Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-08-09
Speech!
By AMY CAMPBELL
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service.


i on her husbands countenance as
he stepped in to dinner, that Bella
Morris thought the worst.
"Well, I'm in for it at last" he an
nounced. "Tve got to make speech
at the club dinner!"
"Oh," said Bella in such relief Bill
looked at her with severe envy.
Bill was like many men in that he
secretly longed to be able to make
nublic speech if he ever had to. But
he had openly sworn that he would
never have to.
Bella was an optimist about every
thing and she believed, as few wives
can. that there wasn't much Bill
couldn't do and do well. She said:
"You can do 1t better than anyone
else there. Come on and have your
dinner"
Bill followed his little wife feebly,
hut by the end of the meal there was
a definite change for the better in
him. His color was back. The speech
was the topic of the family group Of
four. Isabella, their eighteen-year-old
Informed Bill it was ridiculous of
him to feel as he did. Nobody ex-
pected oratory in club speech.
Bill Junior was quiet with some
male understanding. ''Tll get a book
on public speaking from the Lib for
you. Dad" he said in way that did
wonders to Bills self esteem, until
his daughter added: zone with ges-
tures," and as If this were not enough,
ILLUSTRATED, you know"
After that the days of the Morris
family were practically devoted to ar
ranging and promoting the details and
rendition Of Bills speech. 1t was his
own idea that he try reciting some
rhyme downstairs while Bella sat up
stairs listening to see If his voice car
ried. 1t would be a gathering Of hun
dreds of men from the various dis
trlcts and Bill felt, since he was going
into it, he would like to be heard.
Bill Juniors book from the library
had many valuable hints but as Bill
Senior read them he felt they were
written for the really clever after
dinner speakers who were already well
established in the public eye. The book
struck panic in him. He wanted to
leave town or be taken suddenly Ill
the night of the club dinner.
The night of the dinner Bella
glowed as she saw Bill drive off with
a smile she knew he had manufac-
tured just for her. your dad" she
told her stoical children, will be the
hit of the evening. Something tells
mel" Her children answered: "Sure"
in tone that lacked conviction.
AS his hour approached, Bill, with
more frequency, mopped his perspir-
ing hands. He seemed to be living
through centuries. Men with no ter
minal facilities whatever went on and
on in enviable abandonment and the
crowd Of smoke-dazed men was prac-
tically insensible when it nearet Bills
turn. Even Bill felt he was gradu-
ally becoming entirely numb.
He was suddenly electrified to hear
his own name called and in the din
Of feeble but polite applause he rose
and lifted his eyes. After that he
practically knew no more. He had
thought he was familiar with the good
old phrases-Lord knows he had re-
cited them often enough-but now he
could remember nothing. He was con-
scious only of a swirling sea Of faces.
He looked about him a few times.
He tried to swallow and found 1t i'm
possible. He recalled suddenly he was
to Introduce himself and make a
brief speech Of welcome. It must be
done. He had to do it, so he put his
head back and looked at the ceiling
for inspiration. Every word he had
prepared escaped capture. An utter
helplessness seized him. He took one
long wise look at the volcano of faces
and said loudly-so Bell could easily
have heard had she been upstairs
"Gentlemen-BILL MORRIS. Very
pleased to meet you"
And then in trepidation over the
sound Of his own voice, he turned in
terrible elaboration and sat down
There was a brief silence and then
the crowd seemed to go mad. They
cheered and applauded and those near
him nodded to Bill waggishly and
pounded his shoulders. Some one was
heard to say: "Neatest thing we ever
heard, Bill. 1t takes you to think them
up" and somewhere nearby he heard
remark that this was what made
Bill such a big success in every way
he wasted no ones time. He always
said the right thing. Good old Bill.
When Bill could get to a telephone
ne called Bella.
Don't wait up, Bella. I've got II
over and l don't care when get home
now. Just wanted you to know they
seemed to like tt"
Like it?" she breathed ecstactically
Like It'll" Then she sighed. Bill could
near her and it always meant some
lining surprising. "They just went mad
ABOUT 1t, would be better. Bill, you're
that clever and you won't ever believe
II OF yourself. After this you'll rely
on your own unusual phrases wher
you have to make, a speech, won't
you"
Sure WILL" Bill agreed absently. A
oelated wonder struck him: SLOW die