ing a bad
introduction which seriously impairs the value of anything he may say
later concerning how this part of the city can induce the municipal
government to set aside enough money to provide the open space and the
apparatus. Yet this speech was made in a large American city by an
expert on playgrounds.

People remembered more vividly his wrong kind of opening remarks than
they did his advice concerning a method of procedure.

Effect of the Introduction upon the Audience. Many centuries ago a
famous and successful Roman orator stipulated the purpose of an
introduction with respect to the audience. Cicero stated that an
introduction should render its hearers "_benevolos, attentos,
dociles_"; that is, kindly disposed towards the speaker himself,
attentive to his remarks, and willing to be instructed by his
explanations or arguments. Not everyone has a pleasing personality
but he can strive to acquire one. He can, perhaps, not add many
attributes to offset those nature has given him, but he can always
reduce, eradicate, or change those which interfere with his reception
by others. Education and training will work wonders for people who are
not blessed with that elusive quality, charm, or that winner of
consideration, impressiveness. Self-examination, self-restraint,
self-development, are prime elements in such a process. Great men have
not been beyond criticism for such qualities. Great men have
recognized their value and striven to rid themselves of hindrances and
replace them by helps.

Every reader is familiar with Benjamin Franklin's account of his own
method as related in his _Autobiography_, yet it will bear quotation
here to illustrate this point:

While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an
English Grammar (I think it was Greenwood's), at the end of
which there were two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric
and logic, the latter "finishing with a specimen of a
dispute in the Socratic method; and soon after I procured
Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates, wherein there are
many instances of the same method. I was charmed with it,
adopted it, dropt my abrupt contradiction and positive
argumentation, and put on the humble inquirer and doubter....
I found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing
to those against whom I used it; therefore I took a delight
in it, practised it continually, and grew very artful and
expert in drawi