Word: spotted
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Dates: during 1873-1873
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...wrought up, his knowledge comprehensive, and his imagination vigorous, yet he who pleads lacks something. A man may begin to speak burning with enthusiasm, influencing by his persuasive eloquence; he may by his keen perception bring weighty arguments from threatening facts; yet his armor is defective, and the weak spot will be detected by his adversaries. To be successful, he must be equipped and ready for every interruption and questioning, innuendo and repartee, and send back the quick and witty response : if he hesitates, he is conquered. The wise man often becomes disconcerted and loses his sagacity in consequence...
...writer sits down for the purpose of producing a witty article, one that shall make the public laugh in spite of itself; an onerous task for two reasons, - the public is decidedly opposed to laughing without being tickled, and it is exceedingly difficult to find a sensitive spot whereon to apply the straw. By public we mean the average mass of thinking men and women, excluding wholly that class of constitutional gigglers who laugh alike at David's solemnity and Twain's humor...