And filled between with curious art Whispered the old rhyme: "Under the tree, The moon above the eastern wood Its blown snows flashing cold and keen, Of hemlocks turned to pitchy black For such a world and such a night Shut in from all the world without, Shook beam and rafter as it passed, Blow high, blow low, not all its snow Could quench our hearth-fire's ruddy glow. John Greenleaf Whittier. PART III SUBJECT-MATTER AND CON STRUCTION CHAPTER I OVERCOMING THE DREAD OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC A. THE DREAD OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC There may be plenty of "big" speakers but the average man, young or old, educated or uneducated, experiences an unpleasant sensation when asked to talk in public. Often he flatly refuses such an invitation, and if pressed, perjures himself in offering excuses which may effect his escape. Sometimes for business or social reasons he cannot evade the necessity of addressing an audience. Then comes a period of worry, premonition of failure, and dread. His brain is agitated with the recollection of anecdotes and the construction of apologies for the poor speech which he expects to make. Finally, the average man gets through with the thing somehow and again resumes his peace of mind. Surely at a time when public utterance |