When Mr. Burke made his platform debut, he was so inspired by the enthusiasm of the people, it is said, he made the greatest speech ever made in the English language up to that time.  When he appeared in Parliament next evening a leader of the government took occasion to denounce the platform as a disturber of public peace, directing his remarks to Mr. Burke.  The great orator was ready with the reply:  “Yes, and the firebell at midnight disturbs public peace, but it keeps you from burning in your beds.”

It would seem after years of fruitless effort to silence the platform, Parliament would accept it as a power for good and give it wise direction.  Yet we are informed that in face of its growing popularity when Henry Hunt attempted to address an audience in a grove in England, a regiment of cavalry charged the grove.  Eleven were killed and several hundred wounded.  Henry Hunt was thrown into prison, but when released later one hundred thousand people welcomed him to the streets of London.

As well now had Parliament attempted to prevent a London fog as to prohibit platform meetings.  John Bright said:  “When I consider these meetings of the people, so sublime in their vastness and resolution, I see coming over the hilltops of time the dawning of a nobler and better day for my country.”

It is our privilege to live in the good day of which John Bright spoke.  Yet while a public speaker today is in no dread of arrest or imprisonment for any decent expression of opinion, the platform is not without its hindrances; and some of these will never be cured, while babies cry, architects sacrifice acoustics to style, young people do their courting in public, janitors smother thoughts in foul air, and milliners persist in building up artistic barriers between speaker and audience.

Here let me give a bit of advice to my own sex.  Gentlemen, when you purchase a new hat, no matter if a ten dollar silk, or a twenty dollar panama, do not attend a lecture, and taking a seat in front of some intelligent lady forget to remove your hat.  The lady may want to see the speaker’s face, and he may need the inspiration of her countenance, while you are interfering with both.  “A hint to the wise is sufficient.”  This hint may not be in accord with the advice of Paul, but Paul never saw a twentieth century “Merry Widow” hat.  Then too, Paul was already inspired and didn’t need the inspiration of human countenances.  I am speaking for the uninspired, to whom an audience of hatless heads is an inspiration.

But few persons realize how a public speaker is affected by little influences.  The flitting of a blind bat over a church audience on a summer evening, will mar the most fascinating flight of eloquence ever plumed from a pulpit.

When Nancy Hanks broke the world’s trotting record at Independence, Iowa, some years ago, her former owner, Mr. Hart Boswell, of Lexington, who raised and trained her, was asked if Nancy would ever lower that record.  He replied:  “Well, if the time comes that the track is just right, the atmosphere just right, the driver just right and Nancy just right, I believe she will.”  See the combination.  Break it anywhere and the brave little mare would fail.