The Washington herald., 1914-03-13
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How a Successful Orator Grows u
Stature.

(Written Expressly Tor The Herald.D
By DIR. ~. .. EDWARDS.
uDREsIDENT Mckinley once told ma
j that it was a weIl-authenticated
fact that the Illusion which 10
created by the oratory which captures
and completely enthralls a hearer is OF
kind which seems to add to the height
cf the orator"
This statement was made to me by
William S. Hawk. whose family and that
of Mckinley were in close neighboriy
relations at Canton. Ohio. for many
years The intimacy between Mckinley
and Hawk was continued after the lat.
ter's removal to New York. where he
gained such personal influence and esteem
as led to his unanimous election as presi-
dent OF the Ohio society.
I'VE were talking one day about
peculiar. almost hypnotic, influence which
is created by the higher forms Of oratory,
the kind Of oratory which appeals TO the
emotions." Mr.. Hawk continued. The
President said to me that those who
heard Daniel Webster deliver his greatest
orations. like the Bunker Hill address and
Carolina, were convinced that Webster
was a very large man. considerably more
than six feet in height. The fact was
that Webster was under six feet IN
height and was not noticably large,
although his physique was stocky.
Mckinley also told me that he had
heard from those who had heard Stephen
A. Douglas when he was completely
dominated by his oratorical inspirations
81 hi WaWUU
only about five feet four inches-seemed
to become a stature of a man OF un-
usual height Such was the illusion
Mckinley himself was often amused
by those who asked him what his height
was when they heard him say that he
was only a little over the average height
OF Americans, which was about five feet
seven inches ] do not now recall" said
Mr. Hawk, what McKinley's exact
measurement in height was. but il is my
impression he was about five feet nine
inches.
Those who asked him how tall he was
and who heard him say that he was not
much more than the average height were
astonished. for they had heard him speak
and il seemed TO them that he was
certainly more than six feet.
Il have heard that the best ilIustra-
ton of that illusion in the case Of Pres
experience a, n banquet Of the Home
Market Club. in Boston. ] think only
short time before his second inauguration
for President
Mckinley knew the Home Market
Club. of Boston. to be the very citadel
Of a high protective tariff in the United
States. He had addressed the members
of this club pcrsuasively several times
before the occasion to which now refer
hat in, Il 10 IaGN
before the Home Market Club.
Already. when ne last went to Boston
the President had in mind the beginning
Of a change in the protective policy of
the United States. He had carefully
thought out the general principle Of th-
new policy and made il the basis OF III"
last speech of his life. which was de-
livered at Buffalo There he intimatcd
his belief in the expediency of establish
ing reciprocal trade relations with other
nations and gradually increasing them.
When he addressed the Home Market
Club in Boston he did not go quite
far as he did in Buffalo. lie was in
spired by the cordiality and the enthu-
siasm which characterized his reception.
He had spoken but a few minutes when
he laid his manuscript aside and. COM
pieteIy absorbed by his subject, trusting
entirely TO the inspiration OF the moment.
he so spoke as TO have every man ~
the brilliant gathering on his feet. and
the cheeys were so loud and so long con-
tinued that it was several moments he
fore Mckinley could go on.
After the banquet was over Mckinley
was told that he actually seemed to many
~ those who heard him TO have increased
his stature by three or four inches. 50
that he appeared To he the tallest man
in all that company. such was the
Illusion created by oratory impassioned
and captivating.
iCOTyriEht, IsIil
Tomorrow: The Bank Examiner
and the Bag OF Old SlIyerware.b