DEMOSTHENES PRACTISING BY THE SEA

From a painting by Jules J. A. Lecomte-du-Nouy

THE GREATEST OF GREEK ORATORS WAS MOCKED AT HIS FIRST ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC BECAUSE HE HAD A WEAK VOICE AND A LISP; THESE FAULTS HE OVERCAME BY VOCAL PRACTISE IN A SOUNDPROOF CELLAR, AND AT THE SEA-SIDE, WHERE HE WAS WONT TO DECLAIM WITH PEBBLES IN HIS MOUTH TO OVERCOME THE IMPEDIMENT IN HIS SPEECH. -Page 37.