that he maintained his ascendency. If his eloquence be compared either with that of the great ancient masters of the art, or with such modern masters as Edmund Burke and Daniel Webster, it does not show an equal depth and volume of thought nor an equal beauty and polish of diction. Many thought the speeches of John Bright superior, if considered as fine pieces of English. Mr. Gladstone, however, possest three great gifts of the parliamentary orator. He had a superb voice and delivery. His resources were inexhaustible. His quiver was always full of arguments, and he was equally skilful in the setting forth his own case in the most persuasive form and in answering his opponent's case on the spur of the moment with skill and spirit.

And, above all, he had great fighting force. He enjoyed the clash of wits, and the more formidable an attack was, the more did it rouse him to the highest point of effectiveness. Indeed, it was often said in Parliament that his extempore speeches made in some conflict of debate that arose suddenly were more telling and gave a higher impression of his powers than the discourses thought over beforehand. This power remained with him to the end.

It was this same quality of self-reliance in Webster that caused him to say to Hayne, "Let the discussion proceed; I am ready now to receive the gentleman's fire." He was a modest man, but "He carried men's minds, and overwhelmingly prest his thought upon them, with the immense current of his physical energy." His style was calm and deliberate, but always suggested great power in reserve. Hence it is that Webster's name has been linked with Demosthenes as the two greatest of the world's orators.

To be a great public speaker one must be a great man. A glance over the enduring speeches of the world shows that not one was delivered for a consideration. Demosthenes spoke in his own defense. Cicero excelled all his other efforts in his oration against Catiline. The speeches that have been preserved in English oratory were made in be

half of the country or for some other great cause. Burke, Pitt, Erskine, Fox, O'Connell, Macaulay, Gladstone, and Disraeli spoke at their best when they spoke for the common welfare. The history of oratory in America testifies to this same quality of disinterestedness. The greatest speeches were not inspired by any thought of personal reward. Webster, Lincoln, Clay, Sumner, Phillips, and other great names are remembered for their devotion to cause and country. Henry Ward Beecher, with all his pulpit eloquence, never spoke so well as in his speeches against slavery. When Seward made his eloquent defense of the negro Freeman, he did it without compensation. He toiled for months, spent his own money, lost lifelong friends, and was abused and almost mobbed by an infuriated people because he dared to defend a helpless negro, charged with murder, whom he believed to be insane. The greatest speeches of all time invariably have been inspired by an overwhelming desire for public service.

It will be seen, then, that the greatness of a speaker's style is merely the expression of his great character, and that he is one who is ready to offer himself, if need be, a living sacrifice. A great speaker labors to make men nobler, to inspire them to higher ideals, and to advance the welfare of mankind.

We are sometimes told that only a national crisis, or some other unusual event, can produce great orators. But never before, not even in ancient Greece or Rome, has there been a time when men were so ready as now to be moved by genuine cloquence. Never before has there been a time when so many vital national, social, and other problems confronted a pcople for solution. In all the history of the world there has never before been so much serious and sub

stantial work for the well-trained orator. His responsibility is, indeed, a high one, demanding thoroughness, earnestness, and self-sacrifice. His soul must be set on fire with ardor for his cause, and that cause must rule his heart and life. In this way, and only in this way, may he hope to become a master of men, and a truly great public speaker.

II

WHAT TO SAY

The student of public speaking will do well to confine his first efforts to simple forms of speech-making. Plain narrative and clear statement of fact should be his primary objects. The ornamental graces of rhetoric and oratory may advantageously be left for subsequent consideration.

His subject may be anything from a personal experience, such as a visit to New York or London, to a discussion of some social or political question of the day. But whatever theme he choose to speak upon, it is important that it be timely and of probable interest to his hearers. The highest oratorical talents will not atone for an inappropriate choice of subject. There are hundreds of vital topics, in which most men are more or less interested. A selection may be made from these:

Before attempting to write speeches of his own, the stu

dent will find it profitable to examine those of others, a

good selection of which is provided in this volume. Cicero says:

Since all the business and art of an orator is divided into five parts, he ought first to find out what he should say; next, to arrange and dispose his matter, not only in a certain order, but with a sort of power and judgment; then to clothe and deck his thoughts with language; then to secure them in his memory; and lastly, to deliver them with dignity and grace. I had learned and understood also that before we enter upon the main subject, the minds of the audience should be conciliated by an exordium; next, that the case should be clearly stated; then, that the point in controversy should be established; then, that what we may maintain should be supported by proof, and that whatever was said on the other side should be refuted; and that, in the conclusion of our speech, whatever was in our favor should be amplified and enforced, and whatever made for our adversaries should be weakened and invalidated.

The mind once fixt upon a subject, that subject becomes a point of attraction, and material gathers around it with surprizing rapidity. These spontaneous thoughts should be committed immediately to paper, and only after the student has exhausted the natural resources of his mind should he have recourse to books. It is difficult to lay down hard and fast rules as to the choice of books, but in a general way the young speaker will be well advised if he confines himself to those which have stood the test of time.

It may be said in passing that the frequent and regular reading of standard books is not only useful for storing the mind with information, but is an essential part of practical training in extempore speaking. If much of this reading is done aloud, the results will be all the better, since many words and phrases will in this manner be actually fitted to the speaker's mouth and made ready for instant use. Probably no exercise develops as this does the