no effect on his audience, may be a great essayist, a

great statesman, a great master of composition; but he is not an orator. If he miss the mark, it makes no difference whether he have taken aim too high or too low

The effect of the great freedom of the press in England has been, in a great measure, to destroy this distinction, and to leave among us little of what I call Oratory Proper. Our legislators, our candidates, on great occasions even our advocates, address themselves less to the audience than to the reporters. They think less of the few hearers than of the innumerable readers.

-LORD MACAULAY.

What we should aim at is, not to admire the speaker but to follow him. The ancient historian tells us this constituted the difference between Cicero, the polished speaker and Domesthenes, the burning orator. After a great speech in Rome, every tongue was loud in the praise of Cicero. But the people who listened to Demosthenes forgot the orator. They went home with hurried stride, lowering brow, clenched fist, muttering in a voice like distant thunder, 'Let us go and fight Philip!'

-JAMES FLEMING.

Had I been there, he

Philip of Macedon said of Demosthenes on hearing the report of one of his orations: would have persuaded me to take myself.'

up arms against

Scientists tell us that a judicious excercise of the lungs in speaking and singing strengthens the chest. Cuvier said that he would have fallen a victim to con

con

sumption, if he had not had the good fortune to be appointed to a professorship in which he found the stant delivery of lectures to his students a most beneficial exercise for his lungs. Our doctors often say, "let your girls learn singing, it will expand the chest and strengthen the lungs.

-JAMES FLEMING.

Address in speaking is highly useful, as well as ornamental, even in private life.

-CICERO.

He who (1) sedulously attends,

(2) pointedly asks,

(3) calmly speaks,

(4) cooly answers, and

(5) ceases when he has no more to say,

is in possession of some of the best requisites of man.

Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes

Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

-G. HERBERT.

The poorest arguments will make their way when delivered with firmness and decision.

In answering an opponent, arrange your ideas, but not your words.

-COLTON.

CLERGYMAN'S SORE THROAT.

Hoarseness, caused by over-exertion of the organ by singers and public speakers, or by clergymen, is so common in the latter class as to be named clergyman's sore

throat.' It most frequently arises from straining of the voice by too long or too frequent speaking. The stiff bandlike collar many clergymen wear

presses on the throat when the head is bent, and produces constriction of the parts. The forward and downward inclination of the head when preaching, necessitated by the position of clergymen, is another cause, for barristers, who from their position when speaking look upwards, rarely suffer.

The only effectual remedy is rest, and then gradually bringing the voice into play, while avoiding the bandlike stock and also looking down as much as possible. But a few days' rest is insufficient, some cases requiring weeks or months. When clergyman's throat' is feared, it is well for the throat to be hardened' from the first. While the beard is allowed to grow, as a protection against sudden chills, the throat should be rather exposed to the air than wrapped up in woolen comforters.'*

* From A Manual of Family Medicine and Hygiene for India, by Sir William Moore.

If you desire to enjoy life, avoid unpunctual persons. They impede business, and poison pleasure. Make it your own rule not only to be punctual but a little beforehand.

The person who is negligent of time and its employment is usually found to be a general disturber of others' peace and serenity.

-SMILES.

In the most ordinary affairs-in the business or calling by which we live at home or abroad—we must take heed of the value of time, keep watch over it, and be punctual to others as well as to ourselves. Without punctuality, indeed, men are kept in a perpetual state of worry, trouble, and annoyance. Punctuality is said to be the politeness of kings. It is also the politeness of subjects. When a certain nobleman, who had made an appointment with George III went to his Majesty too late, the king made a remark upon his unpunctuality; on which the nobleman replied, "Better late than never. "No" said the king, "that is a mistake; I say, better never than late.

-SMILES.

Washington asked his secretary to, go to him at an appointed time. The secretary went late, and when he was asked why he was so, he laid the blame on his watch; upon which Washington quietly said : "Then you must get another watch, or I another secretary."

At one time the Duchess of Sutherland held the great position of the office of mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria, and on public occasions her position was very near to the Royal person and deemed of great importance. A day and hour had been appointed for a public ceremony, in which the queen was to take part. The Duchess did not come in time, and when after great waiting the queen was about to enter the carriage without her first lady of honour, the Duchess in breathless haste appeared, stammering some faint words of excuse. "My dear Duchess," said the queen "I think you must have a bad watch." And as she thus spoke she unloosed from her neck the chain of a magnificent watch which she herself wore, and passed it around the neck of Lady Sutherland. Though given as a present, the lesson conveyed with it made a lively and deep impression. The proud Duchess changed colour, and a tear fell upon her cheek. On the next day she tendered her resignation, but it was not accepted. Ever afterwards she was more punctual than the queen herself.