The Gold Coast

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 7, 28 August 1931, Page 13

The Gold Coast

I DON’T quite know what to say to the southern speaker who has now given two lectures on _ the Gold Coast. In substance and matter few talks have been more interesting. What a pity that such excellent material and carefully prepared papers should be wasted by lack of just a little knowledge of elocution. . I would not mind guessing that the speaker would hold both you and me enthralled if we could coax him into our dens for a yarn. He sounds just the right sort for a yarn, but because he has to read out a paper which he himself has prepared he promptly adopts a sing-song monotone from start to finish! Not a_ single divergence from his repertoire of two notes did I perceive. He is the type of lecturer we cannot afford to lose; neither can we afford for him to lose the attention of his audience when the smallest corrective measure would put matters right. This is where a little tip may help. In this instance I would recommend an ‘absolute discarding of notes; keep them in your hand for the sake of giving you confidence, but keep that hand well behind the back. Here was a speaker who required no notes! He knew the history of the Gold Coast from A to Z. Next pretend to be yarning away to Billy Smith, with a glass of beer or a cup of tea close at hand. If the sight of the microphone dispels the illusion, then shut your eyes and transplant yourself either to the bar parlour or your own sitting-room, according to taste. Having got your pipe going. set to work and talk to Bill. You'll hoid thousands of listeners enthralled, my friend, for you’ve certainly got the goods.