to those well in the rear of the audience. If they can understand, all can understand. There should be variety of vocal expression to rest the ear and the mind, for it is a mistake to think that good matter alone will very long hold attention. It must be put entertainingly from a physical standpoint.

The words out of the way and distinctness acquired, the speaker may give full vent to his interest in the subjectmatter. It often happens that practice on a set speech causes one to lose enthusiasm and feeling. To keep up interest the student should re-read the best articles he has used in preparation, and even write out his fresher thought on the subject, so that when he returns to the speech already written he will find new meaning in his words and will put new life into every sentence. This will add spirit and purpose to the speech, and when the speaker comes before his audience he will not think of himself or of his methods, but of the message he has to deliver.

Not only should one know the subject and believe in the message, but it is necessary to be physically and mentally earnest about it. No one who is tired out can do his best speaking. The day of the speech ought to be one of rest and recreation. I do not mean that one should engage in strong physical exercise, but that he should be surrounded by that in nature or art that will give him most enjoyment. Rather than torment one's self with the thought of a speech, it is better to gain vitality by complete rest and recreation, even to the point of "knitting up the raveled sleeve of care" by some "innocent sleep." One must be physically fit if he would arouse himself and his audience. Then he must be convinced of the justice of his case, and urge it with honesty of purpose and all the force of his personality.

But more important even than earnestness is directness

in speaking. This means that one should speak to, not at or over his audience; that there should be the same searching-out element of voice that we find in conversation, only that it should be dignified for a larger audience; that the song element, often heard in unskilled speaking, should be wholly obliterated, for no one who means what he says sings it out; that action should be direct as well as tone; that gestures of appeal, of denial, of assent, of welcome, of pointed argument, should be between the speaker and the audience. One of the best ways to acquire this prime element of expression is for the student in his practice to open his sentences with a direct address to some person present, bodily or in imagination, calling him by name, or to interpolate here and there an address to an audience. This may be greatly varied from time to time, and of course wholly omitted at the time of the contest, but the effect of such practice will be to make one impress his thought as though he really meant it every word.

These, then, are what seem to me to be the most important elements of a successful contest speech. They have been suggested to me by much experience in drilling contestants, and I trust they may be of some slight service to students of oratory, in the divine work of making themselves effective public speakers.

Professor Thomas C. Trueblood, of the University of Michigan, is a native of southern Indiana. He received his master's degree from Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., and his special training in elocution under Professors Hamill and Murdoch. With Professor Robert I. Fulton he established a school of oratory in Kansas City, in 1879. In 1892 this school was discontinued, that its founders might accept professorships in the Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Michigan.

Since his connection with the University of Michigan Professor Trueblood has been untiring in his efforts to advance the interests of oratory and debating in that University, and throughout the

Northwest. It was through his influence that the Northern Oratorical League was formed and endowed, an association composed of seven of the leading institutions of the Northwest; and later the Century Debating League, composed of four of the largest Western universities. It is due to his zeal in organization, his success in arousing interest in the contests, and his skill in drilling the representatives of the University of Michigan, that that institution has taken first rank among the large universities of America in competitive contests.

Professor Trueblood is joint editor, with Professor Fulton, of "Practical Elocution," "Choice Readings," and "Patriotic Eloquence," text-books used extensively in high schools, colleges, and schools of oratory.

He was one of the organizers of the “National Speech-Arts Association," and was twice elected to the presidency of that organization.

"As a public reader and lecturer he is well known throughout the West. His readings are taken from the best literature, with special attention to Shakespearean work. He is an advocate of the simple, business style of public address, a style of which Wendell Phillips was the greatest representative, at once dignified, energetic, and conversational."—Werner's Magazine.

WINNING ORATIONS.

THE HEIR APPARENT.

By FRANK ALBERT FETTER, of Indiana University.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Frank A. Fetter was born in Peru, Miami county, Indiana, March 8, 1863. His childhood from his fourth to fourteenth year was spent in Logansport, and at the age of fifteen he graduated from the Peru High School. The next year he was enrolled as a student in the Indiana University, at Bloomington, where he studied until he completed the junior year, when he engaged with success in the book business. Wishing, however, to complete his college course, he sold his store and returned to Bloomington, where he graduated with the degree of A. B., and with honors, in 1891. The same year he represented Indiana in the Inter-State oratorical contest at Des Moines, Iowa, receiving first prize. The year after graduating Mr. Fetter held the Andrew D. White fellowship in political institutions in Cornell University, New York, and in June, 1892, he took his A. M. degree, receiving the degree Ph. M., history and economics being minor subjects. The following summer he spent in travel and study in Switzerland. The winter of 1892-3 was passed in Paris attending lectures of eminent economists at the College de France and Sorbonne. In June, 1893, he went to the University of Halle, Germany, where he studied under the noted Professor Conrad, the private councilor to the Prussian government. In July, 1894, Mr. Fetter was given the degree Ph. D. at Halle, his thesis bearing the title, "Die Bevölkerungslehre historisch und kritisch behandelt," receiving the highest honors that have been awarded to any student in Halle in the last twenty-three years. Upon his return to the United States he became instructor in Political Economy at Cornell, and the following year accepted the chair of Economics and Social Science in the Indiana University. Upon a leave of absence he served