RIGHT AND WRONG POSITIONS FOR READING. Figures A, B, C, show the right positions for reading. They are graceful, and, therefore, pleasing. A firm, upright posture strengthens the voice and promotes health, because it expands the lungs. Figures D, E, F. show the wrong positions for reading. They are awkward, and, therefore, offensive. A stooping posture weakens the voice, and injures the health, because it contracts the lungs. FOUR IMPORTANT RULES FOR READING. I. Take a firm and graceful position. III. Pronounce every word correctly and distinctly. II. Understand every thing you read. IV. Read naturally, as though you were talking from the book. RULES FOR THE PAUSES, TONES, INFLECTIONS, EMPHASIS, AND MANNER of reading. 1. The Comma [,] Semicolon [;] and Colon [:] denote that a short pause should be made, but the voice should be kept suspended, to show that the sentence is not finished. 2. The Period [.] denotes a longer pause; the voice should be entirely dropped, to show that the sentence is finished 3. The Rhetorical Pause [] is a character sometimes used to mark a pause of the voice where there is no punctuation. 4. The Dash [-] and Ellipsis [— or... .] denote that the sentence is suddenly changed or interrupted: the voice should be stopped abruptly. Dashes are sometimes placed before and after clauses, like parentheses or brackets: such clauses should be read in a lower and more rapid tone than the rest of the passage. Sometimes the Dash and Ellipsis require pauses no longer than a Period. 5. The Dieresis [**] denotes that the letter over which it is placed should be pronounced separately; as, aërial. 6. The Exclamation Point [!] is placed after words and sentences which express surprise, wonder, grief, joy, and other strong feelings. They should be read with earnestness. 7. The Interrogation Point [?] is used after questions, and generally requires the rising inflection toward the close of the Sentence. Many questions, however, require the falling inflection, and some have both. Interrogation and Exclamation Points denote full Pauses, like Periods. S. The Rising Inflection [] denotes that the voice should rise upon the syllable beneath it. 9. The Falling Inflection [] denotes that the voice should fall upon the syllable beneath it. 10. The Circumflex Inflection [A or V] denotes that the voice should both rise and fall upon the word beneath it. 11. The Monotone [-] denotes that the passage should be read in a uniform voice. 12. The Low Soft Tone [.] denotes that the passage following it must be read in a low key and soft voice. 13. The High Soft Tone [] denotes that the passage should be read in a high key and soft voice. 14. The Middle Tone [ ] denotes that the passage should be read in a natural key and moderate voice. OBS.-These Tones and Movements may be combined as follows: [-] denotes a low, soft voice, and slow movement; [---] high, soft, and slow; [.] low, soft, fast; [~] high, soft, fast; [.-] low, soft, moderate; [-] middle, moderate; [-] middle, slow; [.~] middle, fast; [-] low, loud, slow; [..~] low, loud, fast; ["~] high, loud, fast; [] high, loud, slow; [..] low, loud, moderate; [...] very low and loud; [] very high and loud; [~~~~] very fast; [---] very slow; ["~ Ang.] high, loud, fast, angry; etc. 20. Sentences or Phrases placed in brackets [], or parentheses (), should be read lower and faster than the passage which contains them. 21. Emphatic words are sometimes printed in Italic letters; very emphatic words in SMALL CAPITALS. 22. [Pl.] denotes a plaintive or melancholy manner; [Threat.] threatening or haughtiness; [Ang.] anger or hatred; [Fr.] fear or horror; [Simn.] solemnity or reverence; [Wndr.] wonder or admiration; [Brsk.] briskness or humor; [Contp] contempt or irony; [Ent.] entreaty; [Wh.] whispering. NOTE.-Some of the marks in this Chart are used in all similar works; others are peculiar to this. The pupil should learn all the signs and pouts, so as to recognize and follow them in the reading exercises and speeches. HEN the next speaking day arrived, the boys were more carefully prepared with their speeches By following their teacher's directions, and mastering the sense as well as the words of the pieces, they found no difficulty in repeating them without hesitation or mistake. Mr. Arthur made a few suggestions for their improvement, and then passed on to the important question which he had promised to answer on that after "What is the use of speaking? What good will it do us?" said he. "Boys, I have repeated your own questions. Who can mention one benefit to be derived from the practice of deciamation in school?" Several hands were raised immediately. "Henry, what is your reason?" he asked. "It is the only way by which we can become public speakers," answered Henry. "Yes," said the teacher. "All the great orators of ancient and modern times were once boys like you. Before they were able to make those great orations which were such a benefit to their country, and are still the admiration of the world, long continued study and practice in the art of declamation were necessary. The earlier in life such practice is commenced, the better the prospect of suc"James Miller, why do you wish to become a good speaker?" "Father said it might make me a President or a Governor," answered little James. He was the smallest of all the speakers, and his smart reply raised a laugh throughout the room. "Even should you become a President," said Mr. Arthur, smiling, "you would not be the first American school-boy who has risen to that office; and you would certainly make a poor figure in the Capitol at Washington, or in our State House, if you were a very awkward speaker, or worse, if you could not speak at all. In this free country the offices of public trust are open to all classes; but even if you are never appointed to any public office, there are many occupations and professions which require considerable knowledge of elocution. I hope some of you will become ministers of the Gospel, and your usefulness as preachers would be greatly increased by a correct and earnest delivery. Some of you may become VOL. IV. 4 lawyers, but many a lawyer loses his verdict, even in a just cause, because he has not presented his case to the jury in a clear aud forcible manner.” Morris held up his hand, and wished to know if very eloquent lawyers didn't sometimes try to deceive the jury, and gain a verdict even though they knew it was unjust. "No doubt of it," said Mr. Arthur; "I hope none of my boys will become such lawyers, but on that very account will realize the importance of becoming correct and ready speakers, that they may overcome such unprincipled lawyers with their own weapons." "I wouldn't be a lawyer of any kind," Morris observed; "I mean to be a merchant, and there's no use in learning to speak for that." The teacher replied that merchants in cities and villages were, if successful, very prominent members of society, and were often called upon to express their opinions in public. "No doubt," he continued, "many of you wish to become farmers and mechanics." A score of hands was instantly raised in response. "Very well," said he, "farmers and mechanics are the bone and sinew of this free country, and everywhere have a voice in public affairs. That voice, then, should be well cultivated. You may think of the matter until next speaking day, when we will say something more about it." SELECT SPEECHES, WITH MARKS FOR EMPHASIS, TONE, INFLECTION AND GESTURE, [-] Y REFERRING TO THE CHARTS. No. 3.-Leonidas to his Three Hundred.-Translation from Pichat by E. Sargent. E men of Sparta, listen to the hope which inspires Leonidas! Consider how largely our death may redound to the glory and benefit of our country. Against this barbarian king, who, in his battle array, reckons as many nations as our ranks do soldiers, what could united Greece effect? In this emergency there is need that some unexpected power should interpose itself;—that a valor and devotion, unknown hitherto, even to Sparta, should strike', amaze', confound, this ambitious despot! From our blood here freely shed to-day,' shall this moral power, this sublime lesson of patriotism, proceed. To Greece it shall teach the secret of her strength; to the Persians, the certainty of their weakness. Before our scarred and bleeding bodies, we shall see the great king grow pale at his own victory, and" recoil affrighted. [-] Or, should he succeed in forcing the pass of Thermopyla, he will tremble to learn, that, in marching upon our cities,12 ne will find ten thousand, after us, equally prepared for death. [] Ten thousand, do I say? O, the swift contagion of a generous enthusiasm! Our example shall make Greece11 all fertile in heroes. An avenging cry shall follow the cry of her affliction. Country! Independence! From the Messenian hills to the Hellespont,' every heart shall respond; and a hundred thousand heroes, with one sacred accord, shall arm themselves, in emulation of our unanimous death. These rocks shall give back the echo of their vows. Then shall our little band,-the brave three hundred, -from the world of shades, revisit the scene; behold the haughty Xerxes, a fugitive, re-cross the Hellespont in a frail bark; while Greece, after eclipsing the most glorious of her exploits, shall hallow a new Olympus in the mound that covers our tomb. [] Yes, fellow-soldiers, history and posterity shall consecrate our ashes. Wherever courage is honored, through all time, shall Thermopyla and the Spartan three hundred be remembered. Ours shall be an immortality such as no human' glory has yet attained. And when ages shall have swept by, and Sparta's last hour shall have come, then, even in her ruins, shall she be eloquent. Tyrants shall turn away from them, appalled; but the heroes of liberty-the poets, the sages, the historians of all time-shall invoke and bless the memory of the gallant three hundred of Leonidas! No. 4.-Nature Proclaims a Deity.-Chateaubriand. [-] There is a God! The herbs of the valley, the cedars of the mountain, bless Him; the insect sports in His beam; the bird sings Him' in the foliage; the thunder proclaims Him in the heavens; the ocean' declares His immensity;-man alone has said, There is no God! Unite in thought at the same instant the most beautiful objects in nature. Suppose that you see, at once, all the hours of the day, all the seasons of the year; a morning of spring, and a morning of autumn; a night bespangled with stars, and a night darkened by clouds; meadows3 enameled with flowers; forests hoary' with snow; fields gilded by the tints of autumn,-then alone you will have a just conception of the universe! While you are gazing on that sun which is plunging into the vault of the West, another observer admires him emerging from the golden gates of the East. By what inconceivable power does that aged star, which is sinking fatigued and burning in the shades of the evening, reappear at the same instant fresh and humid with the rosy dew of the morning? At every hour of the day, the glorious orb is at once rising, resplendent as noonday, and setting in the west; or rather, our senses deceive us, and there is, properly speaking, no East or West, no North or South, in the world. No. 5.-The Victim of Reform.-Blackwood's Magazine. [-] A monkey, once, whom fate had led to list To all the rancorous spouting and contention Of a convention For every one's emancipation From every thing and body in creation, |