches her voice carefully on a single
note, and never varies by so much "A
half-tone through the length OF the address.
and there is the helpless one. who clings
10 her notes as a wrecked sailor 10 a spar
IN the middle Of the limItlcss ocean, and
who Is always putting you into a sym
pathetic state Of cold perspjration by los
ing her place. This kind invariably uses
eyeglasses and drops them At critical
points. Worst OF all types. because you
feel 50 sorry for her. is the nervous, breath
less speaker. who pitches her voice from
tho roof of her mouth In short, all the
practice that women have had giving cur
tain lectures 10 their husbands hasn't ell
abled them TO speak much better than
those same husbands when they arise TO
address the public.
But women are taking steps TO learn.
Anybody who fsnces that women don't
intend To- adoru the Tostrum they have
scaled is mistaken. The mornings women
used TO spend going TO cooking classes
and sewing circles they now give TO at
tending speaking clubs. Any number of
the women YOU know are taking lessons
in the art OF saying from the platform
that they want 10 vote or what color the
10 paint his wagons. Some take private
lessons, some join little classes that meet
I'm the home Of one Of the members. out
the brave ones plunge right into some
thing like the Women's Speaking Club
cf America. which meets every week. a
hundred stroi F.. i'm big West Side hall,
where there are plenty Of seats at which
10 talk. They really the wise ones.
for IL is easier Tar 10 get up on stage
In row with ninety nine other women
and say Mary had little lamb i'm con-
cert than il Is 20 say il alone. even with
"A very small audience. The great trouble
with American people when they try 10
speak i'm public. critics say. is their lack
Of self-conhdencC. The speaking clubs are
meant 70 obviate this.
All types OF women attend this new
speaking club. and their ages range from
fifteen to sixty years. one STay-haired
woman comes from EastOn. Penn. even.
week just to attend the Thursday even
ing lessons. Il belong 20 a great many