PUBLIC SPEAKING IS NOT A GIFT
PRACTICE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT, SAYS GESELL
Thorough Mastery of Subject Necessary-Little Place For Fine Speaking Today.
The following suggestions on the art of public speaking have been prepared by Prof. G. A. Gessell of the department of public speaking:
Any one may become a good speaker, in fact almost any one may become a very good speaker. It requires temperament to become an orator; but the world is fast losing interest and confidence in the orator. Public speaking involves hard work, contemplation and practice. "Most men can be trained to think upon their feet," says Beecher, "but by disuse many lose the power God has given them. Though a man be born to genius, a natural reasoner, these endowments give him but the outlines of himself. The filling up demands incessant, painstaking, steady work." Public speaking is not a gift. The most important "element to success is practice.
THE THEME.
The choice of a subject for an ad dress is of primary importance. Much of our public speaking is ineffective because the subjects are too inclusive hackneyed, abstract, academic, and not adapted to the speaker or the occasion. The following are suggestive questions that should be answered satisfactorily in the selection of a subject: Am I personally interested in the theme? Can I interest my hearers? What is the purpose of the speech? Has the subject freshness? Can I speak with some degree of authority? Is the subject definite? Does the subject lend itself to conviction and persuasion?
The popular magazines have learned that the public are interested in people like themselves rather than in mere facts or philosophy. A speech should have as few underlying ideas as possible. It should develop one or two. A big idea amplified clarified, and demonstrated by illustration will live where an address covering more ground will be lost. The subject matter should be built up so that the hearer will take away a picture that he will remember, and, if possible, never wholly forget.
PREPARATION.
Thorough mastery of the subject is the first necessity. Not a casual, unsuperficial knowledge, but a knowledge that is a part of the speaker. One should know enough of the subject to talk twice as long as the allotted time; he should know it so well that he cannot be disconcerted by a question, that he can begin at the end and work to the beginning as easily as from the beginning to the end. The baseball fan knows his subject as should the public speaker.
There are two methods of preparation. One is the method of writing the speech and its subsequent memorization. For very important occasions this method is desirable. Many of the great forensics prepared for special occasions were written and committed to memory. The Phi Beta Kappa Address of Wendell Phillipps, the Bunker Hill Oration of Webster and the great speeches of Everett and Grady were memorized. The objections to the method are however obvious. The limited time for preparation makes impossible the use of this laborious method. Again speaking memoriter is not conducive to directness. Memorized speeches are not free and easy; they are often mechanical. Self confidence is an invaluable asset in a public speaker. The speaker who must rely on memorized speeches is never sure of himself; he invariably loses control of himself when he is confronted with a situation that demands impromptu speaking.
The other method is extempore speaking. The extempore speaker is full of his subject. He has carefully worked over the material and has a definite outline of the things he wants to cover. The speech is however not set, for the phraseology is worked out on the platform. "I first read all I can on the subject," says William J. Bryan.
"examining the question from all stand-points; then prepare an outline dividing the subject into heads and subheads, then fill in the detaits. I seldom write a speech complete. Where I have the subject thoroughly in hand, it is easier to use the language which comes at the moment than to remember set phraseology." By this method the mind is relieved of the burden of concern and self assurance is given the speaker. The literal declaration of speech is far less free, far less effective and of far less advantage in training than the frequent outpouring of a speech which has been prepared and soaked but not memorized.
ARRANGEMENT.
A speech should be grouped so that it divides itself into sections and so long together that disclosure follows naturally and easily frosts beginning to end. It should be blocked out in the speaker's mind in chunks, each of which is distinct and complete. The discourse should be visualized. It should convey a picture to the mind.
SIMPLICITY.
The first rule of composition and all expression should be simplicity. Effectiveness can only be secured when the mind of the auditor is put to the minimum of effort in following the speaker or writer. There is virtue in the statement of the speaker who said that he always prepared his speech as if he were going to deliver it before a six year old audience. He had to know the subject well himself to make it very clear.
DELIVERY.
There is little place for "fine speaking" today. People do not trust it, they do not really like it. They want to be instructed and if possible in an easy manner. A common truism effectively delivered is far more telling than a wise statement badly mangled. In places other than a large hall the best of all styles of delivery is the conversational one. This permits familiarity. It is easy and effective. Delivery involves clear communication, simple sentences, careful modulation and a sense of reserve power. A colloquial style is often very effective. Awkwardness is forgotten in a speaker of effective delivery. Some of our most effective speakers have been badly handicapped with uncouth appearance.
More than anything else is the need of earnestness, of conviction of purpose. The average audience will detect the absence of these qualities. They will tolerate an earnest speaker better than a merely good speaker. Conviction is a far different thing from noise. The earnestness comes from feeling and conviction, from preparation and thought.
Finally expression in any form must have fervor, simplicity and orderliness. It must not be a recitation but a drawing upon a store house. There must be conviction and there must be warmth. There must of course be truth. These qualities of themselves will carry a speech.
Fountain pens make useful presents. We have them for $1 up all guaranteed. Wolf's Book Store.
Violet Dule Cold Cream in tubes; very convenient for travelers. 25e at McColloch's Drug Store.
There is no better stepping stone to a successful business career than the mastery of shorthand and typewriting. Attend the Summer School of the Lawrence Business College and take such a course.
Soda water at Wilson's Drug Store.
FOR RENT—Furnished, nine room, modern house. Will rent all or part for school year. House No. 1322 Mass. St. Home phone 539. 94 3t
LOST—S. A. E. pin Return to 1339 Ohio or phone 412 R. J. Ryland.
HOUSE For RENT—14 rooms,
Corner Adams and Tennessee sts.
Now occupied by the Kappa
Kappa Gamma society. Apply
at 1617 Kentucky. Bell 1261.
95 3t.
Decoration Day
is a good day to celebrate by putting on your best Clothes and taking the day to consider patriotism, and your duties as a good citizen. Your best clothes should be . . . . .
Hart, Schaffner & Marx Clothes
We'll attend to that part of it, if you'll agree to do the rest . . . .
Blue Suits, fancy weave Suits, Suits for Men of all ages.
$10 to $30
PECKHAMS The Young Men's Store
Washington University Medical School
George Dock, Sc. D., M. D., Dean.
George Dock, Sc. D., M. D., Dean.
Full time heads of departments and staffs in leading clinical as well as in laboratory branches. Experienced experts drawn from the medical profession in St. Louis associated with these. Entrance examinations Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26 and 27. Academic year opens October 2. One year of college work in prescribed subjects required for admission in 1911; two years of college work in 1912. For catalogue and information address DEAN. WASHINGTON UNIVER
Washington University Medical School
St. Louis, Mo.
Curtis Park, Mo. D. Davis
SITY MEDICAL SCHOOL,
1866 Locust Street,
St. Louis, Mo.
Particular Cleaning and Pressing
FOR PARTICULAR PEOPLE
Lawrence Pantatorium
12 W. Warren Both Phones 506
Mrs. J. L. Custer will run a club during the summer term. A good place to eat, try it. 1314 Tennessee. A good steward wanted.
Notice.
SALESMEN WANTED—Salesmen for the summer can find a good line-up in selling custom-made automobile clothing, such as dusters, coats, caps, face protectors and other garments that pertain to the automobile trade. Sold strictly to the consumer, calling on high class trade; no canvassing. Call at the Auto-Apparel Manufacturing Co., 110 E. Warren Street, City, and ask for O. H. McQuary, Jr., or make an appointment by calling Bell 185.
LOST- Leather check book cover containing half dozen films. H. L. Purcell. Home 263. 96 21.
Soda water at Wilson's Drug Store.
Photo post cards of the May Fete 5e at McColloch's Drug Store.
GOLF SUPPLIES
just in. New shipment of Balls and Clubs. Standard lines, Spalding & McGregor's.
Smith's News Depot
HILLIARD & CARROLL
Phones 608 709 Mass. Students' Downtown Headquarters
LOST—A dark topaz ring on Adams hill. Return to Kansan office.
No Flies, No Dust, No Dirt
Northwestern Mut. Life In. Co.
L. S. Beegly. 1224 Tenn.
At the Kress' Candy Counter
Sanitary conditions prevail in our system of selling candy. The fixtures and equipment used in our candy department are covered by our own patents on which we have worked years in perfecting.
Kress' Candy 10, 15, 20, 25c lb. KRESS' 5-10 AND 25CENT STORE
For Graduating Presents
You will find lots of nice things at our Store. Memory Books, Gift Books, Poems, K. U. View Books, Fiction; in leather, cloth or paper binding. Also Pennants, Posters, K. U Souvenirs, Fountain Pens, and many other things. Call and see.
BOYLES, 725 Mass. St.
P. S. Don't forget to see us for Calling Cards. Home Phone 616 or 549.
APPROPRIATE Flowers for that Recital at 325 1-2 Mass. St. THE FLOWER SHOP, Phones 621
THEY ARE HERE—
COMMENCEMENT GIFTS and JEWELRY SOL MARKS 817 Mass. St.
Do You Want Profitable Employment During Vacation?
Selling life insurance will bring you quick returns and, will pay you exceedingly well. You need beat no expense to start on and can get best results in your own home community. A special agent from this office will work with you until you are experienced enough to go it alone. Write for our special proposition to college men. Permanent positions under a renewal contract open to young men of energy who desire to continue in the business.
W. B. Davis & Son, General Agents, Illinois Life Ins. Co.
132 Commerce Building, Kansas City, Missouri.
Exclusive Varsity Party,
WOODLAND PARK
FRIDAY and SATURDAY NIGHTS
Admission
75c