A Rural Lesson In Rhetoric
Don't fire too high.Speak to men in language they understand.Ministers should remember not to fire over people's heads.Truth must be put in simple language，and illustra tedby metaphors familiar to all. Call the sun a sun，―not a luminary. Don't call the sky“an azure vault”；call it the sky.Don't talk of the“economy of grace，” for your plainer hearers will at once revert to the kitchen. Here is“A Rural Lesson inRhetoric，”which shows the importance of not firing toohigh：―
Brown was invited to visit a town in the extreme rural districts，for the purpose of lecturing the people on temperance.He arrived at his destination late in the evening，and was invited to the cottage of a farmer to partake of supper，previous tothe display of his eloquence.
The farmer had two sons， twenty to twenty five years ofage， and to them a temperance lecturer appeared something more than an ordinary man.Brown had great difficulty in drawing them into conversation， but at length the ice was broken， and the following colloquy was the result：
“I suppose you've both affixed your names to the pledge long ago？”
“Which？”
“I presume you are both temperance men，and have pledged yourselves to abstain from the use of everything thatint oxicates？”
“The which， stranger？
“You do not get the idea clearly.I was expressing thehope that you do not indulge in intoxicating beverages.”
“Eh？”
“That you do not indulge in the inebriating cup.”
“Sir？”
“Do either of you drink liquor？ That's what I'm trying toget at.”
“Waal， stranger！I did n't know but ye was atalkin French jabber.Why did n't ye ax the thing right eout？Samand me don't drink no liquor to speak on，'cept hayin’a ndharvist， and then we drink right smart.So does fayther andevery body'round here.Ef ye talk French stuff in yer lecture，stranger，’t won't du much good， I tell ye，for nobody won'tknow a word what yer means in this yer neck o'timber， sartinand sure”
Brown declares this to be the best lesson in rhetoric he ever received，and he made an unusual effort to adapt his word tothe comprehension of his hearers in that“neck o'timber.”Other speakers may profit by the hint.
幽默 笑话本文地址：http://www.dioenglish.com/writing/humor/73994.html
相关文章
-
Political Joke(22)
Q. What is a conservative？ A. A conservative is an X-liberal that got mugged.更多 英语笑话、英语小笑话、英文笑话、英语幽默小故事，请继续关注 英语作文大全幽默 笑话...
2019-01-02 英语笑话 -
笑话习题簿12.30
A lady went to a hat shop to buy a hat. As she was very fussy, it took her a long time to pick on one. Already at the end of his patience the salesman was afraid tha...
2018-11-23 英语笑话 -
爆笑英语幽默笑话精101：Good News And Bad News好消息和坏消息（英汉双语笑话）
101.Good News And Bad News101.好消息和坏消息There’s good news and bad news，”the divorce lawyer told his client.“有好消息，也有坏消息，”离婚律师告诉他的当事人。"I...
2018-11-01 英语笑话 -
College Joke(5)
A college‘s student body is composed of the sons and daughters of the very rich who could not meet the academic requirements of any other college. Lo and behold，the college basketball team win...
2018-12-28 英语笑话 -
What's the difference between women
8 You take her to bed and tell her a story. 18 You tell her a story and take her to bed. 28 You don't need to tell her any story to take her to bed. 38 She tells you a story and takes...
2018-12-07 英语笑话 -
Man Vs. Woman Joke(3)
Smart man + Smart Woman = Romance Smart Man + Dumb Woman = Pregnancy Dumb Man + Smart Woman = Affair Dumb Man + Dumb Woman = Marriage更多 英语笑话、英语小笑话、英文笑话、英语幽默小故...
2019-01-02 英语笑话 -
笑话习题簿11.2.16
One evening，in the midst of dinner preparation，our 10 yearold daughter asked，“Mom my， what's puberty？”My wife was rushed at the moment，so she suggested that Peggy look up th...
2018-11-23 英语笑话 -
趣味图片英语笑话：Jasmine 茉莉（双语）
Jasmine, you look amazing!茉莉,你看起来很棒!I'm on this fabulous diet, where you almost cease to exist and become a vague, indistinct memory in people's memory ...我在这个令人难以置信的节食,...
2018-11-06 英语笑话
