The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-10-12
YOUR SPEECH
(Contiued from page 81


manners and literature of the epoch.
Many years have passed since those
days of harmonious gatherings, but l
mention them here to draw the comparison
between those delightful gatherings of long
ago, and our own drawing rooms and
social circles where brilliant men and
women gather and converse on topics of
immediate interest. If one has magma
ton, striking similarity can be noticed
between the two.
Ruskin said "Vulgarity is indicated by
coarseness of language"
By language he meant not only words
and phrases, but coarseness of voice.
There can be nothing more characteristic
of good breeding than soft, well-modu-
lated, pleasing voice.
Conversation should be lively without
noise.
1t is not well-bred to be demonstrative
in action while speaking, to talk loudly,
or to laugh boisterously. Conversation
should have less emphasis, and more quiet
ness, more dignifed calmness. Some of
US are so eager, in our determination to
be agreeable in conversation, to dominate
the entire room with our voice. that we
forget the laws of good conduct and we
wonder why people consider us bores.
Don't be afarid to open your mouth
when you talk. First, know what you
want to say,'be sure that is is worth say
ing, and then say it calmly, confidently,
through your mouth and not through your
nose.
Too many people talk through tightly
closed teeth and then wonder why people
don't understand them.
Enunciate clearly and give to novels
and consonants the proper resonance.
Another mistake to avoid is rapid
speaking. To talk slowly and deliberately,
is to enhance the pleasure and beauty of
the conversation. Rapidly in speech re-
suits in indistinctness, and indistinctness
leads invariably to monotony. There are
two languages of speech-voice and ges-
ture. Voice appeals to the ear gesture to
the eye. 1t is an agreeable combination
of the two that makes conversation
pleasant.
"A really well-bred man," writer once
said, "would speak to all kings in the
world with as little concern and as much
ease as he would speak to you or me.
Confusion is the enemy of eloquence.
Self-restraint must be developed before one
can hope to be either a good conversa-
tionalist or social success to create a
pleasant harmonious atmosphere and at
the same time to make ones ideas carry
conviction, one must talk with ease and
calm assurance.
Try to be naturally courteous and cor
dial in your speech. 1t is a mistake to
swear your feelings on your sleeve" and
resent everything that everyone else says
that does not please you.
To become quickly excited, to speak
harshly and sarcastically is to sacrifice
ones dignity and ease of manner.
Know what you want to say, be sure
you understand it, and when you say it,
be open for criticisms or suggestions from
those around you.
Do not become Austered and excited
merely because some one else does not
agree with you.
Remember that Homer said: "The ton
que speaks wisely when the soul is WISE"
and surely the soul can be wise only when
one is entirely calm, self-confdent and at
peace with the world.
NoTE:- Read before the Pierian Chautau-
qua Circle, Sunday, October 8, 1922 in be-
half of class A.