One danger in this method is that you may be led aside from your subject into

by-paths. To avoid this peril, firmly stick to your mental outline. Practise

speaking from a memorized brief until you gain control. Join a debating

society--talk, _talk_, _TALK_, and always extemporize. You may "make a fool of

yourself" once or twice, but is that too great a price to pay for success?

 

Notes, like crutches, are only a sign of weakness. Remember that the power of

your speech depends to some extent upon the view your audience holds of you.

General Grant's words as president were more powerful than his words as a

Missouri farmer. If you would appear in the light of an authority, be one. Make

notes on your brain instead of on paper.

 

_Joint Methods of Delivery_

 

A modification of the second method has been adopted by many great speakers,

particularly lecturers who are compelled to speak on a wide variety of subjects

day after day; such speakers often commit their addresses to memory but keep

their manuscripts in flexible book form before them, turning several pages at a

time. They feel safer for having a sheet-anchor to windward--but it is an

anchor, nevertheless, and hinders rapid, free sailing, though it drag never so

lightly.

 

Other speakers throw out a still lighter anchor by keeping before them a rather

full outline of their written and committed speech.