Illa tamquam cycnea fuit divini hominis vox et oratio.
He has found somewhere in the vast storehouse of his knowledge
a transaction exactly like the present, or exactly in contrast
with it, or some sentiment of poet or orator which just fits
the present occasion. If it be new to his audience, he adds
to it a newer delight still by his matchless skill as a narrator--
a skill almost the rarest of all talents among public speakers.
If it be commonplace and hackneyed he makes it fresh and pleasant
by giving in detail the circumstances when it was first uttered,
or describes some occasion when some orator has applied it
before; or calls attention to its very triteness as giving
it added authority. If he wish to express his agreement with
the last speaker and "say ditto to Mr. Burke," he tells you
when that was said, what was the occasion, and gives you the
name of Mr. Kruger, who stood for the representation of Bristol
with Burke.
Mr. Everett's stores were inexhaustible. If any speaker
have to get ready in a hurry for a great occasion, let him
look through the index of the four volumes of Everett's speeches,
and he will find matter enough, not only to stimulate his
own thought and set its currents running, but to illustrate
and adorn what he will say.
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