Deliberation is closely akin to seriousness and the lecturer who has no great and serious question to present should retire from the platform and try vaudeville.
It is just here that the Socialist has a great advantage, for his theme is the most serious and tremendous that ever occupied the mind of man.
CHAPTER V
PERORATION
The close of a lecture is called the peroration—the word oration prefixed by the Latin preposition “per.” “Per” has several meanings, one of them being “to the utmost extent” as in peroxide—a substance oxidized to the utmost degree.
This is probably the sense in which it is used in peroration, for the close of a lecture should be oratory at its utmost.
The speaker who has failed to observe the previous rules about “beginning easy,” and “speaking deliberately” will pay the penalty here. If he has spoken rapidly, he will be unable to increase the pace—at least, sufficiently to get the best results.
If he has spoken too loudly and kept nothing in reserve, his voice will refuse to “rise to the occasion.”
The manner of the peroration has two essentials, an increase of speed, and a raising of the voice. These two things go naturally together; as the words come more quickly the voice tends to rise apparently automatically, and this is as it should be.
The peroration has the nature of a triumph. The question has been fought out in the main body of the lecture, the opposing positions have been overthrown, and now the main conclusion is victoriously proclaimed and driven home.