Random Readings.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 11 September 1912, Page 3

Random Readings.

NERVOUSNESS OF GREAT SPEAK-

Few speakers are ever able wholly to cast off their nervousness. Sometimes it persists only in the form ot a manner-

ism, attractive or otherwise; and a writer in the "Pall Mall Magazine" gives some striking instances—

"The late Duke of Devonshire is usually spoken of\.as the perfect type of the impassive Englishman. When he rose to speak in the House of Commons he would lean one arm on the nearest of the two iron-bound boxes on the table between the Front Benches. After a slight hesitation and a few quiet words, the other hand would steal to the tail-pocket of his ooat and emerge holding a neatly-folded white cambric handkerchief. Without unfolding it, he would gently rub the corners of his mouth, and, this done, the hand, still holding the handkerchief, would rest on the hip or be thrown back.

"Sitting near him, one ceuld observe thr,t the grip on his handkerchief gradually tightened and that the muscles of the hand were in continuous action. At the close of his speech the hand opened, and one saw not the clean, neatly folded cambric handkerchief, but only a solid greasy ball, which was quickly returned to the pocket. Here was the safety-valve for the impassive nobleman's nervousness.

"Gladstone was one in whom nervousness had become mannerism. When he rose to speak he began witfc. a few gracious words on the speech which he was about to follow, or some pointed remark as to the character and importance of the subject., In his earlier days this was no doubt to 'get his breath.'

"His next act was to raise his right hand over his head with the thumb bent down and gently scratch his skullThat is rather common amongst public speakers. The third action of Mr. Gladstone was his peculiar and individual sign. Throwing his arms downward by his side, he would with his fingers seize the cuffs of his coat and draw these down over his shirt cuff so as to conceal them completely. The ordinary practice is just the reverse, the desire being to expose and not conceal the white linen of the shirt Guffs. These were the invariable preludes to the great commoner's speeches."