A SCHOOL SPEAKER BY F. TOWNSEND SOUTHWICK PRINCIPAL OF THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF EXPRESSION 66 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NEW YORK .:. CINCINNATI .:. CHICAGO 593599 C Dedicated to JOHN A. BROWNING COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY. F. TOWNSEND SOUTHWICK. SOU. STEPS TO ORATORY E-P 2 PREFACE THIS collection includes representative selections from the best literature, arranged and condensed for effective use in school declamation. Part First gives a sufficient outline of the technique to guide the student, but presupposes some knowledge and training on the part of the teacher.1 Part Second consists entirely of selections, arranged as closely as practicable on a historical plan, but interspersed with examples of colloquial and humorous styles, the study of which will help to counteract the tendency toward a stilted and declamatory manner. The criticism has been justly made that the so-called old elocution did not take sufficient account of funda mental psychological processes. On the other hand, cerain recent methods erred quite as greatly in ignoring the echnique of voice and action. If the old school often ostered a mechanical and "elocutionary" delivery, the endency to rely exclusively on thought and impulse has esulted quite as often in either cold self-conscious intelectualism, or impassioned rant, according to the idiosynasy of teacher or pupil. A truly philosophical method ill be coördinative from the outset, and a considerable 1 The author's primer of Elocution and Action [New York: Edgar S. erner] is recommended as a supplementary text-book for students who sh a more complete knowledge of the subject, as well as for teachers o are unfamiliar with the technical problems of the art. An advanced itise is in preparation. |