Examples of Oration Piece
Charles Ogle Speech - Gold Spoon Oration
Charles Ogle - Gold Spoon Oration is also known as "The Regal Splendour of the
President’s Palace"
Given in the US House of Representatives April 14-16, 1840
Excerpts from the speech
"An old soldier Harrison, who, to rescue thousands of women and children from the scalping
knife of the ruthless savage, freely abandoned all the endearments of home and family, endured
the icy and piercing blasts of northwestern winters, wading through the deep and cold waters and
black swamps of Michigan and upper Canada, sustaining, at times, an almost famished nature
upon raw beef, without salt, and often periling life on the field of battle? Poor simple-minded old
veteran, he was, no doubt, foolish enough to believe that, having given the best energies of his
body and mind in youth, manhood, and mature age, to serve and defend the honor, the rights, the
property, and the lives of his fellow-citizens, he would at least, in common courtesy, be entitled
to their respect, if not to their love and gratitude."
"The survey of smooth lawns and gently sloping meads, covered with rich coats of white and red
clover and luxuriant orchard grass, made no delightful impression on their eyes. No, sir; mere
meadows are too common to gratify the refined taste of an exquisite with sweet sandy whiskers.
He must have undulations, beautiful mounds, and other contrivances, to ravish his exalted and
ethereal soul. Hence, the reformers have constructed a number of clever sized hills, every pair of
which, it is said, was designed to resemble and assume the form of an Amazon's bosom, with a
miniature knoll or hillock on its apex, to denote the nipple."
“I Have a Dream”
By Martin Luther King Jr.
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Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed
the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of
hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It
came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
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I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest
demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of
the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of
discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the
midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still
languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And
so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our
republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of
Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall
heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be
guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is
obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of
color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the
Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there
are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to
cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the
security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now.
This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of
gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to
rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now
is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of
brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering
summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating
autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And
those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have
a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest
nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of
revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice
emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold
which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must
not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking
from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high
plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into
physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical
force with soul force.
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We cannot walk alone.
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The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to
a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their
presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And
they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?"
We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of
police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of
travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We
cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger
one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and
robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long
as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for
which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls
down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.
Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from
areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution
and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative
suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to
Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to
Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow
this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is
a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its
creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the
sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat
of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of
freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
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I have a dream today!
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I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor
having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right
there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white
boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall
be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made
straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." 2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With
this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful
symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray
together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together,
knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing
with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
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Free at last! Free at last!
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And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village
and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day
when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and
Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!3
Aladdin
Alice In Wonderland
Babes In The Wood
Beauty And The Beast
Calamity Jane 'The Panto'
Cinderella
Cinders (a scholastic panto)
Dick Whittington
Dracula 'The Panto'
Goldilocks And The Three Bears
Jack And The Beanstalk
King Arthur
Little Red Riding Hood
Mother Goose
Pinocchio
Puss In Boots
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Robin Hood
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Robinson Crusoe And The Pirates
Scrooge - A Christmas Carol
Sinbad
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White
The Grinch 'The Panto'
The Wizard Of Oz
Trouble In Nursery Rhyme Land
Treasure Island
MOTHER GOOSE : THE
PANTOMIME
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Mother Goose, devised as a
tale by Perrault in 1687,
featured in an early
pantomime in 1806, showed
a kindly old witch
associated with a stupid boy
called Jack.
Joseph Grimaldi:
The great pantomime clown performed a very early version of “Mother Goose”.
This version would have very little in common with pantomime as we think of
it now however. The character of Mother Goose (the Dame Role) was that of a
“Benevolent Agent”- a sort of good witch. The Harlequinade resembled the
rhyme more than the story we have today in pantomime.
Grimaldi’s career began at the age of three at the Sadler's Wells Theatre. He
was later to become the mainstay of the Drury Lane Theatre before settling in
at Covent Garden in 1806. His three year contract paid him one pound a week,
rising to two pounds the following year, and finally three pounds a week. His
debut at Covent Garden was in 'Harlequin and Mother Goose; or the Golden
Egg' in 1806. Grimaldi himself had little faith in the piece, and undoubtedly it
was hastily put together on a sparsely decorated stage. However, the
production ran for 92 nights, and took over £20,000.
The lack of great theatrical scenes allowed Grimaldi to project himself to the
fore 'he shone with unimpeded brilliance' once critic wrote. Another marveled
at his performance 'whether he robbed a pieman, opened an oyster, rode a
giant carthorse, imitated a sweep, grasped a red hot poker ....... in all this he
was extravagantly natural!' In 'Harlequin and Mother Goose' there were four
opening scenes, involving Grimaldi as Squire Bugle (afterwards, the clown)
Mother Goose, played by Mr. Simmons, Colin (afterwards Harlequin) in love
with Colinette. This was then followed by fifteen scenes of Harlequinade, and a
grand finale. Music ran throughout the piece, and there was no spoken
dialogue.
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The Drury Lane pantomime for December 1880 was Mother Goose (and the
Enchanted Beauty). The go-ahead proprietor, Augustus Harris, decided to use
well-known variety stars for the first time, hoping to swell box-office receipts.
Kate Santley was engaged from the Alhambra and Arthur Roberts, the popular
music hall comedian, was also given a leading part.
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Drury Lane: Mother Goose 1880
According to The Stage review of January 1, 1881, "Mother Goose is a success
and Mr A Harris can go to sleep at night with an easy head".
Again though, this pantomime version was actually the story of “The Sleeping
Beauty”, with the character of Mother Goose again representing a “Good
Witch”, pitted against the evil witch Malignia. The Golden eggs did feature, but
were used as a magical device to awaken the sleeping court after their 100
years slumber.
Drury Lane: Mother Goose 1902
It was not until the turn of the century that “Mother Goose” in
the pantomime form we know was created. It is unusual to be
able to pinpoint an exact date when a pantomime story saw the
light of day- most pantomime stories evolved over centuries.
This story was created for one performer- the most popular
performer of his time: Dan Leno.
Dan Leno:
The pantomime story we know today originates from the pen of one writerJ.Hickory Wood. He wrote the plot specifically to highlight the talents of Dan
Leno, the star of the Drury Lane Pantomimes. Amongst his innovations,
Hickory Wood (collaborating with the manager of Drury Lane, Arthur
Collins)created the “Pool of Beauty” scene, where Mother Goose is transformed,
and, in her eyes, becomes beautiful.
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“Search all the world, and you will fail to find, a man or woman with
contented mind”
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The plot of “Mother Goose” was a very moral one. It all hung on the challenge
laid down by the Demon King to the Good Fairy:
Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell - Drury Lane - Mother Goose 1902
Dan Leno was the performer to create the character and look of the pantomime
dame as we know her. In 1887 he was hired by Augustus Harris (the "Father of
Modern Pantomime") to play at Drury Lane .He remained there for the next 16
years as the star of the pantomime.
Entering the stage Leno could achieve much laughter by a single expression, as
he launched into his opening patter:
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What made this Dame role different to all others, was that it was the titular
role. The Dame WAS the story. Once the challenge was laid down, the Dame is
tested by the Demon to prove her worth as a good kind person. She has a gift
bestowed upon her- a magical goose. The Goose is christened by the dame as
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“.then I went on the stage as Juliet- Oh! The bouquets they threw at me! Not silly
useless hothouse flowers, but cauliflower’s and garden fruit like that. When they
repaired the theatre I asked for a re-engagement, but the manager was out….”
“Ann Priscilla Mary May”, after her Grandmother, and becomes part of her
family.
Illustrations from 1902 Drury Lane Pantomime - Mother Goose
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During the pantomime Mother Goose is given great wealth. Having all this
wealth she now craves Beauty. The Demon tempts her to enter the “Pool of
Beauty”, but in return she must give up the one thing she holds dear to herPriscilla the Goose. To gain beauty, she sacrifices everything.
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Since 1902 the Goose has almost always been given the name created by
J.Hickory Wood. “Priscilla”.
"AM I TO BE BLAMED?"
They're chasing me, they're chasing, no they must not catch me, I have enough money
now, yes enough for my starving mother and brothers.
Please let me go, let me go home before you imprisoned me. Very well, officers? take
me to your headquarters. Good morning captain! no captain, you are mistaken, I was
once a good girl, just like the rest of you here. Just like any of your daughters. But time
was, when I was reared in slums. But we lived honestly, we lived honestly in life. My,
father, mother, brothers, sisters and I. But then, poverty enters the portals of our home.
My father became jobless, my mother got ill. The small savings that my mother had kept
for our expenses were spent. All for our daily needs and her needed medicine.
One night, my father went out, telling us that he would come back in a few minutes with
plenty of foods and money, but that was the last time I saw him. He went with another
woman. If only I could lay my hands on his neck I would wring it without pain until he
breaths no more. If you were in my place, you'll do it, won't you Captain? What? you
won't still believe in me?. Come and I'll show you a dilapidated shanty by a railroad.
Mother, mother I'm home, mother? mother?!. There Captain, see my dead mother.
Captain? there are tears in your eyes? now pack this stolen money and return it to the
owner. What good would this do to my mother now? she's already gone! Do you hear
me? she's already gone. Am I to be blamed for the things I have done?
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Am I a juvenile delinquent? I'm a teenager, I'm young, young at heart in mind.
In this position, I'm carefree, I enjoy doing nothing but to drink the wine of
pleasure. I seldom go to school, nobody cares!. But instead you can see me
roaming around. Standing at the nearby canto (street). Or else standing beside
a jukebox stand playing the nerve tickling bugaloo. Those are the reasons, why
people, you branded me delinquent, a juvenile delinquent.
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"JUVENILE DELINQUENT"
My parents ignored me, my teachers sneered at me and my friends, they
neglected me. One night I asked my mother to teach me how to appreciate the
values in life. Would you care what she told me? "Stop bothering me! Can't you
see? I had to dress up for my mah-jong session, some other time my child". I
turned to my father to console me, but, what a wonderful thing he told me.
"Child, here's 500 bucks, get it and enjoy yourself, go and ask your teachers
that question".
And in school, I heard nothing but the echoes of the voices of my teachers
torturing me with these words. "Why waste your time in studying, you can't
even divide 100 by 5! Go home and plant sweet potatoes".
I may have the looks of Audrey Hepburn, the calmly voice of Nathalie Cole. But
that's not what you can see in me. Here's a young girl who needs counsel to
enlighten her way and guidance to strengthen her life into contentment.
Honourable judge, friends and teachers...is this the girl whom you commented
a juvenile delinquent?.
Vengeance is not ours, its God’s
Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a
child so young, so thin, and so ragged. Why are you staring at me? With my
eyes I cannot see but I know that you are all staring at me. Why are you
whispering to one another? Why? Do you know my mother? Do you know my
father? Did you know me five years ago?
Yes, five years of bitterness have passed. I can still remember the vast
happiness mother and I shared with each other. We were very happy indeed.
Suddenly, five loud knocks were heard on the door and a deep silence ensued.
Did the cruel Nippon’s discover our peaceful home? Mother ran to Father’s side
pleading. “Please, Luis, hide in the cellar, there in the cellar where they cannot
find you,” I pulled my father’s arm but he did not move. It seemed as though
his feet were glued to the floor.
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We followed them mile after mile. We were hungry and thirsty. We saw group of
Japanese eating. Oh, how our mouths watered seeing the delicious fruits they
were eating,
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The door went “bang” and before us five ugly beasts came barging in. “Are you
Captain Luis Santos?” roared the ugliest of them all. “Yes,” said my father.
“You are under arrest,” said one of the beasts. They pulled father roughly away
from us. Father was not given a chance to bid us goodbye.
Then suddenly, we heard a voice call, “Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . . Consuelo. . .
. Oscar. . . . Consuelo. . . . Oscar. . . .” we ran towards the direction of the
voice, but it was too late. We saw father hanging on a tree. . . . dead. Oh, it was
terrible. He had been badly beaten before he died. . . . and I cried vengeance,
vengeance, vengeance! Everything went black. The next thing I knew I was
nursing my poor invalid mother.
One day, we heard the church bell ringing “ding-dong, ding-dong!” It was a sign
for us to find a shelter in our hide-out, but I could not leave my invalid mother,
I tried to show her the way to the hide-out.
Suddenly, bombs started falling; airplanes were roaring overhead, canyons
were firing from everywhere. “Boom, boom, boom, boom!” Mother was hit. Her
legs were shattered into pieces. I took her gently in my arms and cried, “I’ll
have vengeance, vengeance!” “No, Oscar. Vengeance, its God’s,” said mother.
But I cried out vengeance. I was like a pent-up volcano. “Vengeance is mine not
the Lord’s”. “No, Oscar. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s” these were the words
from my mother before she died.
Mother was dead and I was blind. Vengeance is not ours? To forgive is divine
but vengeance is sweeter. That was five years ago, five years. . . .
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Alms, alms, alms. Spare me a piece of bread. Spare me your mercy. I am a
child so young, so thin, and so ragged. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God’s. . . .
It’s. . . . God’s. . It’s…
References:
http://www.takdangaralin.com/english/declamation-pieces/declamationpiece-vengeance-is-not-ours-its-gods/
http://marriedwoman.hubpages.com/hub/My-Favorite-Declamation-Piece
http://www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/famous-shortspeeches/charles-ogle-speech-gold-spoon-oration.htm
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
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http://www.its-behind-you.com/storymothergoose.html