A FLUENT SPEAKER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7892, 23 December 1903, Page 2

A FLUENT SPEAKER.

Lecky's fluency as a,talker And. speaker was remarkable. " M.A.P." says that in the Hous^ of Commons he was a terror to the reporters' gallery. " His speech, was an un-. broken stream, regular, but rapid; na pauses to take breath, no hesitation about the choice of a word —in fact, no break of any kind." The report had to be verbatim or noth ing. The " Freeman's Journal" tells an amusing story in regard 1 to Lecky's talking powers.' A lady arranged that Lecky should meet an able and 1 famous Irishman of very advanced opinions in politics. It was intended that they should exchange views. The door opened, and Mr Lecky was announced. Before the Irishman had time to say anything the historian began a political harangue which he kept going without cessation the whole time lie was there. The Irishman, at 'first tried to break in with a word, but he was swept away in the unceasing flow of Mr Lecky's language; so, after a time, 'he sat an amused bewilder-' ment. Mr Lecky, when he felt lie was getting exhausted, rose from Ms chair, shook hands with the hostess and her guest, keeping on talking all the time. They came out with him to the top of the staircase, bufc could net get a word 1 in edgeways even then, as he talked all the way down to the door, and was even in an unfinished sentence when the door was shut behind him.