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Mastery of Speech: How to Speak
on Public Occasions
How to Speak
at a Social Gathering
KEY
WORDS: IN SPEAKING ON SOCIAL OCCASIONS SPEAK, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
IN A HUMOROUS OR FANTASTIC VEIN.
You are present at a social gathering at which a large number of people
are present.
There is no formal list of speakers, nor is any one expected "to make a
speech."
Some reason or other brings it about that you are asked to address the
assemblage.
You therefore have no topic on which to speak, and no particular
purpose in speaking other than to make an announcement, or an
explanation, or to fill time until preparations for something else are
completed.
It is a most embarrassing moment.
Are there any rules that will be of service at such a time?
Imagine, for example, that there are to be amateur theatricals. One of
the principal actors has not arrived. The audience is assembled, and
has been entertained by music until the long wait becomes annoying. You
are called upon to go before the audience and talk for a time to put it
in good humor.
In all such eases, follow these suggestions:
1.
Without in any way naming any person as blameworthy tell the general
reason for your appearance.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: You have come to see a comedy. Most astonishing,
you and I are all playing parts in a very comic comedy. The name of the
comedy in which we are acting is 'The Lost Actors, or the Play without
Players.' Some of our leading characters have not arrived."
You have now satisfied the curiosity of the assemblage, and, by your
words, have somewhat restored good humor. You have not even intimated
that anyone is to blame.
2. Continue with fantastic
or humorous explanations adapted to the occasion.
"Is it possible that the leading theatrical managers of the country
have made a conspiracy and abducted our extraordinary amateurs? Has the
love making of the play proved so effective that our characters have
eloped ? Or has stage fright overcome our bashful ladies and
gentlemen?" (Carry foolery of this sort to any length that you please,
but do not blame anyone, and, above all, do not cast ridicule upon any
one.
3. Tell whatever humorous
anecdotes may be appropriate.
4. If you have to speak at
length, in order to fill time, turn the subject to some theme that is
in no sense controversial, and speak on that theme.
"Now you see why it is that we are playing parts in a comedy. We still
have some minutes to wait. Let me take this time to speak of the work
our people have done in the past year. (Follow with details that will
compliment the audience.)
5. If you do not have to speak
at length, end your speech with a simple announcement.
"In the meanwhile the orchestra has agreed to play some special music,
to which I invite your attention."
PROBLEM.
Think out the words of a speech in which you announce that the club
dinner will be served after a delay of about fifteen minutes.
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