II. DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT.

Direction is the line or course in which any thing moves. In calisthenics or gesture, direction is the course which the arm, hand, etc., takes with regard to the body, and is named both from the side of the person where it ends, and from the degree of elevation which this ending or climax attains.

All gestures made before one are called "front," those made directly to the right or left are called “extended;" those made between the "front” and “extended" are called "oblique," and, lastly, those made back of the extended are called "back-oblique," or "backward." With regard to the elevation, all gestures or motions whose climax or ending is on a horizontal line with the shoulders, are called horizontal; all that have their climax or ending below the horizontal are called descending; and all above the horizontal are called ascending.

Hence we have twelve different points of direction:

I. 1. Descending front.

2. Horizontal front.

3. Ascending front.

II. 1. Descending oblique. 2. Horizontal oblique. 3. Ascending oblique.

III. 1. Descending extended.

2. Horizontal extended.

3. Ascending extended. IV. 1. Descending backward.

2. Horizontal backward. 3. Ascending backward.

III. ORDER OF MOVEMENT.

By order of movement is meant the successive order in which the right or left hand, arm, etc., are used in action. For convenience, Order has been given as No. 1 Single, and No. 2 Double.

Single order is when the motions are made first with the right arm or hand; then with the left, each a certain number of times; second, alternate with the right and left a corresponding number of times; and third, a simultaneous action of the right and left the same number of times. Example: thrusting with the right hand twice, with the left twice, alternate twice, and simultaneous twice.

Double order is made with the hands simultaneously, changing only the directions during the exercises; i. e., make

a certain number of motions in some one direction with both hands, then in another direction with both hands, thus continuing until the exercise is completed. Example: thrust both hands down front twice, up front twice, alternate up and down twice; then twice to the right, twice to the left; then alternate right and left twice.

IV. MANNER OF MOVEMENT.

The manner of movement in calisthenics or gesture may be direct or rotary: direct, when the point of direction in the climax is attained in a straight or direct line, and rotary when by a roundabout or rotary motion.

V. TIME OF MOVEMENT.

In these exercises there should be a regularly recurring accent of motion or rhythm. The outward motion in many exercises will most naturally receive the accent, and can be timed in various ways: by counting in quadruple time, by tapping with pointer or cane, or by music itself in quadruple time. If counting is preferred, and a class is to practice, let all count, accenting the odd numbers to eight, or, substituting and for the unaccented part, count four; thus, ONE and, Two and, THREE and, FOUR and; again, ONE and, etc., over and over again until the exercise is finished.

B 2

ARTICULATION.

THE principal defects of articulation consist of a uniformly weak or thick utterance, lisping and stammering.

1. A weak manner of speech may arise from ill health or lassitude, from diffidence or embarrassment, from indolence or affectation. In cases of weakness, health must be improved before any great change can be made in the voice power. Such exercise in respiration, intonation, and calisthenics as can be borne from day to day, will greatly aid in regaining strength if the weakness is chiefly in the lungs. Indeed, tendencies toward consumption have, in many instances, been overcome by judicious vocal training.

If weakness of utterance arises from diffidence, let no opportunity pass that will overcome want of confidence. Conversation, recitation, declamation, singing, and dialogues. should be engaged in, however irksome the task, and whatever failures accrue. If it arises from embarrassment, keep the lungs well filled or inflated, and there will follow comparative self-possession. When the defect arises from indolence or affectation, there is little hope of remedy.

2. A thick manner of utterance is sometimes the result of malformation, or accidental injury of the vocal organs. In such cases permanent cures are rare. Surgical operations will remove any superfluous growth, but for an absence of parts there is no chance of remedy. A thick manner of speech is often the result of intemperance in the use of liquors, tobacco, snuff, or other drugs, and can only be cured by abstemiousness, exercise, and cleanliness of the head-cavities, chest, and throat. The mucous linings of the headcavities may become thickened by catarrhal difficulties, and produce thickness of speech.

3. Lisping is the habit of substituting th soft for s and z. It can be cured if the lisper has sufficient will-power and patience. Practice faithfully, two or three times a day, a list of words containing s and z, and th. Care should be taken

that the tip of the tongue be pressed lightly against the edges of the upper incisor teeth to produce th, and against the gums of the same upper teeth to produce the sound of s. Besides the practice, every lisp in reading, speaking, or conversing should be corrected when made.*

*Lisping really belongs under "defects by substitution," but has been

considered worthy of special study.

4. Stammering is caused by diffidence, embarrassment, or an attempt at speech without proper control of the vocal organs. To overcome this defect is more difficult than that of lisping. The stammerer should keep the lungs well inflated while speaking, and try to be hopeful, cheerful, and self-confident. First, the stammerer must believe that he can be cured, not despairing with any number of failures, but energetically persevering in the exercises as directed. There should be systematic training in all the tables belonging to Orthophony, particularly on those in respiration, intonation, and calisthenics, in order to obtain control of the voluntary muscles.

Note.-Some people's thoughts outrun their pover of utterance, and they stammer because all the words can not come forth at once. It is a fact worthy of attention that stammerers seldom stammer when singing. Is it not because the words are arranged in proper order and time without their assistance, thus relieving them of all responsibility? It is the same with poetry. Cures have been performed by repeating lines of poetry, giving the rhythmical accent, and keeping time with the finger. At every repetition increase the speed. Try this three times a day, sleep enough, live temperately in all things, do nothing to prostrate the nervous system, and the chances are you will recover.

Example.

"Come back! come back!' he cried in grief,

Across the stormy water,

'And I'll forgive your highland chief,

My daughter-oh my daughter !'"