صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

37. Lines relating to Curran's Daughter......

38. The Temperance Reformation, a Harbinger of the Millenium.

39. Declaration of Independence...

[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Page.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

OBSERVATIONS

ON

ELOCUTION.

ELOCUTION is the art of reading and speaking well. It demands of a reader that he institute an inquiry into the meaning of an author; and, having ascertained it, that he convey it, not only correctly, but with force, beauty, variety, and effect. And it requires a speaker to impress the exact lineaments of nature upon his sentiments. In order to read or speak well, the articulation must be correct and elegant, and the voice must be under the command of the will. A good articulation, it need not be said, is a primary beauty of elocution. It is to the ear what fine penmanship is to the Without it, no individual can be a correct reader or speaker. It is the first step towards becoming an elocutionist.

eye.

In Austin's Chironomia, it is truly observed: "That a public speaker, possessed of only a moderate voice, if he articulate correctly, will be better understood and heard with greater pleasure, than one who vociferates without judgment. The voice of the latter may indeed extend to a considerable distance, but the sound is dissipated in confusion; of the former voice, not the smallest vibration is wasted, every stroke is perceived at the utmost distance to which it reaches; and hence, it has often the appearance of penetrating even farther than one which is loud, but badly articulated. In just articulation, the words are not to be hurried over, nor precipitated syllable over syllable; nor, as it were, melted together into a mass of confusion; they should not be trailed or drawled, nor permitted to slip out carelessly, so as to drop unfinished. They are to be

« السابقةمتابعة »