THE DECAY OF ELOQUENCE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2713, 22 June 1925, Page 9

THE DECAY OF ELOQUENCE

Such a splendid „field for the exercise of eloquence as the Law Courts provide, coupled with the stories told of great lawyers of the past who held audiences spellbound by their oratory, leads naturally to the expectation that at Temple Bar silvern speech will be found in its highest development, writes a legal correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph”. The facts somewhat contradict that idea. Hard would be the task of finding a single practising counsel of the present day of whom it could truthfully be said that, by reason of his gifts of speech alone, he enthralls listeners. Forensic orator/ Is not only a sadly neglected but a rapidly decaying art. The law makes no demand for rhetoric, and has remarkably few even moderately good rhetoricians. The law student may be advised, but he is not compelled, to study and practise elocution. He daily sees around him-men at the Bar who have achieved success, not through their oratorical powers, but in spite of a very unworthy substitute for them, and, drawing the moral, he avoids the study. Is it probable that with the advent of women counsel at the Law Courts the refinements of oratory, for which advocacy is so admirable a vehicle, will more often be heard? asks tho writer in conclusion.