Part 8 (1/2)
We laugh at that story because we have all norance, and blushed for theh at the squire, we are really laughing at ourselves; we are getting rid of our pent-up self-shaet rid of psychic poison, just as a good sweat rids us of somatic poison Charlie Chaplin has possibly cured more people than all the psycho-analysts in the world
Public speaking is a h when you know your subject, and it is almost iet up and propose the health of the ladies
I tried proposing that toast once; luckily most of the diners were under the table by that time What can one say about the ladies?
When you have a definite subject to talk about, and when you know everything about it, even then public speaking is difficult You stand up before a sea of faces You see no one; you dare not catch anyone's eye The best plan is to fix your eye on the blurred face of the uely hostile
At one tientlemen, the subject of evolution has occupied the an to rustle, and the women turned to look at the hats behind theaze over the sea of faces for a full minute There is absolute silence I put , as if I were considering whether I should go on or give it up and go hoin to look towards the platfor out of les
”What can you expect for fivepence half-penny?” I ask, and the audience gasps
”Why doesn't so tie that won't coo on froh After that I can speak on education for two hours, and everyone in the hall will listen with great attention
The first thing in public speaking is to get on good terms with your audience, and I claim that the best way to do this is to show thein you; they have co yourself as a joke Of course you must suit your tactics to your audience The tie reood terms with a rural audience, but it would fail in a lecture to teachers in the Albert Hall
An i to remember is that crowd humour is quite different froht if the lecturer accidentally knocks over the drinking glass on the table, but no individual ever laughs when a similar accident happens in a private room Read the reports of speeches in the House of Coe, in a speech, says: ”And now let us turn to Ireland (loud laughter)” But in cold print it isn't a very good joke
Quite a good way of co a lecture is to tell a short story
about the chairman if possible But you must be careful Keep off the topic of the chaired a divorce petition the week before
On second thoughts I think it better not to mention the chair at a lecture I gave in an English town After I had delivered the lecture, he got up
”I ca dead tired,” he said, ”but after Mr
Neill's lecture I feel as fresh as a daisy”
I rose in alarentle behind me Do tell me: has he been asleep?”
In the ante-room afterwards he assured ht I began thus: ”Mr Chair” Then I put my hand in ot very excited while I ruise,” I said, ”but I have forgotten hed, and we beca is very often intentional We forget e do not want to re the wife and kids to the seaside, and would I please pay him the fiver I owe him? I at once sit down and write: ”My dear Brown, I enclose a cheque for five quid Many thanks for the loan Hope you all have a good time at the sea”
Three days later Brown replies
”Thanks for your letter, old ot to enclose the cheque”
Why did I forget the cheque? Because I did not want to pay up