LESSON 64.

How to Tell News

KEY WORDS: IN TELLING NEWS BE DIRECT, BRIEF, AND CLEAR.

Every day you tell a piece of news to some business friend, or to your family at home.

This lesson will show you exactly how to tell news to best advantage.

First, let us try an experiment.

Read these facts:

1. The Germans said that on some captured American airmen they found passports showing that the airmen had come to France on Red Cross hospital ships.

2. The German Government felt that it was justified in sinking hospital ships.

3. "The Llandovery Castle," an 11,000 ton hospital ship, sailed for France in June.

4. It carried 258 persons, including no belligerents.

5. It was plainly marked as a hospital ship.

6. On June 27 a German U-boat torpedoed the steamer.

7. One boatload of 24 people reached land.

Now I am going to show you how to tell that piece of news effectively.

First, find the big human-interest part of that news that will interest anyone.

You have it: "On June 27, the Germans torpedoed the hospital steamship, 'Llandovery Castle." "

Tell that first. That is the whole story in a nutshell. Always tell the human-interest item first.

Now hunt for the next important human-interest item.

There it is: "Of the 258 people on board, none of whom were belligerents, only one boatload of 24 people has reached land."

Now that you have told the vital facts you are ready to tell the details of less importance.

Please turn to your table and pick up your daily newspaper. Turn to the leading article. Read its headlines, and then read the first paragraph. Do you see how even the newspapers think it best to tell news in this psychological way? News told in that way "takes hold of people."

Learn this summary:

1. In telling news tell the big, human-interest item first.

2. Then tell the second important human-interest item, and so on.

3. Tell the less important details last.

Now put all this into practice. Turn to your good friend and tell some interesting news that you have heard.

Don't be like those old ladies who can't tell a story directly and briefly to save their lives. You have heard them talk-they go on forever, continually getting sidetracked on minor issues, and wandering off into slightly related details.

And don't be like that friend of mine who often tells me news. He talks and talks and talks before he gets to

the point.

And don't confuse your ideas so that you will leave your hearers with hazy impressions.

Be direct, brief, and clear.

PROBLEM.

Ask your friend to give you, in confused order, all the facts in some piece of news in the paper. See if you can tell the news in as psychological an order as followed in the paper.

LESSON 65.

How to Give an Introduction

KEY WORDS: IN GIVING INTRODUCTIONS EMPHASIZE NAMES AND POSITIONS.

How often when you have been introduced to a stranger has the introduction left you absolutely ignorant of the man's name?

Now, what is the object of an introduction?

It is to make two strangers acquainted.

You say you know a man. What do you mean?

To know a man means much more than to know his name. It means to know what he does, and what sort of manhood he represents.

What, then, is the proper method of introduction?

It is to speak in such a way that you will transfer to your friends the knowledge that you already possess.

Speak the names very clearly, enunciating every syllable.

Speak the names with emphasis, that is, a little louder than your usual speech.

Now say the following names slowly, syllable by syllable, and somewhat loudly. Test yourself by asking the friend who is with you to repeat the names one by one as you say them. If he cannot repeat any word say the next word more slowly, and more distinctly.

1. Fran-cis-co Can-ta-cu-ze-ne.

2. Har-old Bag-bie.

3. Ma-jor For-tes-cue.

4. Al-ex-an-der Pa-ta-so-vak.

5. Greg-o-ry Max-i-an-sen.

6. Al-phon-sus Her-der.

7. Ben-ja-min Schuy-ler.

In order to give full advantage in an introduction say something distinctive about the person whom you name.

Say the following aloud:

Mr. Jonas Lightfoot, Manager of the Aegis Axe Company.

Captain Ellory Mason, of the Northwest Mounted Police.

Mr. Frank Jaroleum, City Editor of the Seattle Express.