freshness that is sure to fix it
permanently in his mind.

If, however, the question be narrowed down to which are the three
best books on this subject? without pretending to give a decisive
answer to this difficult question we have no hesitation in saying
that, for the ecclesiastical student, "Potter's Sacred
Eloquence," "The Making of an Orator," by Mr. John O'Connor
Power, and Mr. McHardy Flint's little work, "Natural Elocution,"
will be found most useful.

Some of the thoughts in this chapter are borrowed from the last
two authors.

With this general acknowledgment both gentlemen will, we are
sure, be content when we spare the reader repeated references to
either titles or pages of their works.

[Side note: What is rhetoric?]

[Side note: Cicero]

At the threshold of our subject we are met by the question--What
is rhetoric? Mr. Power gives the answer--"The resources of
rhetoric are natural resources, and rules for composition are
only records intended for the guidance of those who have not
discovered the originals for themselves. The first speakers had
no rules and no experience to draw upon but their own. In course
of time speeches came to be reported, and then the secret of
their eloquence disclosed itself. All the qualities of the orator
were then observed; the highest and the best were chosen and
combined and erected into an art, which was named Rhetoric. This
art was designed to _aid_ speakers and not as a means of
_fettering their natural ability_." Cicero has put almost the
same thoughts in different words--"I consider that, with regard
to all precept, the case is this; not that orators by adhering to
them have obtained distinction in eloquence, but that certain
persons have noticed what men of eloquence have practised of
their own accord, and formed rules accordingly; _so that
eloquence has not sprung from art, but art from eloquence_." This
is not only sound theory, but sound sense. It shatters a
time-worn fallacy and gives hope and encouragement to the
student. Every man can become an orator in a greater or a less
degree. The powers slumber within him; and the teacher's duty is
not to create but awaken, draw out, develop and guide these
inborn gifts.

Now, the question is--By what standard shall the speaker be
trained? The master-hand of Shakespere has framed a set of rules
that will stand for all time as the most pregnant piece of wisdom
ever penned on the art of elocution. Though Hamlet's a