Model Speeches for Practise   By: Grenville Kleiser (1868-1953)

BY

GRENVILLE KLEISER

Formerly Instructor in Public Speaking at Yale Divinity School, Yale University. Author of "How to Speak in Public," "Great Speeches and How to Make Them," "Complete Guide to Public Speaking," "How to Build Mental Power," "Talks on Talking," etc., etc.

[Illustration: Publisher's logo]

FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON 1920

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY

GRENVILLE KLEISER

[ Printed in the United States of America ]

Published, February, 1920

Copyright Under the Articles of the Copyright Convention of the Pan American Republics and the United States, August 11, 1910

PREFACE

This book contains a varied representation of successful speeches by eminently successful speakers. They furnish, in convenient form, useful material for study and practise.

The student is earnestly recommended to select one speech at a time, analyze it carefully, note its special features, practise it aloud, and then proceed to another. In this way he will cover the principal forms of public speaking, and enable himself to apply his knowledge to any occasion.

The cardinal rule is that a speaker learns to speak by speaking, hence a careful reading and study of these speeches will do much to develop the student's taste for correct literary and oratorical form.

GRENVILLE KLEISER. New York City, August, 1919.

CONTENTS

PAGE INTRODUCTION Aims and Purposes of Speaking Grenville Kleiser 11

After Dinner Speaking James Russell Lowell 29

England, Mother of Nations Ralph Waldo Emerson 37

The Age of Research William Ewart Gladstone 44

Address of Welcome Oliver Wendell Holmes 52

Good Will to America Sir William Harcourt 65

The Qualities That Win Charles Sumner 71

The English Speaking Race George William Curtis 88

Woman Horace Porter 100

Tribute to Herbert Spencer William M. Evarts 113

The Empire State Chauncey M. Depew 120

Men of Letters James Anthony Froude 133

Literature and Politics John Morley 139

General Sherman Carl Schurz 147

Oration Over Alexander Hamilton Gouverneur Morris 154

Eulogy of McKinley Grover Cleveland 164

Decoration Day Thomas W. Higginson 170

Faith in Mankind Arthur T. Hadley 177

Washington and Lincoln Martin W. Littleton 181

Characteristics of Washington William McKinley 187

Let France Be Free George Jacques Danton 193

Sons of Harvard Charles Devens 199

Wake Up, England! King George 208

INTRODUCTION

AIMS AND PURPOSES OF SPEAKING

It is obvious that the style of your public speaking will depend upon the specific purpose you have in view. If you have important truths which you wish to make known, or a great and definite cause to serve, you are likely to speak about it with earnestness and probably with eloquence.

If, however, your purpose in speaking is a selfish one if your object is self exploitation, or to serve some special interest of your own if you regard your speaking as an irksome task, or are unduly anxious as to what your hearers will think of you and your effort then you are almost sure to fail.