Viewing page 36 of 44

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

I wish you could have been with me last night  attending the class on public speaking which we have arranged for our pupils of the National Women's Trade Union League. About thirty women and young girls are attending the class and Professor Nelson of the University of Chicago is the teacher. Last night everybody had to speak for two minutes on any subject she might choose but the point was to make it clear.

One of the young stenographers who is a very fine stenographer with a little bit of a voice got up and very gently made a statement. Professor Nelson interrupted her and asked her to speak louder. When she tried to do this and failed he turned to her and said, "Now you tell me, so that I would know you meant it, to get out of this room, sir at once!" When she repeated this sentence in still gentler tones he asked her to shove him out of the room. First she pushed him gently, but then finally getting into the spirit of the game she gave him a very hard push. Whereupon Professor Nelson said, "Now you have got to do with your voice what you have just done with your arm. Use your will power and make e leave this room because I would be afraid to stay here".

One girl after another was criticised and one funny illustration after another was used to cheer on the speakers and to make things clear. Little Agnes Nestor was told that she was too long-winded and little Myrtle Whitehead from Baltimore speaks with such a curious accent, something like P. K. - so that Professor Nelson thought she was talking of a quirk when she was talking of a cork. We had a very very merry two hours and the girls are all tremendously excited about it. Even if they will not all become great speakers they will certainly learn how to make motions at their meetings or how to preside.