ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small]

Anecdote. Plato defines man- 66 Απ animal, having two legs, and no feathers." This very imperfect description attracted the ridicule of Di-og-e-nes; who, wittily, and in derision, introduced to his school-a fowl, stripped of its feathers, and contemptuously asked,-"Is this Plato's man?"

1. THIS SYSTEM unfolds the true Philoso- in, where-on, where-with, &c. : also, in the conpny of MIND and VOICE, in accordance with traction of ever and never,-as where-e'er I ge the nature of Man, and the structure of Lan-where-e'er I am, I ne'er shall see thee more. guage. The Elements are first presented; "How blest is he, who ne'er consents, By ill adthen, the common combinations, followed by vice to walk." the more difficult ones; all of which are to be practiced in concert, and individually, after the Teacher. These exercises essentially aid in cultivating the Voice and Eur, for all the objects of Speech and Song: while the Principles and Practice tend to develop and perfect both mind and body, agreeably to the Laws, that should govern them. The Vowels must first be mastered, then the Consonants; and the exercises interspersed with reading, and rigid criticism on the Articulation and Pronunciation.

N. B. The words printed in italics and CAPITALS, are more or less emphatic; though other words may be made so, according to the desired effect: the dash (-) indicates a pause for inhalation: connecting words are sometimes excepted.

Notes. 1. Don't caricature this sound of a and a before r, by giving it undue stress and quantity, in such words as--air (ay-ur,) pa-rent, (pae-rent,) dare, (day-ur,) chair, there, where, &c., nor give it a flat sound, as some do to e in bleat, pronouncing it blaat. To give this sound properly, separate the teeth an inch, project the lips, and bring forward the corners of the mouth, like a funnel. 2. It would be just as proper in prose, to say, whereeever I go, where-eever I am, I neever shall see thee more; as to say in poetry, where-ear I am, I near shall see thee more. 3. E in weight, whey, (i, y, gh are silent,) and a in age, whale, &c., are just alike in sound; and as this sound of e does not occur among First, its natural, or regular sounds, as classed by our orthoepists, it is called "irregular ;" i. e. it borrows this name sound of a; or is sounded like it. 4. Some try to make a distinction between a in fate, and a in fair, calling it a medial sound: which error is ow. ing to t being an abrupt element, and r, a prolonged one: but no one can make a good sound of it, either in speech or song, when thus situated, by giving it a sound unlike the name sound of a; beware of unjust prejudices and prepossessions. I say na-shun-al, ra-shun-al, &c., for the same reason that I say no-tional and de-votional; because of analogy and effect.

[A in ALE.]

2. A has four regular sounds: Name sound, or long: ALE; ate, a-zure; rare a-pri-cots; scarce pa-tri-ots; fair bracelets for la-tent mus-ta-ches; hai-ry ma-gi and sa-pi-ent liter-a-ti for pa-trons; na-tion-al ca-ter-er for ra-di-a-ted stamens, and sa-li-ent pas-try with the ha-lo gra-tis; the ra-tion-al plain-tiff tears the cambric, and dares the stairs for the sa-vor of rai-sins; they drain the cane-brakes and take the bears by the nape of the neck; the may-or's pray-er to Mayn-ton Sayre is to be-ware of he snares pre-par'd for the matron's shares: -men has both syllables accented; but it should never be pronounced ah-men (2d a,)

Aor aw-men.

3. Position. Sit, or stand erect, with the shoulders thrown back, so as to expand the chest, prevent the body from bending, and facilitate full and deep breathing. Open the mouth wide enough to admit two fingers, ride-wise, between the teeth, and keep the hips free and limber, that the sounds may Fow with clearness and precision; nor let there be too much, nor too little moisture in the mouth. A piece of hard wood, or ivory, an inch, or an inch and a half long, of the size of a pipe-stem, with a notch in each end, if placed between the teeth, perpendicularly, while practicing, will be found very useful in acquiring the habit of opening wide the mouth.

Proverbs. 1. Accusing-is proving, when malice and power sit as judges. 2. Adversitymay make one wise, but not rich. 3. Idle folks -take the most pains. 4. Every one is architect birds. 6. Go into the country to hear the news of his own fortune. 5. Fine feathers make fine of the town. 7. He is a good orator-who convinces himself. 8. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth. 9. Lawyers' houses-are built on the heads of fools. 10. Little, and often, fill the purse. 11. Much, would have more, and lost all. 12. Practice-makes perfect.

The Bible-requires, in its proper deiwery, the most extensive practical knowledge of the principles of elocution, and of all the compositions in the world; a better impression may be made, from its correct reading, than from the most luminous commentary.

Varieties. 1. Love what you ought to do, and you can easily do it;-oiled wheels run freely. 2. Cicero says, that Roscius, a Roman orator, could express a sentence in as many different ways by his gestures, as he himself could by his words. 3. Why is the letter A, like a honey-suckle? Because a B follows it. 4. Never speak unless you have 4. E has this sound in certain words; among have done. 5. The most essential rule in desomething to say, and always stop when you which are the following ere, ere-long; feint heirs; the hei-nous Bey pur-veys a bo-quet; education should be adapted to the full delivery is-Be natural and in earnest 6. Our (bo-ka ;) they rein their prey in its ey-ry, and pay their freight by weight; hey-dey! o-bey the velopment of body and mind. 7. Truth can eyre, and do o-bei-sance to the Dey; they sit never contradict itself; but is eternal and imtete-a-tate (ta-tah-tate, at trey: also, there mutable-the same in all ages: the states of and where, in all their compounds,-there-at, men's reception of it-are as various as the there-by, there-fore, there-in, there-on, there-principles and subjects of natural creation. with, where-at, where-by, where fore, where- As good have no time, as make bad use of it. BRONSON.

2

5 Elocutium-is an Art, that teaches me how within-out; not from without-in. The to inanifest my feelings and thoughts to beautiful rose-does not grow by accretion, others, in such a way as to give them a true like the rocks; its life flows into it through idea, and expression of how, and what, I feel the nutriment, imbibed from the earth, the and think; and, in so doing, to make them air, and the water, which are incorporated feel and think, as I do. Its object is, to enable with the very life-blood of the plant as a me me to communicate to the hearers, the whole dium: it is a manifestation of the LIFE that truth, just as it is; in other words, to give me fills all things, and flows into all things. ac the ability, to do perfect justice to the subject, cording to their various forms. The analogy to them, and to myself: thus, involving the holds good as it respects the human mind; philosophy of end, cause, and effect,-the cor- tho' vegetables are matter, and mind-is respondence of affection, thoughts and words. spirit; the former is of course much more 6. The second sound of A is grave, confined than the latter. The powers of the or Italian. АH; alms, far; pamind-must be developed by a power from pa calms ma-ma, and comwithin, and above itself; and that is the best mands Charles to craunch the education, which will accomplish this most al-monds in the haun-ted paths; rapidly, and effectually, in accordance with his ma-ster de-man-ded a the laws of God,-which always have referhaunch of par-tridge of fa-' ence to the greatest good and the most truth. ther; aunt taun-ted the laundress for salve from the bana-na tree; Jar-vis farms sar-sa-pa-ril-la in A-mer-i-ca; ma-nil-la balm is a charm to halve the qualms in Ra-ven-na; he a-bides in Chi-na, and vaunts to have saun-tered on the a-re-na, to guard the vil-la hearths from harm-ful ef-flu-vi-a; they flaun-ted on the 80fa, ar-gu-ing for Quarles' psalms, and for-muProverbs. 1. A burden that one chooses, is la for jaun-dice in Mec-ca or Me-di-na; a not felt. 2. A guilty conscience needs no accucalf got the chol-e-ra in Cu-ba, and a-rose to ser. 3. After-wit is every body's wit. 4. Enough run the gaunt-let for the ayes and noes in A--is as good as a feast. 5. All is but lip wisdom, cel-da-ma.

[A in FAR.]

Anecdote. A clergyman, whose turn it was to preach in a certain church, happening to get wet, was standing before the sessionroom fire, to dry his clothes; and when his colleague came in, he asked him to preach for him; as he was very wet. "No Sir, I thank you;" was the prompt reply: "preach yourself; you will be dry enough in the pulpit.”

that wants experience. 6. Better bend, than break

Out of debt, out of danger. 9. Wade not in unknown waters. 10. Do what you ought, and les come what will. 11. Empty vessels make the greatest sound. 12. Pause, before you flow an

7. In making the vowel sounds, by expel-7. Children and fools often speak the truth. 8 ling them, great care must be taken, to convert all the breath that is emitted, into pure sound, so as not to chafe the internal surface of the throat, and produce a tickling, or hoarseness. The happier and freer from re-example. straint, the better: in laughing, the lower muscles are used involuntarily; hence the adage, laugh, and be fat.' In breathing, reading, speaking, and singing, there should be no rising of the shoulders, or heaving of the bosom, both tend to error and ill health. Beware of using the lungs, as it is said; let them act, as they are acted upon by the lower muscles.

Natural and Spiritual Since we are possessed of both body and soul, it is of the first importance that we make use of natural and spiritual means fo. obtaining good; i.e. natural and spiritual truths. Our present and eternal destines--should ever be kept in mind; and that, which is of the greatest moment, receive the principal attention: and, since death-is only a continuation of life, our education should be continuous: both states of Jeing will be best attended to, when seen and attended to in connection.

Notes. 1. This, strictly speaking, is the only natural sound in all languages, and is the easiest made: it merely requires the under jaw to be dropped, and a vocal sound to be produced: all other vowels are derived from it; or, rather, are modifications Varieties. 1. Horses will often do more of it. 2. When a is an article, i. e. when used by itself, it always has this sound, but must not be accented; as, "a man saw a horse for a whistle, than a whip: as some youth are and a sheep in a meadow:" except as contrasted with the; as, "I best governed by a rod of love. 2. Why is a said the man, not a man." 3. When a forms an unaccented sylsable, it has this sound: as, a-wake, a-bide, a-like, ware, a-tone, bankrupt like a clock? Because he must a-void, a-way, &c. 4. It has a similar sound at the end of words, either stop, or go on tick. 3. True reading sither with, or without an h: as, No-ah, Han-nah, Sa-rah, Af-ri- is true exposition. 4. Conceive the intensa. A-mer-i-ca, i-o-ta, dog-ma, &c. Beware of saying, No-er, Sa- tions of the author, and enter into the characry, &c. 5. It generally has this sound, when followed by a single in the same syllable: as, ar-son, ar-tist, &c.; also in star-ry, (full ter. 5. The sciences and mechanical arts are stars,) and tar-ry, (besmeared with tar.) the ministers of wisdom, not the end. 6. Do Education. The derivation of this word we love our friends more when present, or -will assist us in understanding its mean- absent? 7. All natural truths, which respect ing; it being composed of the Latin word the works of God in creation, are not only real -du-co, to lead or draw out. All develop-natural truths, but the glasses and containing ments, Joth of matter and spirit, are from principles of spiritual ones.

8. The means to be used, thus to make | to describe them to others with as muen ac known my feelings and thoughts, are tones,curacy as we do any external objects, which words, looks, actions, expression, and silence: we have seen with our material eyes. whence it appears, that the body is the grand medium of communication between myself and others; for by and through the body, are tones, words, looks, and gestures produced. Thus I perceive, that the mind, is the active agent, and the body, the passive agent; that this is the instrument, and that the performer: here I see the elements of mental and vocal philosophy.

9. The third sound of A is broad: ALL, wall, auc-tion, aus-pice; his vaul-ting daugh-ter haul'd the dau-phin in the sauce-pan; the pal-try sauce-box waltz'd in the tea-sau-cer; al-be-it, the mawk-ish au-thor, dined on

nau-se-ous sau-sa-ges; the au- [A in ALL.] burn pal-frey draws lau-rel plau-dits; his naugh-ty dwarf got the groat through the fau-cit; he thwar-ted the fal-chion and salted the shawl in false wa-ter; the law-less gaw-ky got in-stall'd in the au-tumn, and de-frau-ded the green sward of its bal-dric awn-ing.

Anecdote. Wild Oats. After the first speech, made by the younger Pitt, in the House of Commons, an old member sarcastically re marked,-"I apprehend that the young gentleman has not yet sown all his wild oats." To which Mr. Pitt politely replied, in the course of an elaborate and eloquent rejoinder, “Age

has its privilege, and the gentleman him self-affords an ample illustration, that I re tain food enough for GEESE to pick.”

Proverbs. 1. A calumny, tho' known to be such, generally leaves a stain on the reputation. 2. A blow from a frying pan, tho' it does not hurt, sullies. 3. Fair and softly, go sure and far. 4. Keep your business and conscience well, and they will be sure to keep you well. 5. A man knows no more, to any purpose, than he practices. 6. Bells call others to church, but enter not themselves. 7. Revenge a wrong by forgiving it. 8. Venture not all you have at once. 9. Examine your accounts and your conduct every night. 10. Call me cousin, but don't cozen me. 11. Eaglesfly alone, but sheep flock together. 12. It is good to begin well, but better to end well.

10. CURRAN, a celebrated Irish orator, pre- Theology—includes all religions, both sents us with a signal instance, of what can heathen and christian; and comprehends be accomplished by assiduity and persever- the study of the Divine Being, his laws ance: his enunciation was so precipitate and and revelations, and our duty towards Him confused, that he was called "stuttering Jack | and our neighbor. It may be divided into Curran." To overcome his numerous de- four grand divisions; viz. Paganism, Mahomfects, he devoted a portion of every day to edanism, Judaism, and Christianity. The reading and reciting aloud, slowly, and dis-study of Theology is the highest and noblest tinctly, some of the most eloquent extracts in in which we can be engaged: but a mere our language: and his success was so com-theoretical knowledge, like the sunbeam on olete, that among his excellencies as a speak- the mountain glacier, may only dazzle-to er, was the clearness of his articulation, and | blind; for, unless the heart is warmed with an appropriate intonation, that melodized love to God, and love to man, the coldness every sentence. and barrenness of eternal death will reign in the soul: hence, the all of Religion relates to life; and the life of Religion is―to do good

Notes. 1. To make this sound, drop and project the jaw, and shape the mouth as in the engraving: and when you wish to above, swell the windpipe, (which will elongate and enlarge the-for the sake of good. vocal chords,) and form the voice as low as possible in the larynx; for the longer and larger these chords are, the graver will be the voice: also, practice making sounds, while exhaling aud inhaling,

produce a very grave sound, in speech or song, in addition to the

Varieties. He, who studies books alone, will know how things ought to be; and he who studies men, will know how things are. 2. If you would relish your food, labor for it; if you would enjoy your raiment, pay for it before you wear it; if you wonld sleep sound

to deepen the tones. This sound is broader than the German a. 2. O sometimes has this sound: I thought he caught the cough, when he bought the cloth; he wrought, fought, and sought, but talked naught. 3. Beware of adding an r after w, as lawr, jawr, ap-palled at the thral-dom of Wal-ter Ra-leigh, who was al-mostly, take a clear conscience to bed with you.

fawr, &c. 4. The italic a in the following, is broad. All were

scald-ed in the cal-dron of boiling wa-ter.

3. The more we follow nature, and obey her Habits of thought. Thinking is to the laws, the longer shall we live; and the farmind what digestion is to the body. We ther we deviate from them, the sooner we may hear, read, and talk, till we are gray; shall die. 4. Always carry a few proverbs but if we do not think, and analyze our sub- with you for constant use. 5. Let compuljects, and look at them in every aspect, and sion be used when necessary; but deception see the ends, causes, and effects, they will be-never. 6. In China, physicians are always of little use to us. In thinking, however, we under pay, except when their patrons are must think clearly and without confusion, as sick; then, their salaries are stopped till health we would examine objects of sight, in order is restored. 7. All things speak; note well to get a perfect idea of them. Thinking-is the language, and gather wisdom from it. spiritually seeing; and we should always think of things so particularly as to be able

Nature-is but a name for an effect,

Whose cause-is God.

Proverbs. 1. All truths must not be told at

11. Words, I see, are among the principal | that one stove would save half the fuel means used for these important purposes; Mr. Y― being present, replied, "Sir, I wil and they are formed by the organs of voice: buy two of them, if you please, and then I these two things, then, demand my first and shall save the whole." particular attention, words and voice; words are composed of letters; and the voice, is the effect of the proper actions of certain parts of the body, called vocal organs, converting air into sound; which two mighty instruments, words and voice, must be examined analytially, and synthetically; without which cess I cannot understand any thing.

all times. 2. A good servant makes a good master. 3. A man in distress, or despair, does as much as ten. 4. Before you make a friend, eat a peck of salt with him. 5. Passion-will master you, if you pro-is good, but not formality. 7. Every tub must do not master your passion. 6. Form Friendship-cannot stand all on one side. 10. stand on its own bottom. 8. First come, first serv'd Idleness-is the hot-bed of vice and ignorance 11. He that will steal a pin, will steal a better thing. 12. If you lie upon roses when young, you will lie upon thorns when old.

[A in AT.]

12. The fourth sound of A is short: AT, aft, add; I had rath-er have a bar-rel of as-par-a-gus, than the en-am-el and ag-ate; the ca-bal for-bade the mal-efac-tor his ap-par-el-and javelin; Char-i-ty danc'd in the gran-a-ry with Cap-ri-corn; the mal-con-tents pass'd thro' Ath-ens in Feb-ru-ar-y; his cam-els quaff'd the Asphal-tic can-al with fa-cil-i-ty; plas-ter the fal-low-ground af-ter Jan-u-ar-y; the adage an-swers on the com-rade's staff; the plaid tas-sel is man-u-fac-tur'd in France; he at-tack'd the tar-iff with rail-le-ry, after he had scath'd the block and tack-le with his ac-id pag-en-try.

13. The more perfect the medium, the better will it subserve the uses of communication. Now, by analyzing the constituents of words and voice, I can ascertain whether they are in a condition, to answer the varied purposes for which they were given; and fortunately for me, while I am thus analyzing the sounds, of which words are composed, I shall, at the same time, become acquainted with the organs of voice and hearing, and gradually accustom them to the performance of their appropriate duties.

Notes. 1. To give the exact sounds of any of the vowels, take words, in which they are found at the beginning, and proceed as if you were going to pronounce the whole word, but stop the instant you have produced the vowel sound; and that is the true one. 2. Beware of clipping this, or any other sound, or changing it: not, I’kn go, you'kn see, they'kn come; but, I can go; you can see; they can come. 3. A, in ate, in verbs, is generally but in other parts of speech of more than one syllable, it is usually short; unless under some accent: as-intimate that to my intimate friend; educate that delicate and obstinate child; he calculates to aggravate the case of his affectionate and unfortunate wife; *he compassionate son meditates how he may alleviate the condition of his disconsolate mother; vindicate your consulate's honor; depre

long;

cate an unregenerate neart, by importunate prayer; the prel-ate and primate calculate to regulate the ultimates immediately. 4. Observe-that often the sounds of vowels are sometimes modified, changed, by letters immediately preceding or succeeding; which

may be seen, as it respects a, for instance, in ren-e-gade, mem-brane, ep-ro-tate, can-did-ate, po-ten-tate, night-in-gale, &c.: some having a slight accent on the last syllable; and others having the a preceded, or followed by a vocal consonant: see previous Note 3. 5. A letter is called short, when it cannot be prolonged in Speech,

(though it can in Song,) without altering its form; and long, when it can be prolonged without such change: therefore, we call a sound long, or short, because it is seen and felt to be so: as, cold, hot; pale, mat: in making a long sound the glottis is kept open indefinitely; and in making a short one, it is closed suddenly, produng an abrupt sound, like some of the consonants.

Anecdote. Saving Fuel. Some time ago, when modern stoves were first introduced, and offered for sale in a certain city, the vender remarked, by way of recommending them,

Qualifications of Teachers. Inas much as the nature of no one thing can be understood, without a knowledge of its origin, and the history of its formation, the qualifications of teachers are seen and felt to be so great, as to induce the truly conscientious to exclaim, in view of his duties, "Who is sufficient for these things?" How can we educate the child in a way appropriate to his state and relations, without a knowledge of his mental and physical structure? Is not a knowledge of psychology and physiology as necessary to the educator, as the knowledge of mechanics is to the maker or repairer of a watch? Who would permit a man even to repair a watch, (much less hire a man to make one,) who had only seen its externals? Alas! how poorly qualified are nine-tenths of our teachers for the stations they occupy! almost totally ignorant of the nature and ori gin of the human mind, and the science of physiology, which teaches us the structure and uses of the body. But how little they understand their calling, when they suppose it to be merely a teaching of book-knowledge; without any regard to the development of mind and body. A teacher should possess a good moral character, and entire self-control a fund of knowledge, and ability to commu nicate it; a uniform temper, united with decision and firmness; a mind to discriminate character, and tact to illustrate simply the studies of his pupils; he should be patient and forbearing; pleasant and affectionate, and be capable of overcoming all difficulties, and showing the uses of knowledge.

Varieties. 1. If one were as eloquent as an angel, he would please some folks, much more by listening, than by speaking. 2. An upright politician asks-what recommends a man; a corrupt one-who recommends him. 3. Is any law independent of its maker? 4. Kind words-cost no more than unkind ones 5. Is it not better to be wise than rich? 6 The power of emphasis-depends on concen tration. 7. Manifested wisdom-infers de sign.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »