CONTENTS III The Vitalizing Force of Breath. IV The Minimum Essentials of Speech T How to Speak CHAPTER I THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING The Ability to Convince and Persuade HE ability to express one's thoughts in an effec tive manner by word of mouth is of such value today in the business world that many men and women of all stations and conditions are giving their attention to the means whereby this power may be cultivated and enhanced. Not only does an understanding of the use of the spoken word enable one to speak in public, but it increases to a marked extent the conversational powers. Consequently it is of value to the salesperson, the buyer, the head of a department, the promoter, the lawyer, and all men and women whose business it is to influence the actions of others, be the object the selling of a bill of goods, the advancement of a business deal, the influencing of a board of directors, or the moving of a jury. 1 The ability to express thought by means of speech was a great asset to public men in the past, is so to men of today, and will be to those of the future in spite of the changed conditions brought about by the almost universal use of the printing press for diffusing information. In olden times it was a few men only who were expected to address audiences, but now the people generally have realized that because of their political status they are called upon to voice their opinions and wishes by word of mouth. They realize that the press does not adequately afford them the desired opportunity to speak their thoughts, and that if they are to continue to improve their political, industrial, and social condition, they must learn to use properly the powers of speech. What Public Speaking Is By public speaking is meant the presentation of ideas by word of mouth as distinguished from their presentation by the written word. In order that ideas may be conveyed and not only words spoken, the voice must be modulated and colored, and the words so emphasized and inflected, as to carry the thought to the mind of the listener just as much by the speaker's manner as by his matter. Both delivery and composition must agree in style and presentation in general, both acting in harmony and both working to perform the one purpose-con vey thought by means of speech in an appropriate manner, thus carrying the message to the mind of the listener precisely as it is perceived by the mind of the speaker. What are the requirements of one who would convey his thoughts to the minds of others by means of speech? There are two primary requisites from which radiate many secondary ones. These all important essentials are, that the speaker should have something to say and that he should know how to say it. He who lacks either of these requirements cannot hope to become an effective public speaker. If he does not possess a message with which he is thoroughly familiar, he will speak nothing but words; if he does not know how to deliver his message, he will be a mere babbler. The Speaker Must Know The lawyer in order to make an effective argument before a court must understand his case and have a thorough knowledge of the principles of law. Without this understanding and knowledge he cannot hope to make a favorable impression on the mind of the judge, as he cannot give to another that which he does not himself possess. The clergyman, of whatever denomination or belief, should know his Bible as thoroughly as does the lawyer know the fundamental principles of law, and |