The Washington herald., 1918-03-24

always pursued by q crowd, Offering
congratulations and shaking hanJs.
The mysterious gentlemen who sSnd
reports OF the meetings 20 headquar-
tiers In washington. venture 70 say.
never say anything TO his. dispsrsge-
ment. Pouisr success could no fur
ther so.
One lecturer that occasionally COM
pare notes with scorns this method.
He favors what he calls putting It
over straight He means securing
such attention that the audience shall
hardly move tin be finished II an
noys him TO be interrupted with ap-
plause. He thinks u makes a break IN
the continuity Of tntentnesA lie sue
ceeds In holding his listeners marvel
ously. Often when he pauses one c.
feel a profound absorption IN the sl-
Ience. The people are evidently Sit
ting with their minds alert for every
idea he sends out and they will all
carry away his message. He is care
full not to subject them very long 20
this tension without relief. Every
few minutes. by a change In the uTesl
ment Of his subject or the tone Of his
voice. he lets them down for a few
moments And he never talks moIC
than half an hour or 20. Usually when
he finishes the audience stays mo
tionless for a perceptible interval and
then bursts into a demonstration.
This speaker is almost painfully con
scious Of his audience. IL may. how
ever, be one secret Of his power. lie
is unlike those speakers who behaye
| on the platform as II they were out
10 entertain themselves and who talk
on and on for the Joy Of talking
oh, he will never stop" i heard a
speaker on a crowded platform In
great city Of the Middle West ssv 10
himself as the governor Of the Stsrs
was taking advantage OF the war TO
| tell how wonderful his administration
had been so far.
There are speakers who bear q stIik-
ing resemblance 10 prima donna
Their being so important almost IN
Variably leads them 70 spread out over
a large part Of the program. One
speaker Of this kind now thrilling au-
dienceS always insists on speaking
last. He apparently doesn't reaIiz-.
that he invariably faces an audience
[ that is wearying IL not already waficd
He is not nearly so adroit as an9th,r
] speaker, who maneuvers 10 speak firs-
| whenever he. can. In this way h.
recently confided to me. Il can geJ IL
the audience when it's fresh and
avoid following a really good speaker. "
He is overmodest. He is himself A
good speaker. But he touches on 4
vital point Nearly all speakers kn, ~
the misery OF being called on TO rea, o
an audience that has just been bound
heart and soul to another and that
seems to say as an alien face presents
| itself. why in the world should
We have to listen TO your
The experience is like Offering q - .
Ond meal TO those who have Just
dined TO repletion.
What is it they are looking for. The.
I people all over the country that ate
now swsrming TO hear talk aboU
| the war and whose spirit suggests a
! great revival of religion?
Among other things. they are Ioos5-
ing for sympathy and for a chance 10
express the spirit OF cooperation ing a
| mighty cause.
Most Of all they are looking for tas
| expression OF assurance.
They view the war with easy con
! hdence and they enjoy having t5fi-
confidence confirmed.
But they don't know yet how serious
the war is and how directly they ,aCe
! themselves involved.
One speaker tries 10 wake themi VI
| with joke that is rather grim. They
/ laugh in a way that shows they dOn'y
know just how TO take IL
| The first twenty years OF this war
| are going to be the hardest
Then he puts his talk over and he
makes them listen though WhaI h.
says is painful to their ears.