To no one is a strong will more essential than to the public speaker. Wendell Phillips had this power in high degree. The more an audience refused to listen to him, the greater was his determination to compel them. This gift it was that made him '' an American patriot, a modern son of liberty, with a soul as firm and as true as was ever consecrated to unselfish duty, pleading with the American conscience for the chained and speechless victims of American inhumanity."
As an instance of ready courage, supported by a strong will, it is related of John Hunter, a celebrated surgeon of his day, that he found pleasure and relaxation in studying the habits and instincts of animals. Two leopards that he had kept chained broke loose one day and entering the yard were surrounded by a number of dogs. Aroused by the barking of the dogs, Dr. Hunter rushed into the yard, laid hold of the leopards, and took them back to their den. Then, in reflecting on the risk he had incurred, he became so agitated that he was on the point of fainting. During the reign of James II, Sir John Cochrane became a prisoner. At that time the mail between Edinburgh and London was conveyed in saddle bags by a mounted rider. Cochrane's daughter, knowing the time when a warrant for her father's execution was expected, attired herself in men's clothes, and, armed and mounted, waited at a lonely spot between Berwick and Belford until the carrier with the mail-bag containing the death warrant approached. Confronting him with pistols, she induced him promptly to relinquish his bag. A second warrant was then sent for, but it was seized as was the other by the heroic girl. By this time Sir John's father, through influence and bribery, had secured a pardon from the King. If one's motive be strong enough, one may attempt almost anything, however difficult and dangerous, and if the will be firm and resolute, may hope to achieve it. Chapter III
THE CURE OF SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS
Daily speech offers one of the vast opportunities for eliminating self-consciousness. The student should aim here to develop definiteness of idea, sincerity of expression, and concentration of mind. Nothing leads so quickly to hesitation and embarrassment in a speaker as mental uncertainty. To speak confidently, he must not guess, or imagine, or take for granted: he must know. Lack of proper mental equipment is responsible for a large part of the fearfulness of men. One who really knows whereof he speaks, and is absolutely sure of it, is likely to be sure of himself. It manifests itself in his voice, his use of words, his manner, and his entire personality.
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