Having observed the propriety of the salutation the speaker should make a short pause before he proceeds to the introduction of his speech proper.

Length of the Introduction.  There was a time when long elaborate introductions were the rule, and textbooks explained in detail how to develop them.  The main assumption seems to have been that the farther away from his topic the speaker began, the longer and more indirect the route by which he approached it, the more sudden and surprising the start with which it was disclosed to the audience, the better the speech.  Such views are no longer held.  One of the criticisms of the speeches of the English statesman, Burke, is that instead of coming at once to the important matter under consideration—­and all his speeches were upon paramount issues—­he displayed his rhetorical skill and literary ability before men impatient to finish discussion and provide for action by casting their votes.  If a student will read the beginning of Burke’s famous Speech on Conciliation he will readily understand the force of this remark, for instead of bringing forward the all-important topic of arranging for colonial adjustment Burke uses hundreds of words upon the “flight of a bill for ever,” his own pretended superstitiousness and belief in omens.  So strong is the recognition of the opposite practice today that it is at times asserted that speeches should dispense with introductions longer than a single sentence.

Purpose of the Introduction.  So far as the material of the speech is concerned the introduction has but one purpose—­to bring the topic of the succeeding remarks clearly and arrestingly before the audience.  It should be clearly done, so that there shall be no misunderstanding from the beginning.  It should be arrestingly done, so that the attention shall be aroused and held from this announcement even until the end.  A man should not declare that he is going to explain the manufacture of paper-cutters, and then later proceed to describe the making of those frames into which rolls of wrapping paper are fitted underneath a long cutting blade, because to most people the expression “paper-cutters” means dull-edged, ornamental knives for desks and library tables.  His introduction would not be clear.  On the other hand if a minister were to state plainly that he was going to speak on the truth that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” his congregation might turn its attention to its own affairs at once because the topic promises no novelty.  But if he declares that he is going to make a defense of selfishness he would surely startle his hearers into attention, so that he could go on to describe the personal satisfaction and peace of mind which comes to the doers of good deeds.  A speaker could arrest attention by stating that he intended to prove the immorality of the principle that “honesty is the best policy,” if he proceeded to plead for that virtue not as a repaying policy but as an innate guiding principle of right, no matter what the consequences.  In humorous, half-jesting, ironical material, of course, clearness may be justifiably sacrificed to preserving interest.  The introduction may state the exact opposite of the real topic.