INTRODUCTION.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION.

THAT the study and practice of ELOCUTION should form a branch in our systems of Education, is now generally conceded. The true method of conveying a knowledge of this art is, however, still open to much discussion.

A very large class of intelligent and educated persons adopt the radical opinions of Archbishop Whately, and, echoing his injunctions to students, say—

"Don't use any system of elocution: it will give you a false style; but read and speak naturally, as if you understood and felt what you are reading and speaking. NATURE and HABIT will show you how." While in direct opposition to this high authority we have elaborated treatises on the Art, from popular Teachers, which insist upon a perfect system of ARTIFICIAL training, by which the pupil is reduced to a mere mechanical automaton, acted upon only by arbitrary and complicated Rules, and graduating every emotional expression of the voice by a scale of MUSICAL NOTATION. Now, these ultra views of the Art I conceive to be equally remote from a true conception of the requirements necessary to form a natural, graceful, and impressive mode of delivery either in Reading or Speaking. In my long experience as a Professor of this Art, I have never found that NATURE, uneducated, untrained NATURE, ever made a naturally correct reader, or an impressive and eloquent speaker. At the same time I am free to confess that experience has confirmed me in the opinion that elaborated ARTIFICIAL rules are almost ". worse than useless," for they fetter all the natural impulses of the Pupil, and too frequently substitute mannerisms and affectations for a direct, earnest, natural method of delivery. . And yet ELOCUTION has its rules, as essential and as necessary to be understood and

studied as are the rules which govern a thorough knowledge of the exact sciences.

To simplify these rules, and to present only those which are absolutely requisite to form a strictly natural and finished reader and speaker, has been the aim and labor of my professional life. In the compendium I now proceed to offer are embodied the results of my practical experiences of the requirements of the Art-presented in the most direct and brief form I could adopt.

As this work is more especially designed for the use of “Ladies' Reading Classes," a few suggestions of a general character may not inappropriately precede the Rules I have given for study and prac

tice.

I assume that the only true basis of Instruction for this Art is, to lead the Pupil into that perception of the meaning and construction of language, that, in its delivery, a full appreciation of its sense shall be felt, and that, in this vocal expression, more especially in READING, the nearer we approach to the tones of the voice we employ in speaking, the more agreeable will be our efforts to those who listen, and the nearer we shall approach to a purely natural style of Elocution-an accomplishment than which, none can be more desirable for a young Lady to take home for the adornment and enjoyment of the social circle.

This intellectual talking style in reading can be acquired by very youthful pupils, and it is with such I would imperatively recommend its practice. It is while the young organs are flexible, and the habits are fresh and untrammelled by conventionalisms, and before mannerisms are contracted and confirmed, that this all-important Elocutionary instruction can be most effectively carried out; and the habit thus obtained will never be eradicated.

I would also recommend this method as the only one to be used for adult practice. The perceptions are constantly quickened into action, and an acute, vivid appreciation of the beauties of language is acquired, that necessarily leads to the adoption of tones perfectly in accordance with the sense, and an appreciative and refined taste is cultivated, which will prefer taking NATURE as its Elocutionary model, rather than the ARTIFICIAL and ARBITRARY rules of systems.

The human voice, however, requires to be trained; the vocal organs can be improved and developed; and aids are afforded in the essential rules of Elocution.

Practice on the elementary sounds of letters, upon Elocutionary principles, will produce a rich, pure, and finished ARTICULATION.

A knowledge of the positive rules which govern INFLECTIONS, and practice on the same to enable the Pupil to inflect with ease; the general knowledge of Rules governing EMPHATIO STRESS, and a practice on MODULATION in its varieties of level, emotional, and imitative tones, are all the necessary mechanical auxiliaries which Elocution as an Art affords to the Student.

These essential rules I now present, condensed into the briefest and most practical form, the due practice of which in classes, accompanied by the application of the principles to the daily READING from Examples I have furnished in this work, will, I trust, materially assist in the formation of an eminently natural and correct style of Reading.

ELOCUTION has been divided into

ARTICULATION and PRONUNCIATION, embracing distinctness, force, and freedom from Provincialisms.

INFLECTION, having a regard to the slides, shifts, and pauses of the

voice.

MODULATION is the proper management of the tones of the voice, so as to produce grateful melody to the ear, in accordance with the

sense.

EMPHASIS marks the comparative importance of words in a

sentence.

ARTICULATION.

Correct articulation is the most important exercise of the voice and of the organs of speech. It consists in giving every letter in a syllable its due proportion of sound, according to the most approved standard of pronunciation, and in making a distinct syllabication of words.

In just articulation the words are not to be hurried over, nor precipitated syllable over syllable, nor melted together into a mass of confusion; they should be delivered full, pure, and, as it were, chiselled from the lips-and thus only can words make their due impression upon hearers.

For the benefit of youthful and untrained Pupils, I annex the following Examples for Practice on Elementary Sounds of Letters and Syllables, on which depend the clear and distinct ARTICULATION of words.

* I claim no originality in the creation of any new system of Elocutionary Instruc tion. I have only compiled and adapted Rules from acknowledged Masters of the Art, rejecting those which my experience has satisfied me are but extraneous and nonessential.