to illustrate with the stories. Both stories to illustrate

the same point.

VI. Have each student give a three-minute talk on "The Need of Orations To-day."

VII. Have each student prepare a contest oration of 1,000 words of some national character of his own choosing observing the suggestions made in this chapter concerning the Introduction, Problem, Solution, and Conclusion.

VIII. Write an oration on one of the following subjects: International Peace.

1.

CHAPTER VII

METHODS OF PREPARING AND DELIVERING A

SPEECH

When a man is called upon to make a speech,—whether he fortunately has something to say or unfortunately has to say something, he has a selection of five ways:

I. It may be written and then read.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

It may be written and memorized.

It may be spoken extempore.

It may be partly written and partly extemporized.
It may be impromptu.

I. READING A SPEECH. Advantages. On occasions when the speaker must be exceedingly careful what he says and how he says it, this is the safest plan. He cannot then be misquoted, whether intentionally or carelessly. The inexperienced speaker had better write out his speech and learn to read it well than to attempt any other method and fail. This method is the easiest. Usually speeches read from manuscript are worth listening to, as they have been very carefully prepared. Scientific discoveries are usually thus presented to the public.

Disadvantages. It is difficult to interest an audience when reading a paper. In the first place, a reader is hampered in adequate physical expression. Again, he cannot adjust his speech to the tenor of the audience. To be a success, he must be able to judge accurately his audience before he speaks. Certain events may occur after the writing of his paper and before its reading which necessitate a change in manuscript on short notice; or part of it may be wholly

inappropriate.

Caution. If reading from manuscript seems necessary or advisable, cultivate the ability to read well. Look at your audience as much as possible while reading, and for as long a time as possible. Hold up your manuscript almost on a level with and within easy distance from your eyes, so that you can look at your audience by merely turning your eyes slightly upward. In short, make your reading a personal message, and allow the manuscript to interfere as little as possible with a personal grapple with your audience.

II. SPEAKING MEMORITER. Advantages. This method gives the most artistic results. It is a safe and popular method for beginners. It has all the advantages of the first method and only a few of the disadvantages. This method was and is used by some of our most able orators. Demosthenes used it whenever time permitted. Cæsar used it at the trial of the friends of Catiline; Webster used it in his Plymouth and Bunker Hill orations, and in his Eulogy on Adams and Jefferson. Everett and Wendell Phillips wrote many of their orations and memorized them.

memory.

Disadvantages. It is an enormous tax upon the It takes much practice to "speak" a selection creditably. Even the best memories are at times treacherous.

Cautions. Commit the idea and thought as well as the words. Deliver your speech as though it were extemporaneous-do not let the audience know that it is memorized. Do not use this method except when you have plenty of time and the production is not too long. Avoid repeating it so often that the delivery becomes mechanical and lifeless.

III. SPEAKING EXTEMPORE. Advantages. This form of speaking requires careful preparation, a memorized outline, leaving the exact language for expression "upon the spur of the moment." This permits a hand-to-hand grapple with the audience. The speaker can take advantage of any cir

cumstances requiring a modification of his prepared material. He must think as he speaks, thus avoiding a mechanical repetition of words. If his speech has not been well adapted to the audience, he can modify it as the occasion demands. He can take advantage of opportunities to speak when he might not have time to prepare a manuscript. We are living in an age when a short, business-like speech is most in demand. The extempore method also permits the orator to profit by the inspiration of the audience. Most of our gems of oratory were produced in this way; flashes of brilliant eloquence come, as Webster said, "if they come at all, like the outbreak of a fountain from the earth, or the bursting forth of volcanic fires, with spontaneous, original, native force." The extempore method cultivates definite thinking and accurate speaking. Become a good extempore speaker.

Disadvantages. Extempore speaking is likely to be illprepared, repetitious. Beginners frequently have their minds and vocal powers practically paralyzed when they appear before an audience-they can neither think nor speak. Many students while thinking of what to say have very little time left to garb their thoughts properly; hence their diction and style are poor. Not following a carefully constructed outline, they wander "like the chaff before the wind."

Cautions. Prepare about four times as much material as you think you will need. Have a well prepared and thoroughly memorized outline. Never carry a scrap of paper before your audience. Do not think that all you need is a "gift of gab"; many a speaker is more wordy than brainy. Speak slowly at first; construct your sentences carefully. A large, ready vocabulary is absolutely essential. Practice, PRACTICE.

IV. COMBINED METHOD. Advantages. There are a number of combinations: (1) To read part of the speech and

to give from memory the most important portions. (2) To read part and to extemporize part. (3) To memorize the introduction, conclusion and a few choice paragraphs in the body of the speech and to extemporize the rest. This last combination has been used with remarkable success by many of our most brilliant speakers: Cicero, John Bright, Pitt, Gladstone, Beecher, and many others. It carries with it about all the advantages enumerated under the first three methods.

Disadvantages. It requires great skill to pass from the extemporized to the memorized portions without being detected by the audience. The speaker usually "recites" in a quality of style different from that in which he "speaks."

Cautions. Begin by committing the introductions and conclusions; then memorize large bits of your written speech. Memorize choice extracts from noted authors-a few lines of descriptive matter, a choice combination of effective adjectives, etc. You can often use these to advantage. Cultivate a fluent and graceful transition from the one style to the other.

V. SPEAKING IMPROMPTU. Advantages. Speaking without any special preparation is not an easy task. It demands a broad general preparation. But he who has this foundation frequently can make effective speeches when others are obliged to keep silent. To be able to analyze quickly and to marshal your thoughts together at a moment's notice is a power admired and longed for by all public speakers. Few, however, reach the point where they care to rely upon their general preparation on important occasions. Preachers and other speakers who are frequently called upon for a sermon or speech on short notice should carry a few good outlines for addresses continually in mind.

Disadvantages. The impromptu method has too many disadvantages for enumeration. Those who wait for the