4. If you can't remember or find a good story, invent one! Perhaps you
have scruples as to the latter. But a story is not a lie; if so, what
would become of the noble tribe of novel-writers! Mark Twain gives a very
humorous account of the way in which he killed his conscience. Probably
many speakers who retail good things might make confession in the same
direction.

But why is it not as reputable to invent one's own story as to tell the
story some one else has invented? Does the second telling improve its
morality? Rather give heed to the quality of the story. This, and not its
origin, is the really important matter to consider.

5. Success in after-dinner speaking is difficult or easy to attain
according to the way you go about it. If you think you must startle,
rouse, and electrify your hearers, or, worse still, must instruct them in
something _you_ think important, but about which they care nothing,
your efforts are likely to be attended by a hard and bitter experience. But
if, when a prospective speech-occasion looms up, you will reflect upon the
sentiment you wish to propose, or will get a friend to do a little planning
and suggest the easiest toast or topic, and then attempt to say just a
little, you will probably come off with flying colors.

6. When you rise, do not be in a hurry. A little hesitation has a better
effect than too much promptness and fluency, and a little stammering or
hesitation, it may be added, will have no bad effect. In beginning, your
manner can without disadvantage be altogether lost sight of, and if
you have something to say the substance of which is good, and has been
carefully prearranged, you will be able to give utterance to it in some
form; grammatical mistakes or mispronunciation, where there is no
affectation, as well as an occasional repetition, will rarely be noticed.