Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-27
Orators More Popular T0ady
Than EUer Before in History


Philadelphia Evening Ledger
Or. Il. Dewitt Talmnge. who for years
drew crowds wherever he appeared.
He was not an orator. hut rather a
rushing. roaring, sparkling noun
tain stream OF imagery. vivacity and
dramatic expression. He answered 70
tho definition of cloquence given by
one or the Grecan philosophers, who
said that Il was action. action. and
more action.
Phillips Brooks In Philadelphia.
Phillips Brooks may be set down as
the greatest preacher OF his times. "a
spiritual splendor," as somebody
called Frederick DenIson Maurice
Phillips Brooks prepared for his brill
liant career in two Philadelphia pull
pits-that OF the Church OF the Adj
vent md chat OF the Holy Trinity.
Both OF these churches were made ia
nous by his unusual gifts. which soon
became recognized throughout the
world. But phillips Brooks broke
nearly all the laws Of delivery. speak
ing at the rate Of 200 words a minute
"a rapidly OF ntterance that was the
despair Of shorthand reporters. II is.
no disphragement Of the richness OF
his thought TO say that his personality
had much TO do with his success. He
WIN n magnificent man physically,
and compelled attention by that in
scrutable something which we call
personality. Perhaps II is this quail
ity, this personal something which
best explains the secret Of speech. II
is soul quality which finds expression
through lips trained 10 the use OF
words. Eloquence Is a spiritual mat
ter. an exercise Of the highest facul-
ties. II is q fine art
Unfortunately. the grand old style
has been supplanted by the converse
tional mode of address. Today there
is familiarity with the audiences, Men
of national reputation Will stand with
their hands thrust In their pockets
and speak In the familiar way which
the salesman employs In selling goods
Simplicity has taken the place OF or
nateness; and directncss of the rain
bow colors OF the imagination.
George William Curtis and Ralph
Waldo Emerson would hardly be
popular ON the chautauqua platform.
Ragtime IL more popular with the
masses than Wpgncr. The man who
cracks Jokes is sometimes In greater
demand than the speaker who attains
TO the Greek ideals OF art in express
sion. Perhaps 1t Is this vitiated taste |
of the multitude that has influenced
public speaking in recent years.
We are q country Of speakers. Both |
men and women are ambitious to be
heard In public. We meet in congress
and conventions, and sit by the hour /
listening to what others have To say. |
A great tabernacle is constructed in |
Philadelphia to accommodate the !
multsudos who will hear "Bllly" /
the evangelist. talk on the
greater things of life and death.
He represents another oratorical 7
type which must be considered in any
discussion of American oratory.
There Is as much difference between |,
Sundays style and that of Daniel II
as there Is between the
Apollo Belvedere and lamppost. II
Is the difference between the two eras,
and yet not entirely. for there is still
a sense OF the beautiful In the heart of
Americans which responds
TO the highest forms of expression. II
must be conceded however, that the
average American prefers power to
polish, fact to fancy. and q straight
the-shoulder form of speech
TO the more lifeless art which is like
brass and a tinklIng cymbal.
fhat is why the beautiful address
made by Edward Everett at Gettys-
burg is forgotten, and the powerful
lines read by Lincoln from a piece Of
foolscap, after Everett sat down win
live forever.