52 



been made. The correcting of this evil is a simple matter. First an admoni- 

 tion to the speaker, and later if this is unheeded, the denial of the privilege 

 of appearing before an audience. 



Perhaps the most (onnnon form of abuse in the use of illustrations is to 

 indulge in the. recital of too many funny stories. Frequently these are not 

 needed for the illustration of the subject, but are introduced in order to raise 

 a laugh and set the audience in a gale of merriment. A single witty lecturer 

 has in this way been the means of destroying the serious character of an entire 

 institute, although what he has said was altogether unobjectionable from a 

 moral .standpoinf. and his audience^ was delighted at the enjoyment which he 

 afforded. It was not the kind of thing or the manner of saying it that was 

 objectionable, but its untimeliness and the superabundance of the funny. 



An occasional anecdote well chosen and applicable is a great addition to 

 almost any address, but a train of these coming in quick succession breaks up all 

 seriousness, and the meeting loses its character as an earnest school of in- 

 struction. 



The instructor who indulges in the overfumiy method is likewise injured by 

 the practice. ITe comes to be regarded as a funny man. and is under obligation 

 to maintain the i-e|iutation. This recpiires consideralile effort continued year 

 after year until bis own seriousness is affected and he degenerates into a story- 

 teller and mimic, on ;i level with the end men of a minstrel show, who reg.-ird 

 life as a huge joke to be ridiculed without reserve. .\n occasional Ivindly admo- 

 nition will often keep the fuimy member of the institute force in reasonable 

 restraint, and Iiy placing him at the end of the programme, will save the institute 

 and send the audience home highly delighted and anxious to come again. 



AMUSING STORIES NOT ESSENTIAL. 



Tn our efforts to interest an audience it is well for those who are somewhat 

 sedate or perhaps not specially skilled in the art of stoi-y-telling to remember 

 that it is not necessary to tell funny stories or to mimic the peculiarities of 

 others in order to hold attention. Apt illustrations of a serious kind are just 

 as effective in retaining attention and exciting interest as are the most amusing 

 stories, and have tli(> additional advantage of enabling the speaker to retain 

 control of his audience with no danger of its breaking away into a carnival of 

 fun. 



The introduction, therefore, of ajipropriate illustration in farmers' institute 

 work is an addition to its usefulness that has not received the attention of insti- 

 tute directors in the past to the extent that its imi»ortance deserves. It fre- 

 quently not only relieves an address from the dead level of monotony into which 

 many are apt to fall, but rightly used also makes more clear the thought which 

 the speaker wishes to impress. 



It serves both to interest and instruct, and furnishes a flash light that the 

 lecturer may use in photographing truth ui)on the minds of his hearers, appear- 

 ing and disappearing as the interests of the topic seem to demand. 



Discussion. 



Mr. Creelman commended the address, but (luestioned the general applicability 

 of the use of the blackboard for illustration purposes. Both he and Mr. Dye. of 

 New Jersey, spoke of successful use of a blackboard which could be rolled up 

 and was thus easily portable. Mr. Dye also stated that he had found live ani- 

 mals, specimens of fruits, and other products, as well as diagrams, useful in 

 certain cases. 



