[Sidenote: _Reserve power._] All apparent effort must be avoided; that is, in the expression of the strongest passion or emotion, you must not give the audience the slightest indication of want of power. You will give that impression if you try to express more than you actually feel. In emotional expression it must seem as if it overflowed because of excess, and you could hardly control it; but you must never lose control of it. This control will give the audience the impression that you feel more than you express, and is what is called reserved power. If--your well of emotion not being overflowingly full--you use a force-pump, or, in other words, your will-power, to make it overflow, you will fail in expression.
[Sidenote: _How to get reserve power._] How are you to get this, you ask. By study and long practice. As you plainly see, it involves a perfect command over the feelings; and "he that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." Conquer yourself. All art, elocution included, is but a means of expression for man's thoughts and feelings; and, if you have no thought or feeling to express, art is useless to you.
[Sidenote: _Breathing._] Do not let your audience be reminded that you breathe at all. Take breath quietly through nostrils or mouth, or both. Form the habit of keeping the chest, while speaking, active, as recommended in all vocal exercises; and the breath will flow in unobstructed whenever needed. Breathe as nearly as possible as you would if you were not speaking, that is, do not interfere with right action of the lungs. The instant you feel a want of breath, take it: if you do not, you will injure your lungs; and what you say, feeling that want of breath, will lack power. The more breath you have, so that it does not feel uncomfortable and can be well controlled, the more power you will have: therefore practise breathing until you breathe rightly and easily.
[Sidenote: _Throat trouble._] If your general health is good, your throat will be well; and therefore pay attention to the general health of the whole body, and the throat will take care of itself. If, when you come before an audience, your throat and mouth are dry, use only clear, cold water, not ice-water: that is too cold. Avoid candy or throat-lozenges; for the use of either of these is worse than if you used nothing at all. If you have a cold or sore throat, you had better not use your voice; but, if you must use it, keep it clear by clear water. A healthy throat will not need even water: it will moisten itself after a little use, if at first it is dry.