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Show JOHN BRIGHT'S CRITIC. John Bright's oratory has the rare trait of comprehensiveness. It touches the heart, the conscience, and the intellect. In the judgment of the mass of his countrymen, he is the prince of English speakers. His thoughts are as clean cut as a die. They are expressed in such English as delights the scholar, while the workingman easily understands him. Perhaps his clearness of expression is due to the early training he received from Mr. Nuttall, an intelligent workman. When Mr. Bright first began to speak in Public, he was nineteen years of age. He began by committing his speeches to memory. But finding this method clumsy, he abandoned it, and substituted impromptu rehearsals before Mr. Nuttall, a hand in his father's factory. At odd hours, when the mill was quiet, John would recite to his critic, who didn't spare him, though he was his master's son. John had the good sense to see that what pleased the workman would be apt to take with the common people who made up the bulk of his audiences. It may be that the clear English which delights scholars, and is easily understood by the people who listen to Mr. Bright, is due in no small degree to the workingman's criticisms. A great French dramatist found it expedient to read his plays to his servant-girl. When she laughed or cried he was assured that the piece would be applauded in the theater. If she did neither, he retouched them, knowing that unless he did, the audience would neither cry nor laugh. |