We may consider here the traditional pitcher of ice water on the speaker's stand. It ought to be abolished; more harm than good is done by the "sip of cold water." The throat in action should not receive a dash of cold water. If there is congestion, as indicated by the hot and parched feeling, the cold douche will simply insure greater congestion when the reaction follows its appli cation. To insure against dry mouth and throat, many things have been suggested. Possibly the chewing of slippery elm will do some good; it can do no harm. Most prepared lozenges are bad for the stomach. A good demulcent to sip can be made with a little tragacanth gum in water. But if this be used, take it before beginning to speak. It is a descent from the sublime to the ridiculous for a speaker to stop in the middle of his address to take a drink. 9. MOUTH HYGIENE The mouth should be kept as aseptic and clean as possible. Peroxide of hydrogen diluted with water is good to use as a gargle and a mouth wash. The following advice given by Doctor Mills in his book on Voice Production (page 262) may also be followed. As the speaker and singer must often practice their art in an atmosphere that is far from pure, they will do well to carry out in a routine way some sort of mouth toilet on their return home and the next morning. Various simple mouth and throat washes may be used, such as (1) water with a little common salt dissolved in it (2) water containing a few drops of carbolic acid-just enough to be distinctly tasted; (3) water containing listerine; (4) either of the last two with the addition of a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to a teacupful of the fluid, when there is a tendency to catarrh. Of course the teeth should be brushed after each meal, before retiring and on getting up in the morning. Then also the speaker should go once each year to the dentist to have his teeth examined. A little work done by the dentist in time will save a great deal of trouble later. All this care of the teeth and mouth is most necessary, for bacteria multiply rapidly, and affections of the mouth, tonsils, and throat have a powerful effect upon the speaking voice. 10. THE SPEAKER'S HABITS The instrument of the public speaker is his body. He should take the greatest care of it possible. To keep in the necessary robust health his habits should be regular. He should follow the old rule of "early to bed and early to rise." We all know the story of how Ben Franklin, when being entertained by the most distinguished people of France, at the proper time each evening, would rise and excuse himself saying, "It is now my usual hour to retire." While such independence is not always tactful or possible, an approximation to Franklin's regularity in early sleep is desirable. Regularity and simplicity in eating should also characterize the speaker. In short, a simple, honest, uncrowded life should be his if he is to keep in perfect condition. This entails the sacrifice of many pleasures and indulgences, but the reward is worth the sacrifice. ASSIGNMENT OF WORK The written exercises in this entire lesson should be carefully worked out. Keep copies of the written exercises in your notebook. First Day. Read the lesson through twice and then test yourself with the questions. Have you, in the past, violated any of the rules of hygiene given in this lesson? Are there any with which you do not agree? Second Day.-Study the lesson again carefully, making a tabulated summary of the advice given. Then make out a weekly schedule for a speaker, assuming that he is to begin preparing the speech on Sunday and deliver it the following Saturday. Assume that he is employed from eight to four thirty every week day except Saturday, when he stops at twelve o'clock. Make out the daily schedule, from rising to retiring, in great detail, even to the brushing of the teeth. Third Day.-Go back to Lesson 7 and practice all the breathing exercises most carefully. Then combine the deep rhythmic breathing with exercises A, B, C, D, and E of the last lesson. Fourth Day.-Take the outline of a speech which you have prepared and go for a long walk. While walking, develop the speech several times, talking silently. This is a good exercise in preparation for a speech provided it is not done immediately before the delivery in public. You will notice that the throat is a bit tired after this exercise just as though you had been actually speaking. That is one of the reasons why a walk of this kind should not precede the address proper. Fifth Day.-Review once more the Reflection Hour on page 146 of Lesson 8. TEST QUESTIONS These questions are for the student to use in testing his knowledge of the principles in this lesson. They are suggestive merely, dealing largely with the practical 1. What is meant by hygiene, general hygiene, and special hygiene? 2. Give your definition of mental hygiene and tell why the speaker must give it more than usual care. 3. Is mental hygiene in any way related to the physical? Is physical welfare related to mental efficiency? Can any general rules of diet be formulated which will be of service to the speaker? 5. What are the rules concerning quantity of food which may usually be followed by the speaker? 6. What are the two important things in dress that interest the speaker? 7. What is to be said about the effect on a speaker of consulting notes on a table or desk? 8. Give the inference you draw from Bishop Buckley's statement about Beecher. What other thing, besides rest, is of importance to keep the speaker fresh and vigorous? 9. Why is it necessary to emphasize the fact that the vocal cords should be used for the production of sound only? 10. What course should a speaker pursue when he feels fatigued? What must he do when the throat is sore? 11. Has shouting or singing any bad effect on the speaker's voice? 12. Tell the respective uses of the warm bath, the cold bath, and the cold spray or douche of the chest. 13. What effect have alcoholic drinks on the mind during a speech if taken immediately before? What effect have they on the throat? What effect has smoking on the throat of the speaker? What is the most harmless form of smoking? 15. What do you think of the "sip of cold water" during the delivery of an address? 16. Give a brief summary of the various precautions to keep the mouth clean. 17. Can you give a few harmless mouth washes? Do you know of others put up for commercial purposes and sold under patent names? 18. Give a brief summary of the ideal regulation of the daily life of a speaker. LESSON 23 PRACTICAL SPEECH DIRECTIONS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS There are many occasions on which one may have to speak in this or that capacity. While we cannot possibly list all these, there are certain ones of importance which may well be selected for treatment. We shall, at first, treat those speeches connected with mass meetings and conventions, presenting samples of addresses to be made when one must act (1) as organizer of a meeting, (2) as temporary chairman, (3) as the permanent chairman or spokesman of the meeting. Then we shall take up speeches from the floor and later the addresses of toastmaster and others at a dinner. Last of all we shall consider the set speeches of the regular "orators" of special occasions. CALLING A MEETING Meetings of unorganized bodies or mass meetings of citizens for discussion, are usually called together by public notice or general invitation. At the time of meeting, someone interested in the object at hand must take the initiative in speech. He may do one of two things, either sketch briefly in an unbiased manner the reason for the coming together, or simply say, "Will the meeting please come to order? I shall be pleased to hear nominations for temporary presiding officer." If those present are unacquainted and the enterprise is new, the introductory remarks are necessary and may be followed by a |