PREFACE.

FTER the multitude of books which have been written on Elocution, there seems to be some apology or explanation due for another TextBook on that subject.

If the editor had known of any work which, besides furnishing sufficiently varied selections for practice, insisted on the Natural System of Elocution, in a form low enough in price to come within the reach of school children, this little book would not have been undertaken. But when the School Board of Aberdeen resolved that the pupils and pupil-teachers of their schools should receive regular training in Elocution, and intrusted the editor with that duty, it became necessary to provide such a text book; and sincere thanks are here returned to the Press and to the Public for the favour with which they have regarded the attempt to supply this want.

To teach children to read effectively by means of rules based on the subtleties of grammar and logic, is a task which is certain to weary both teacher and pupil, and to induce in the latter a very strong disrelish for the study. Doubtless, it is easy for parents or teachers to direct their pupils "to raise the voice at the commas," or "to pause and count two at a semicolon," &c.; and the pupil in obeying such directions may seem to be improving in reading: but a

far higher and more difficult task lies before both instructor and pupil, ere any real improvement in Elocution can be made. The pupil must be educated to use the mind in reading, with the same wonderful accuracy with which he uses it in speaking, in which, somehow, he is freed from all necessity of thinking about commas, pauses, or inflexions. This mental

training is what the Natural System of Elocution proposes to give; and, as a humble contribution to aid those who have had set before them the responsible task of training the young in expressive utterance, it is hoped this little work may be found useful. While many entirely new selections have been given, it was thought advisable to include some grand old passages— which have won the noble distinction of becoming hackneyed "-simply because they are ever new and welcome to the young.

To authors and publishers the editor returns thanks for permission to insert copyright passages.

ABERDEEN, Feb., 1877.

IT is gratifying to the editor to have to record that the necessity for a Third Edition arises from the fact that the Second Edition has been for some time out of print, while the demand still continues; and it is hoped that the present issue may be found more worthy of the warm appreciation with which its predecessors have been received.

ABERDEEN, August, 1881.

INTRODUCTION.

LOCUTION is the art of uttering words in the manner best fitted to express their meaning.

It is the art of interpreting the meaning of spoken language by the tones of the voice, and by gesture.

With the ancients the term "elocutio" meant the proper selection of words, or Eloquence, but with us it corresponds to the ancient term "actio," and relates only to Delivery.

Elocution does not mean fine-sounding or dignified speaking. It is opposed to all "spouting" and "ranting". It teaches us how to say the commonest, everyday words, as well as those which declare the highest thoughts and feelings. Elocution may be said to be the universal art. Even music-in many respects akin to elocution has a language not so widely understood and universally employed. There are persons so destitute of musical ear that they could never be taught to sing; but there is no one possessed of speech and reason who could not acquire some proficiency in the art of elocution. And yet how few persons there are in all ranks of society who can use their voices effectively in reading or recitation. Out of a hundred workmen there are not five who could read-aloud the newspapers with proper expression, and in the learned professions the proportion is scarcely greater. But a better day for this long

neglected art seems at hand. There is now a growing popular interest in the subject, probably stronger than ever it was before; and professional men seem awakening to the importance of the study, which Demosthenes declared to be the essential branch of Oratory. In short, it is now beginning to be practically recognised, that however richly endowed the mind may be, it can only make known its ideas truly by means of a highly trained voice.

The voice is the servant of the thought, and the main purpose of all exercises in Elocution is to make it a willing and faithful servant. Many artificial methods have been tried to effect this, from simple "imitation " up to that of a logical and grammatical analysis of every word uttered; and yet, after a vast expense of labour, the pupil is too often found to have acquired only an increased dexterity in the use of the vocal organs, and to have obtained little power in making the word reflect the thought. All methods which call attention to sound first, sense afterwards, proceed against the principles of Nature, and must fail in their object.

The principles of Elocution, upon which innumerable rules for inflection and emphasis have been built, are few and simple, and may be easily understood by the youngest pupil. To render them concise and memorable, it may be well to express some of the leading principles in the form of precepts :

First Principle.

ATTEND TO SENSE-NOT SOUND.

Let it be insisted on, as the first great principle of Elocution, that the pupil is to give no attention what