making the selections, throughout all the numbers. If we have seemed to depart from the standard in a few instances, it has been to represent a character or a phase of life, at the sacrifice of literary merit. The accompanying index of authors is our guaranty for the corresponding part of the title. "2. Elocutionary Opportunity. Each number is designed to represent, as far as possible, every phase of voice and expression, thus giving to the teacher and student of Elocution the widest opportunity for the purposes of drill and training. “To secure this end a list of subjects is arranged, beginning with conversation, and covering every division of vocal quality, articulation, modulation, and gesture, extending into dialects, special characters, conditions of life, etc., and one or more selections chosen to represent each subject. "3. Adaptation to Occasion. By a similar method the selections are systematically varied in adaptation to time and occasion. The family and home, school exhibitions, festivals, church gatherings, social gatherings, temperance and patriotic occasions, anniversaries, harvest homes, and the whole round of holidays, have all been arranged before us and assigned their appropriate parts. "4. The Fireside. We feel that we have been somewhat partial to the home, especially the country home. We know something of its wants, and we are sure there will be much found in these pages to give joy and cheer to the fireside. "5. Indexes. An index, both of subjects and authors, has been carefully arranged, and will be found convenient for ready reference. In the former, selections have been intentionally repeated under the several titles by which they are familiarly known." We tender our sincere thanks to authors, students, and friends who have in any way contributed to this work. MRS. J. W. SHOEMAKER. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 1st, 1881. ............ IX. 69 Character of Washington, The .................. Lebulon B. Vance.....VIII, 109 Child in the Judgment Seat, The. EXPLANATION.-"BEST THINGS FROM BEST AUTHORS," No. 3, being composed of Numbers seven, eight and nine, of the Elocutionist's Annual, it is necessary to indicate the number as well as the page, each number being paged independently |