of the world, essentially similar to that which we now know, came into existence, without any precedent condition from which it could have naturally proceeded.  The assumption that successive states of Nature have arisen, each without any relation of natural causation to an antecedent state, is a mere modification of this second hypothesis.

The third hypothesis also assumes that the present state of things has had but a limited duration; but it supposes that this state has been evolved by a natural process from an antecedent state, and that from another, and so on; and, on this hypothesis, the attempt to assign any limit to the series of past changes is, usually, given up.

    THOMAS H. HUXLEY:  Lectures on Evolution, 1876

EXERCISES

1.  According to what methods are the foregoing plans arranged?  Which division in Sumner’s speech was the most important?  Was he trying to get his listeners to do anything?  What do you think that object was?

2.  In Lincoln’s speech do you think he planned the material chronologically?  Historically?  What reasons have you for your answer?

3.  Which of Webster’s four parts is the most important?  Give reasons for your answer.

4.  Which hypothesis (what does the word mean?) did Huxley himself support?  What induces you to think thus?  Is this plan in any respect like Sumner’s?  Explain your answer.

5.  Make a list of the ways in which material of speeches may be arranged.

Arrangement.  Importance.  If you have several topics to cover in a single speech where would you put the most important?  First or last?  Write upon a piece of paper the position you choose.  You have given this plan some thought so you doubtlessly put down the correct position.  What did you write?  First?  That is usually the answer of nine pupils out of every ten.  Are you with the majority?  If you wrote that the most important topic should be treated first, you are wrong.  The speech would be badly planned.  Think for a moment.  Which should be the most important part of a story or a play?  The beginning or the ending?  If it is the early part, why should any one read on to the end or stay for the curtain to come down the last time?  So in speeches the importance of topics should always increase as the speech proceeds.  This, then, is a principle of planning.  Arrange your topics in an ascending order of importance.  Work up to what is called the climax.

The list you made in response to direction 5 given above should now be presented to the class and its contents discussed.  What kind of material is likely to be arranged according to each of your principles?  You have put down the chronological order, or the order of time, or some similar phrase.  Just what do you mean by that?  Do you mean, begin with the earliest material and follow in chronological order down to the latest?  Could the reverse order ever be used?  Can you cite some instance?  Is contrast a good order to follow in planning?  Cite material which could be so arranged.  Would an arrangement from cause to effect be somewhat like one based on time?  Explain your answer.  Under what circumstances do you think the opposite might be used—­from effect to cause?