Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/418

 Some Hints on Public Speaking. can sympathize with the dismay of the guest of the evening at an American banquet as he heard his chosen anecdotes retailed, one after another, by preceding speakers. Rule 5 is, Speak in a natural voice, in a conversational way. This may be good ad vice for an after-dinner speech, or the dis cussion of a bill in committee of the House, — rhetorical rhapsodies are then out of place, — but it cannot be accepted as a general rule for speaking. It will never do for the highest efforts. The voice is every thing in the orator, and to attain elevation in oratory, to touch, the deeper strings of feeling, the voice must be nicely modulated; it must vary, as Aristotle points out, with the theme of the speaker; it must rise and fall, sink or swell, vibrating in unison with the orator's moods. Garrick said he would give ¿loo to say " Oh! " as Whitfield did, and one who heard Newman preach at Ox ford could never forget the tone in which he uttered the word " irreparable." The voice is the soul of oratory. But for the genteel comedy of life a natural voice, an easy, con versational tone, is no doubt the best.

These rules are good, but they omit one rule which Aristotle places in the forefront in speaking. It is to have the goodwill of your audience. We know how the nisi prins advocate is accustomed to get this by administering judicious flattery to the jury, but this has to be done adroitly now, not in the Buzfuz vein, or it only disgusts. A jest is, perhaps, the best thing for putting a speaker on good terms with his audience. This was Sheridan's way. He was once asked how it was he got on so well in the House. " I soon found out," he replied, "that nine out of the ten were fools, but all loved a joke, and I determined to give them what they liked." The consequence was a glow of pleasurable anticipation, seldom dis appointed, whenever Sheridan rose to speak. "A good speech," said O'Connell, "is a good thing, but the verdict is the thing." It is well for the forensic orator to remember this. Scarlett, perhaps, knew better than anyone how verdicts are won, and Scarlett said, as a result of his experience, that the most useful duty of an advocate was the ex amination of witnesses.