It is a lamentable fact that a large number of the young men of the present day who intend to enter the ministry seem to think it necessary to be able to speak in a drawling, sanctimonious tone, until this method of talking has been denominated the “clerical whine.” There is no reason why a preacher should speak in the pulpit with an entirely different voice from that which he employs on other occasions. The truth of it is, some young preachers hear a man who has a big reputation as a preacher speak with the nasal twang, and straightway fancy that they can never become good preachers unless they can speak in the same way. Other young preachers try to imitate Sam Jones, or some other popular preacher, especially their eccentricities. The world makes allowances for the eccentricities and vices of genius, but never countenances them in mediocrity. The young man who thus tries to ape other men, not only loses the respect of others, but soon loses his own self respect. Individuality is a characteristic of genius, so that a young man who tries to imitate others proves by his actions that he is devoid of real ability, and makes himself contemptible in the eyes of sensible people. Every young man should determine to preserve his identity, and have the stamp of individuality upon all his actions, and he will then at least command respect, if he does not become distinguished as an eccentric genius.
It is to be feared that stump speaking, in its highest and best sense, is becoming a thing of the past. People no longer delight to hear the great political questions of the day discussed in a sound, sensible manner on the stump, but seem to have a morbid appetite for smutty jokes and low buffoonery. The man who can tell the most anecdotes is the man for the office. It is a shame for the citizens of a State to applaud the vulgar jokes of men running for high offices. Such men deserve to be frowned upon with the virtuous indignation and contempt of every true citizen. It matters not how well they may tell their jokes, yet they are corrupters of the morals of the young who hear them, and do injury to the State in which they live, just in proportion to their talent and influence. Why is it that we so rarely have discussions now to which ladies can listen? Why is it that we do not have canvasses like that of Prentiss in Mississippi years ago, when he stumped the State for Congress, and the ladies turned out to hear the famous orator? Such stump speeches as those made by Douglas and Lincoln in Illinois, and Gov. Wise in Virginia, in which these great men discussed the political issues of the country in a statesman-like way? Why was President Garfield abused so outrageously by the stump speakers of opposite political faith to him, and a few months afterwards, when he was assassinated, lauded to the skies by the same men? Stump speaking in these latter times seems to have been assigned, in the main, to the lowest demagogues in each party, who see how much mud they can throw at each other, and how many vile jokes and political lies they can tell.
The students of Trinity have in the past had the reputation throughout the State of being good speakers. They should determine to maintain this reputation. The way to do this is for them to take an interest in Society work. Society training is an invaluable part of every young man’s college education. No student should fail to improve the opportunities offered to him in this line. There is nothing that should be more congenial to a student who has any ambition than a good literary society—a society where he can learn to express himself with ease and fluency, with grammatical correctness, and rhetorical finish, where he can learn to clothe his thought in appropriate language, where he can cultivate his imaginative and reasoning powers. Some students seem to think that because they gave not the rhythmic flow of language of a Cicero, the information of a Burke, or the wit sarcasm and fluency of a John Randolph, that it is useless for them ever to try to become speakers. They seem to forget that no man can be a grand success right at the start, and that persistent effort is required to succeed at anything. Those who have no natural talent for speaking should be encouraged when they think of Demosthenes and other great orators, who possessed little natural powers of oratory. Let every student, at the beginning of this new year, take more interest in society work, and strive to become at least a moderately good speaker.
Reviews.
| D. C. ROPER, Columbian, | Editors. |
| J. S. BASSETT, Hesperian, |
Studies in English and American Literature, from Chaucer to the present time; with standard selections from representative writers for critical study and analysis. By Albert N. Raub, Ph. D., Principal of the Central State Normal School, Lock Haven, Pa., and Author of “Lessons in English,” “Practical English Grammar,” etc., 468 pp. Cloth. Philadelphia. Raub & Co. 1887.
This is one of the books “to meet a long-felt want.” The work is intended not only to give a biographical sketch of the representative writers, but also a criticism of their work, and, following this, a masterpiece selected from each author’s writings, with such explanatory notes appended as will lead the pupil to study more critically and with more profit not only the beauties but also the defects, of his language. It is a book on literature, criticism, and the literary analysis of the English classics in one, and is an admirable supplement to the study of both Rhetoric and English Grammar. The plan is the now so popular method used by Kellogg, Swinton, and others, thereby giving this book many of the excellences found in the works of those scholars. If, however, it be pertinent to mention among its good qualities a defect, it may be said that the number of American authors is out of proportion to the English, thereby unduly emphasizing American literature. In the main, this is a very good book, and is altogether worthy of the ready acceptance which it is receiving in quite a number of our schools and colleges.