vaudeville monologist, but the principle is the same: he tries to strike some

universal note that will have all his hearers feeling alike at the same time.

 

The evangelist knows this when he has the soloist sing some touching song just

before the address. Or he will have the entire congregation sing, and that is

the psychology of "Now _every_body sing!" for he knows that they who will not

join in the song are as yet outside the crowd. Many a time has the popular

evangelist stopped in the middle of his talk, when he felt that his hearers were

units instead of a molten mass (and a sensitive speaker can feel that condition

most depressingly) and suddenly demanded that everyone arise and sing, or repeat

aloud a familiar passage, or read in unison; or perhaps he has subtly left the

thread of his discourse to tell a story that, from long experience, he knew

would not fail to bring his hearers to a common feeling.

 

These things are important resources for the speaker, and happy is he who uses

them worthily and not as a despicable charlatan. The difference between a

demagogue and a leader is not so much a matter of method as of principle. Even

the most dignified speaker must recognize the eternal laws of human nature. You

are by no means urged to become a trickster on the platform--far from it!--but

don't kill your speech with dignity. To be icily correct is as silly as to rant.

Do neither, but appeal to those world-old elements in your audience that have

been recognized by all great speakers from Demosthenes to Sam Small, and see to

it that you never debase your powers by arousing your hearers unworthily.

 

It is as hard to kindle enthusiasm in a scattered audience as to build a fire