ACQUIRING CONFIDENCE BEFORE AN AUDIENCE 3 dress. Beecher was always perturbed before talking in public.
Blacksmiths sometimes twist a rope tight around the nose of a horse, and by thus inflicting a little pain they distract his attention from the shoeing process. One way to get air out of a glass is to pour in water.
Be Absorbed by Your Subject
Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are
speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will
be able to think of little else. Concentration is a proc-
ess of distraction from less important matters. It is
too late to think about the cut of your coat when once you
are upon the platform, so centre your interest on what
you are about to say — fill your mind with your speech-
material and, like the infilling water in the glass, it will
drive out your unsubstantial fears.
Self-consciousness is undue consciousness of self, and, for the purpose of delivery, self is secondary to your sub- ject, not only in the opinion of the audience, but, if you are wise, in your own. To hold any other view is to regard yourself as an exhibit instead of as a messenger with a message worth delivering. Do you remember Elbert Hubbard's tremendous little tract, "A Message to Garcia"? The youth subordinated himself to the message he bore. So must you, by all the determination you can muster. It is sheer egotism to fill your mind with thoughts of self when a greater thing is there — TRUTH. Say this to yourself sternly, and shame your: self-consciousness into
