e reserves permanently better
in hand, more readily in reach.

The Debating Club is the nursery of orators. No matter how far you
have to go to attend it, or how much trouble it is, or how difficult it
is to get the time, the drill you will get by it is the turning point.
Lincoln, Wilson, Webster, Choate, Clay, and Patrick Henry got their
training in the old-fashioned Debating Society.

Do not think that because you do not know anything about parliamentary
law that you should not accept the presidency of your club or debating
society. This is just the place to learn, and when you have accepted
the position you can post yourself on the rules, and the chances are
that you will never know the rules until you are thrust into the chair
where you will be obliged to give rulings. Join just as many young
people's organizations--especially self-improvement organizations--as
you can, and force yourself to speak every time you get a chance. If
the chance does not come to you, make it. Jump to your feet and say
something upon every question that is up for discussion. Do not be
afraid to rise to put a motion or to second it or give your opinion
upon it. Do not wait until you are better prepared. You never will be.

Every time you rise to your feet will increase your confidence, and
after awhile you will form the habit of speaking until it will be as
easy as anything else, and there is no one thing which will develop
young people so rapidly and effectively as the debating clubs and
discussions of all sorts. A vast number of our public men have owed
their advance more to the old-fashioned debating societies than
anything else. Here they learned confidence, self-reliance; they
discovered themselves. It was here they learned not to be afraid of
themselves, to express their opinions with force and independence.
Nothing will call a young man out more than the struggle in a debate to
hold his own. It is strong, vigorous exercise for the mind as
wrestling is for the body.

Do not remain way back on the back seat. Go up front. Do not be
afraid to show yourself. This shrinking into a corner and getting out
of sight and avoiding publicity is fatal to self-confidence.

It is so easy and seductive, especially for boys and girls in school or
college, to shrink from the public debates or speaking, on the ground
that they are not quite well enough educated at present. They want to
wait until they can use a little better grammar