Evening journal., 1914-01-02
NEW MEMS OF YESTERDAY
How George William Gu It's
Prepared His Speeches
By Holland.

~ never knew how George William
Curtis prepared his biological or his
torical oraaons until about the time
fixed for the dedication cf the Barth-
oldi statue OF Liberty in New York
harbor,' said ex-senator Chauncey NJ.
Dcpew TO me at the time when he was
describing what he knew OF the
methods adopted by some Of the great
orators in the preparation Of their
speeches
Il had always been an admirer of
Curtis's biographical or dedicatory
addresses. Curtis possessed re-
markable command of the resources OF
the English Language for expressing
even the most subtle shades of
thought He also had the power of
embodying profound thought in sin
eularly appropriate language and
also using just the right periods
that Is to say. length OF his sentences.
He had, In addition, an extraordinarily
beautiful voice for public speaking
Il never had an opportunity to ask
Mr.. Curtis what plan he followed IN
preparing these addresses, and. in
fact. never learned from him di-
rectly.
i think II was about a week, per-
haps ten days, before the dedicatory
ceremony In celebration of The erect
ing of the Bartholdi statue in New
York harbor that ! was called upon
by the committee in charge of the ar
rangements The chairman said to
me. Mr. Depew. we have come to
ask you to deliver the dedicatory adj
dress az the unveiling of the Barth-
oldi statue of Liberty
"'That is an honor ! said, but you
surely do not expect me TO prepare an
address worthy OF the occasion I'm so
short a time. I am at this time par
ucular,y busy in certain very imDOr-
tant railroad matters. Why don't
you ask George William Curtis TO de-
liver the address,
Well. Mr. Depew. the spokesman
replied. we did ask Mr.. Curtis and he
declined. He recommended that we
ask YOU for he assured us you were
a very quick worker in the prepara-
tion of addresses. while he was a very
slow one.
''Then Mr. Curtis went on to ex-
plain tc us what his meth I'd of pre-
pairing biographical and historic OF
dedicatOry addresses was. He said
"I always exact at least three
months as the time which should
require in preparation OF an address
OF this kind. have declined good
many invitations because I could not
have the three months which / regard
as imperative II am to prepare a sat
isfactory address.
You may be interested in hear
ing how 1 prepare the addresses
have delivered and into what appro-
PIRATE parts / divide the three months
that ! require. ] am occupied for the
first month entirely in studying the
subject, looking up historical OF
other needed references, outlining the
method which viii use and then
writing The first draft
During the entire second month
] let Che address lio in my mind, 50
TO speak / think il over but do
not touch pen TO paper. Sometimes
several days pass before 1 permit It
TO occupy my thoughts. 1 let IL lie
iallow. so to speak.
The third month | am absorbed
exclusively ia pcrfecting il and pol
ishing IL Revision follows revision.
IN labor serves practically TO im-
print it on my mind so that IL Is al
most verbally committed to memory
Then ] have an 0ratiOn which / am
certain is the best I can prepare.
Now you see. in view Of this
method il would be impossible for me
TO accept your invitation to deliver
the dcdicatory address at the unveil.
ing of the Bartholdi statue
when / heard this explanation,
said Senator Depow, Il then under
stood how George William Curtis
gained his reputation as great
orator
Copyright. 1914. by f. j. Edwards.
All rights reserved
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell
How Guillmant Learned 10 lmprO-