No doubt many crude and some ludicrous speeches are made by boys in their teens, but at least they learn to think on their feet, and acquire the ability to stand the gaze of an audience without discomposure.

A certain easy facility of expression also is gained, which enables them to acquit themselves creditably on a more important stage.
James early learned that the best preparation for a good speech is a thorough familiarity with the subject, and in his after-life he always carefully prepared himself, so that he was a forcible debater, whom it was not easy to meet and conquer.
"He once told me how he prepared his speeches," said Representative Williams, of Wisconsin, since his death.

"First he filled himself with the subject, massing all the facts and principles involved, so far as he could; then he took pen and paper and wrote down the salient points in what he regarded their logical order.

Then he scanned these critically, and fixed them in his memory.

'And then,' said he, 'I leave the paper in my room and trust to the emergency.'" When the vacation came James began to look about for work.