Cicero.
* * * * *
THE INEXPERIENCED SPEAKER.
The awkward, untried speaker rises now,
And to the audience makes a jerking bow.
He staggers—almost falls—stares—strokes his chin—
Clears out his throat, and.. ventures to begin.
"Sir, I am.. sensible"—(some titter near him)—
"I am, sir, sensible"—"Hear! hear!" (they cheer him).
Now bolder grown—for praise mistaking pother—
He pumps first one arm up, and then the other.
"I am, sir, sensible—I am indeed—
That,.. though—I should—want—words—I must proceed
And.. for the first time in my life, I think—
I think—that—no great—orator—should—shrink—
And therefore,—Mr. Speaker,—I, for one—
Will.. speak out freely.—Sir, I've not yet done.
Sir, in the name of those enlightened men
Who sent me here to.. speak for them—why, then..
To do my duty—as I said before—
To my constituency—I'll … say no more."
* * * * *
SKETCHES OF AUTHORS.
ADDISON, JOSEPH, born May 1st, 1672, at Milston, Wiltshire, son of the Rev. Lancelot Addison, was educated at the Charterhouse and at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was destined for the church, but turned his attention to political life, and became eventually a member of parliament, and in 1717, one of the principal Secretaries of State. He first rose into public notice, through his poem on the battle of Blenheim, written in 1704, and entitled, The Campaign. He was chief contributor to The Spectator. His tragedy of Cato, produced in 1713, achieved a great popularity, which, however, has not been permanent. He died on June 17th, 1719. As an observer of life, of manners, of all shades of human character, he stands in the first class.
ALDRICH, THOMAS BAILEY, an American poet, born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1836. He has been an industrious worker on the newspaper press, and is the author of Baby Bell, a beautiful poem of child-death. He has published his collected poems under the title of Cloth of Gold, and of Flower and Thorn. He is also a prose writer of considerable note, having an exquisite humour. His published novels are Prudence Palfrey, The Queen of Sheba, The Still-water Tragedy, etc.
AYTOUN, WILLIAM EDMONDSTOUNE, an eminent critic and poet, born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1813. He studied law, and was appointed Professor of Rhetoric in Edinburgh University in 1845, and was closely connected with Blackwood's Magazine for many years. He was a poet of the highest order, and his Execution of Montrose, and the Burial March of Dundee, are two noble historical ballads. He was author of the celebrated Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers, Bon Gaultier Ballads, Firmilian, a Spasmodic Tragedy, Bothwell, Poland, and other Poems, The Life and Times of Richard Coeur de Lion, etc. Died August 4th, 1865.
BEECHER, HENRY WARD, a celebrated author and divine, born at Litchfield, Connecticut, on the 24th of January, 1813. He studied at Amherst College, where he graduated in 1834. In 1847, he became pastor of Plymouth Church (Congregational), Brooklyn. He is one of the most popular writers, and most successful lecturers of the day in the United States. He has published, Lectures to Young Men, Life Thoughts, a novel entitled Norwood, etc.