gesture. Just what that attitude should be depends, not on rules, but on the

spirit of the speech and the occasion. Senator La Follette stood for three hours

with his weight thrown on his forward foot as he leaned out over the footlights,

ran his fingers through his hair, and flamed out a denunciation of the trusts.

It was very effective. But imagine a speaker taking that kind of position to

discourse on the development of road-making machinery. If you have a fiery,

aggressive message, and will let yourself go, nature will naturally pull your

weight to your forward foot. A man in a hot political argument or a street brawl

never has to stop to think upon which foot he should throw his weight. You may

sometimes place your weight on your back foot if you have a restful and calm

message--but don't worry about it: just stand like a man who genuinely feels

what he is saying. Do not stand with your heels close together, like a soldier

or a butler. No more should you stand with them wide apart like a traffic

policeman. Use simple good manners and common sense.

 

Here a word of caution is needed. We have advised you to allow your gestures and

postures to be spontaneous and not woodenly prepared beforehand, but do not go

to the extreme of ignoring the importance of acquiring mastery of your physical

movements. A muscular hand made flexible by free movement, is far more likely to

be an effective instrument in gesture than a stiff, pudgy bunch of fingers. If

your shoulders are lithe and carried well, while your chest does not retreat

from association with your chin, the chances of using good extemporaneous

gestures are so much the better. Learn to keep the _back_ of your neck touching

your collar, hold your chest high, and keep down your waist measure.