ABSTRACT

The last twenty years have noted several events of importance to those interested in the study of public address. The year 1925 saw the publication of the Studies in Rhetoric and Public Speaking in Honor of James A. Perhaps now is a good time to look over what has been done, and to make certain observations, chiefly to draw from the practice of the last twenty years principles which may be useful during the next twenty. The kind of setting in which to place a speech might better be conceived of as a “rhetorical” rather than as an “historical” background. After making a few general statements to refresh the memory of the reader about certain historical landmarks, the critic should develop details which serve to interpret the circumstances leading up to the delivery of the speech. These details are not likely to come from a college history textbook, but from letters, diaries, memoirs, and periodicals, and sometimes from specialized monographs.