South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-23
.BEYERIDGE GIVEN
WARM GREETING AT
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
Former Senator Tells High
School Students of Need
for Public Speakers.

A splendid example of the points
he was bringing out. Hon. Albert j.
Beveridge, discussing THE Art Of
Public Speaking held the close at
tention of his audience at an assem-
bly, ct the high school Thursday
morning.
Democracy" he said "1s govern
ment by public opinion. and public
opinion is formed 10y the newspapers
and by public speaking. so the good
ness of our government viii depend
a great dea. upon the kind Of speak
ers all of you are going to make.
"OratOry is an art-one of the old
est, noblest, and most difficult We.
we permit persons with no training
and very little knowledge of the ar.
TO make their ap arance before
gatherings where important things
are 10 be accomplished, when we
could not even conceive the idea OF
listening to someone who had no
knowledge of music perform. on the
piano or violin"
Audience Larger Individual.
The speaker related the style"
Of oratory that was SO popular IN the
old political rallies. The wild kind
was favored, he said. and he dem
onstrated CleverIy the absurdItles Of
some of the speakers he had heard
He told Of the college orations that
he had heard; these ab0unded with
deep chest tones" for the serious
and impressive parts. lovely lifting
tones for the gay and exalted, and
the dowery ''nutters' for the parts
that made the heart OF every cir
In the audience beat with quiveriug
sympathy.
But" he continued. "the real
orator knows, or has 10 learn, that
the audience is only a larger indi-
vidual-a composite person and the
matter and manner that would
please, persuade instruct. and con-
vince an individual i'm an ordinary
conversation, a little emphasized.
viii accomplish the same results
with a larger audience"
Six rules for public speaking
which, AIr. Beveridge said. would
have saved him worlds of discom-
fort and trouble If he had known
them in his youth. were given to the
students. Speak only when you
have something to say" was the
first; master your subject. know
more about it than all your audi
ence put together; be so clear and
simple that the duIlest and most IN
different cannot fail 10 understand.
be so fair 20 the other side-so just
that your worst enemy will 20
away saying, Well, l must adj
nit; under no circumstances. for
no reward, let yourself be per-
suaded to say anything that YOU
don't actually believe. stop when
you are through" these were the
other five
A List OF "Don'ts."
Several suggestions as % delivery
followed, among them being the ad-
vice TO stand still If YOU can't
stand still. why then stand as still
as you can" said AIr. Beverage
and never let your emotions get
such control Of you that you prance
madly Up and down the stage. thun-
dering out your sentences, and max
ing wild circles and jabs with your
arms. Always dress your best.
never try 20 dress down 20 an audi
ence no matter what sort Of people
they may be, and the impression
that you give Wall be satisfying and
pleasant"
That the audience of high school
students appreciated the fine points
OF manner and speech. as well as
attention given the speaker.