A simple enough question .sx But every one of the passengers who heard it turned to see who asked it .sx The girl's voice was charming .sx And so was the girl herself .sx But you often find that an attractive voice and an attractive appearance go together .sx Their owner probably takes pains with both !sx People generally are responsive to voices .sx One voice will give you pleasure , and another will give you a headache .sx Listen to Mollie .sx That girl could charm the bird from the bush .sx But Ethel's flat voice has as much charm as a codfish !sx No wonder that employers advertising for a secretary often state :sx Good speaking voice .sx Listen And Learn .sx Listen to voices and you will learn how to improve your own .sx Variations in pitch and speed , changes in expression , a warm quality in the voice itself , clear enunciation- those can help you to that good speaking voice .sx And you will notice , too , that pleasant voices usually belong to pleasant people .sx Is there a moral there for YOU ?sx Incidentally , it's easy to forget a face .sx But a voice once heard is never forgotten .sx A cynic has said that a good conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself .sx And there is enough truth in that to set you thinking .sx Keep an ear open for snatches of talk you hear during the day .sx WHAT I SAID and WHAT I DID are very popular subjects .sx But they make poor conversation !sx Sometimes you do meet some one who says little himself .sx But he seems willing to listen a lot .sx Be cautious- there's an old adage which tells you to beware of the man who lets YOU do all the talking !sx So what !sx .sx Just this .sx A good conversationalist talks neither too much nor too little .sx He has the knack of putting things in an interesting way .sx But more than that , he stimulates YOU to contribute to the conversation too .sx And he can set a whole group talking .sx No wonder such a talker is always welcome !sx Conversation is still a popular form of entertainment .sx And one in which we all can share .sx You can help yourself to play your part in good conversation , either with strangers or in your own circle .sx And it will do wonders for you !sx You think the man opposite would like to chat .sx And so would you .sx All right !sx Seize your opportunity when he looks up from his book .sx What will you say ?sx As you have never seen him before , you can't very well open with , " My wife has " - or something of that sort .sx The usual opening , and you can't better it , is to remark on the weather .sx And why not ?sx The weather is of interest to everybody .sx And he will understand you are just sticking to the rules .sx He will do the same .sx If he doesn't want to talk , a quick smile and a brief , " Horrid !sx "- and he returns to his book .sx But if he likes the look of you he will most likely toss the ball back to you by saying lightly , " Yes- all the fault of the atom-bomb " - or some such remark .sx And if you come back again with , " Disturbing chaps- in more ways than one !sx " each of you will think the other is talkable-to .sx And away you go .sx Good conversation can be wonderful fun .sx And a grand shortener of journeys .sx Useful , too !sx One V.I.P. has said that he learns more from conversation than from all the books he has read .sx At least you learn something about human nature .sx We'll say you arrive- on your own- at a party , and the hostess leaves you with a group of strangers .sx Two or three of them give you a fleeting smile , but continue to listen to what seems to be a dramatic story by one of the group .sx She is telling of her battle with a play producer , but she hasn't yet reached the point where she laid him out flat !sx Splendid !sx It gives you a breathing-space , and time to get your bearings .sx You are sure to see something of interest to you , something you can talk about .sx It may be a bit of antique furniture , a picture , a tapestry , or even flowers .sx Well , there you are .sx You may- when the producer has been humbled- get by by answering questions .sx But unless you are to appear as a tongue-tied ninny , you simply must say something original .sx For instance , you notice an old writing-desk .sx So you say to your neighbour , " Lovely desk !sx Do you think it's Chippendale ?sx " You couldn't do better .sx Talk about furniture- especially antiques- and most people will want to join in .sx Just a bit of chatter about some one else- but two completely different styles of talking !sx One of the gossips talks with sledgehammer blows .sx She is so sure about things .sx But the other feels her way more gently .sx That sledgehammer style- if the blows are short and sharp enough- may suit at a political meeting .sx But conversation wilts under it .sx Try , instead , a more inquiring style- Don't you think that .sx .? will encourage the other one to give his views .sx Oh , that's nonsense !sx will shut him up , or start an argument .sx And an argument can be poor conversation .sx You find yourself more concerned to prove the other fellow wrong than to encourage him to say what he thinks .sx And Don't Be A Know-all .sx There are plenty of people- both sexes- who delight in showing their knowledge .sx Maybe it's nice to know more than some one else , but it's a mistake to show it- if you want good conversation .sx Let the other fellow tell YOU something- if he wishes to !sx At some time or other you will speak in public .sx Perhaps you will join in the discussion at a committee meeting , take sides at the debating society , open a local fe@5te , propose a toast- or even make a political speech from the platform .sx No matter what the occasion is , you will want to make a good job of it .sx Here is some advice .sx Be Sincere .sx If you mean what you say there is a ring in your voice and a force in your speaking which you can get in no other way .sx Believe in what you say- or say nothing .sx Be Natural .sx In other words , be yourself .sx Famous orators have their own style .sx You have yours , and by sticking to it you will make a better speech than by imitating some one else .sx But see to it that your own style improves every time you make a speech .sx Those two bits of advice apply whether you speak to a crowd in the Town Hall or to half a dozen in the committee room .sx Be sincere .sx Be natural .sx People will at least listen to you with respect- and maybe with enjoyment !sx And if you make a good speech you too will enjoy the thrill of it .sx She was so beautifully dressed .sx And she looked just right for the job- to open the bazaar .sx But , oh , dear !sx She unfolded a sheet of paper and proceeded to read her speech- every word of it .sx Such careful enunciation !sx And so terribly lifeless !sx But here's a speaker of another calibre- at a mass-protest meeting .sx He , too , looks just right for the job !sx And he is .sx His words pour out with the flow and force of Niagara .sx He has the crowd spellbound !sx Those two speakers are poles apart .sx Between them come many other speaking-methods .sx Which one is yours ?sx Perhaps you rely on a few notes on a small bit of paper ?sx That , at least , is better than reading the whole thing .sx But the secret of a good speech lies in the contact between speaker and audience .sx Stop to read from a paper , look down at your notes !sx - at once you break the spell .sx Yes , it's 'off the cuff' for a really good speech .sx But that does not mean you need not think about it beforehand .sx Some of the best 'impromptu' speakers spend hours in preparation .sx So , by all means plan your speech and rehearse it- see next page .sx Take your notes with you- if you must !sx But if you can lose them and still speak naturally and easily , why- Good For You !sx You are a speaker !sx Embarrassed and tongue-tied !sx Poor fellow !sx But it need not happen to you- if you plan your speech beforehand .sx You are going to make a speech , so presumably you've got something to say .sx It may take you two minutes , it may take you twenty minutes ( a long time ) .sx But before you start have it clear in your mind what that message is .sx In writing a letter , you arrange it in paragraphs .sx Do the same with your speech .sx But don't write it down .sx Content yourself with giving a name to each paragraph , and put those names in a list .sx Suppose , for instance , you finally have four names on your list .sx Then you have four sections to your speech .sx Decide then what you want to say in each- and the best way of saying it- and then rehearse it over and over again .sx But don't memorize it word for word .sx All you need do is to remember the four names- and the order in which they come .sx Each time you rehearse you will probably put things in a different way .sx All the better !sx - it will sound much more spontaneous on the occasion itself .sx Remember your four names- have the list with you if you like- and you simply can't be flummoxed !sx Of course , in any speech a good start and a good finish are half the battle .sx So- see the next page !sx Yes , they are waiting for you .sx But there is no need to be frightened .sx The audience will eat out of your hand- if they like what you offer them .sx A good start will put them in a good humour .sx Ladies and gentlemen !sx I'm afraid I have not had much experience of public speaking .sx But that's a terrible way to begin !sx Why tell them you are a novice ?sx It's their interest you want- not their sympathy .sx And you want to get it from the word GO !sx Try something like this :sx It is said that television keeps people at home .sx But you , at any rate , have proved that wrong .sx And they say , too , that television makes its appeal to those of lesser intelligence .sx May I suggest that you have proved that right !sx Congratulations !sx And away you go into your speech .sx Take some thought , too , for your ending .sx Thank you for listening to me so patiently .sx A political candidate often used that finish .sx No wonder he didn't get in !sx Instead he might have ended this way :sx Well , those are my views .sx It's up to you now to give me an opportunity of putting them into practice .sx A stronger finish- and a stronger candidate !sx Note :sx It's a good plan to memorize your beginning and your ending .sx One speaker predicts that unemployment will considerably increase .sx But another puts it this way :sx Half the working-men in the country will line up at the Labour Exchange .sx Six words only- line up at the Labour Exchange- but enough to make vividly clear to you what he has in mind .sx He presents you with a picture , and it flashes in your mind's eye .sx You see what he is talking about .sx The Managing Director is retiring .sx The senior employee makes a presentation and he gives the thing a seagoing setting .sx He calls the Director captain , refers to him starting as cabin-boy , keeping the ship off the rocks , etc. A sound idea .sx The metaphors give life to the speech .sx Simple words and homely phrases give the clearest pictures .sx Let some one say :sx ~It's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut !sx - and at once you get his meaning .sx But :sx Using a great output of energy for an exiguous purpose ( it means the same thing !sx ) gives you no picture at all .sx So , in preparing your speech , search for the homely phrase and the simple illustration .sx And then in giving your speech , you in effect give your hearers a series of pictures .sx