post-office appropriations. The speeches that will live have been charged with

emotional force. Prosperity and peace are poor developers of eloquence. When

great wrongs are to be righted, when the public heart is flaming with passion,

that is the occasion for memorable speaking. Patrick Henry made an immortal

address, for in an epochal crisis he pleaded for liberty. He had roused himself

to the point where he could honestly and passionately exclaim, "Give me liberty

or give me death." His fame would have been different had he lived to-day and

argued for the recall of judges.

 

_The Power of Enthusiasm_

 

Political parties hire bands, and pay for applause--they argue that, for

vote-getting, to stir up enthusiasm is more effective than reasoning. How far

they are right depends on the hearers, but there can be no doubt about the

contagious nature of enthusiasm. A watch manufacturer in New York tried out two

series of watch advertisements; one argued the superior construction,

workmanship, durability, and guarantee offered with the watch; the other was

headed, "A Watch to be Proud of," and dwelt upon the pleasure and pride of

ownership. The latter series sold twice as many as the former. A salesman for a

locomotive works informed the writer that in selling railroad engines emotional

appeal was stronger than an argument based on mechanical excellence.

 

Illustrations without number might be cited to show that in all our actions we

are emotional beings. The speaker who would speak efficiently must develop the

power to arouse feeling.