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PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION.

430 STYLE. The character of a person's Maxims. 1. It does not become a lavo-maker, style of reading and speaking depends upon to become a law-breaker. 2. Friendship is stronger his moral perceptions of the ends, causes, and than kindred. 3. Idleness is the sepulchre of a liv effects of the composition: thus, STYLE maying man. 4. An orator, without judgment, is like a be considered the man himself, and, as every horse without a bridle. 5. He that knows when to 8. Impose one sees and feels, with regard to everything, speak, knows when to be silent. 6. The truest end Wine has drowned more than .he sea. according to the state or condition of his of life-is to know the life that never ends. 7 not on others a burthen which you cannot bear mind, and as there are and can be no two persons alike; each individual will have a yourself. 9. He overcomes a stout enemy, that overcomes his own anger. 10. Study mankind manner and style peculiar to himself; tho' in the main, that of two persons of equal as well as books. education and intelligence, may be in a great degree similar.

Anecdote.

Note of Interrogation (?). Mr. Pope, the poet, who was small and deTHE'. When ques-formed, sneering at the ignorance of a young man, who was very inquisitive, and asked a good many impertinent questions, inquired of him if he knew what an interrogation point was? "Yes sir," said he, “it is a little crooked thing, like yourself, that asks ques tions."

431. RULES FOR tions are answered by yes or no, they generally require the'. Exs. Are you well? Is he gone? Have you got your hát? Do you say yes? Can he accommodate me? Will you call and see me? But when the questions are emphatic, or amount to an affirmative, the 'is used. Are you well? As much as to say tell me whether you are well. Is All given he gone? Have you done it? Hath he said in an authoritative manner. it, and shall he not do it? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? Is he a man, that he should repènt?

Ideas, acquired by taste-are compound and relative. If a man had never experi enced any change, in the sensation produced by external things, on the organs of taste, that which he now calls sweet, (if it had been the quality, subjected to the sense,) would have conveyed to the mind no possible idea; 432. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. Is the but, alternating with the quality we call bit-awakened by casket more valuable than the jewel? 2. ter, contrariety-produces the first impres Will not the safety of the community be en- sion, and he learns to distinguish the qualitics dangered, by permitting the murderer to live? by names. The sensation — 3. Are theatres-beneficial to mankind? 4. Madeira wine, must be very acute, to enable Did Napolean do more hurt than good to the a man to discriminate, accurately, without a world? 5. Were the Texans right-in re- very careful comparison. Let a particular belling against Mexico! 6. Ought the license kind of Madeira wine remain a few years on system to be abolished? 7. Is animal mag- the lees of many other kinds, and who would netism true? 8. Who was the greatest mon-detect the compound flavor, but the contriver 3 ster-Nero, or Catiline? 9. Should we act from policy, or from principle? 10. Is not the improvement of the mind, of the first importance?

Varieties. 1. Inspire a child with right feelings, and they will govern his actions: hence, the truth of the old adage, Example is better than precept. 2. The great difficulty Nature. Manis radiant with expressions. is, that we give rules, instead of inspiring Every feature, limb, muscle and vein, may sentiments; it is in vain to lead the undertell something of the energy within. The standing with rules, if the affections are not brow, smooth or contracted,―the eye, placid, right. 3. Benjamin West states, that his modilated, tearful, flashing,-the lip, calm, quiv-ther kissed him, eagerly, when he showed her ering, smiling, curled, the whole counten- the likeness he had sketched of his baby sisance, serene, distorted, pale, flushed,the ter; and, he adds,—that kiss made me a hand, with its thousand motions, the chest, painter. 4. Lay by all scraps of material still or heaving, the attitude, relaxed or firm, things, as well as of knowledge, and they cowering or lofty,-in short, the visible char-will certainly come in use within seven years. acteristics of the whole external man,-are 5. Gain all the information you can, learn all NATURE'S HAND-WRITING; and the tones and qualities of the voice, soft, low, quiet, broken, agitated, shrill, grave, boisterous,-are her ORAL LANGUAGE: let the student copy and learn. Nature is the goddess, and art and science her ministers.

Since trifles-make the sum of human things,
And half our misery-from our foibles springs;
Since life's bet joys-consist in peace and ease,
And few-can save or serve, but all-can please;
U let the ingentle spirit-learn from hence,-
A small unkindness-is a great offence.

that comes in your way, without being intrusive, and provided it does not interfere with the faithful discharge of other duties. 6. It was a maxim of the great William Jones, never to lose an opportunity of learning anything.

A wise man poor,

Is like a sacred book, that's never read;
To himself he lives, and to all else seems dead:
This age-thinks better of a gilded fool,
Than of a threadbare saint-in wisdom's school

433. STYLE. The numerous examples Maxims. 1. Punctuality begets confidence, given throughout this work, afford the neces- and is the sure road to honor and respect. 2. A sary means for illustrating all the principles picture is a poem, without words. 3. Sensible men of elocution: let the taste, and judgment, as show their sense, by saying much in few words well as the abilities of the student-be test-4. He, who thinks to cheat another, cheats him. ed by a proper selection and application of them. He must not expect too much from others, nor take it unkindly, when thrown upon his own resources: the best way to increase our strength, is to have it often tested. All who become orators, must make them-10. He, who serves God, has the best master i selves orators.

self. 5. Pride is easily seen in others; but we rarely see it in ourselves. 6. Wealth is not his who gets it, but his who enjoys it. 7. A bad boot should spring from charity, not from indifference 9. Too much prosperity makes most men fools

is one of the worst of thieves. 8. Toleration

the world. 11. One love drives another out. 12 Health is better than wealth.

Influence. Few are aware of the full ex

434. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. If we do well, shall we not be accepted? 2. Which is more useful, fire, or water? 3. Ought circumstantial evidence to be admitted in crim-tent of meaning contained in this word. If inal cases? 4. Can we be too zealous in rightly promoting a good cause? 5. Which is worse, a bad education, or no education? 6. Are not bigotry and intolerance-as destructive to morality, as they are to common sense? 7. Are we not apt to be proud of that which is not our own? 8. Ought there not to be duties on imported goods, to encourage domestic manufactures? 9. Is slavery right? 10. Have steamboats been the cause of more good than evil?

we can measure the kind and quantity of influence, that every variety of heat and cold has on the world of matter; if we can tell the influence, that one individual has on another, one society on another, and one nation on another, both for time and eternity; if we can estimate the influence, that spir itual beings have on one another, and on the human race, collectively, and separately; also the influence of the Great Spirit on all creation, then, we are able to see and realize 435. IGNORANCE AND ERROR. It is al- Contemplate and weigh the influence, that the mighty meaning of this important word. most as difficult to make one unlearn his er- different kinds of food and drink have on the rors, as to acquire knowledge. Mal-information is more hopeless than non-informa-innumerable parts; the influence on body human system, by being appropriated to its tion; for error is always more busy than ig- and mind of keeping and violating the laws norance. Ignorance-is a blank sheet, on of life, by thinking feeling, and acting; the which we may write; but error-is a scrib-influence, which a good or bad person has on bled one, from which we must first erase. his associates and also their influence on othIgnorance—is contented to stand still, with her back to the truth; but error-is more presumptuous, and proceeds in the same direction. Ignorance has no light, but error follows a false one. The consequence is, that error, when she retraces her footsteps, has farther to go, before she can arrive at the truth, than ignorance. Anecdote. Virtue before Riches. The-lowing, which he religiously observed; "Six inistocles-had a daughter, to whom two men were wishing to make love; one-was very rich, but a simpleton, and the other-poor, but a very wise man: the father preferred the latter, saying, "I would rather have a man without riches, than riches without a man." The primal duties-shine aloft. like stars; The charities, that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man, like flowers; The generous inclination, the just rule, Kind wishes, and good actions, and pure thoughts. No mystery is here; no special boon

For hig, and not for low; for proudly graced,
And not for meek of heart. The smoke ascends
To heaven as lightly from the cottage hearth,
As from the haughty palace. He, whose soul
Ponders this true equality, may walk
The fields of earth-with gratitude and hope.

Our wishes lengthen-as our sun declines.

ers, through all coming time, as well as in the eternal world, and you will perceive something of the importance of ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well; of living and practicing what is good and true, and thereby being saved from all that is evil and false.

Varieties. 1. Lord Coke-wrote the fol

hours to sleep, to law's great study six, Four spend in prayer, the rest to nature fix." 2. hours of life, amended the sentiment thus; Wm. Jones, a wiser economist of the fleeting Seven hours to law, to soothing slumbers seven, Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven. 3. The truly beautiful and sublime are to be found within the regions of nature and probability: the false sublime sets to itself no bounds: it deals in thunders, earthquakes, tempests, and whirlwinds. 4. Is it any pain for a bird to fly, a fish to swim, or a boy to play? 5. Confound not vociferation with emphatic expression; for a whisper may be as discriminating as the loudest tones 6. Speech-is the gift of God. 7. Orderthe same in the world, in man, and in the church; man-is an epitome of all the prin ciples of order.

PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION.

Maxims. 1. Revenge, however sweet, is
dearly bought. 2. Life is half spent, before we
know what it is to live. 3. The world is a work-
shop, and the wise only know how to use its tools.
4. A man is valued, as he makes himself valuable.
5. Heaven is not to be had, merely by wishing for
it. 6. As often as we do good, we sacrifice. 7. Be
matter. 8. Hearts may agree, tho' heads may dif
careful to keep your word, even in the most trifling
fer. 9. Honest men are easily bound; but you can
never bind a knave. 10. Experience keeps a fear
school; but fools will learn in no other.

Anecdote.

Some

Curious Patriotism.
years ago, one of the convicts at Botany Bay,
wrote a FARCE, which was acted with much
applause in some of the theatres. Barring
ton, the notorious pick-pocket, wrote the
prologue; which ended with these lines:

436. STYLE, &c. To accomplish your object, study the true meaning and character of the subject, so as to express the whole, in such a way as to be perfectly understood and felt thus, you will transport your hearers to the scene you describe, and your earnestness raise them on the tiptoe of expectation, and your just arguments sweep everything before them like a MOUNTAIN torrent: to ex cile, to agitate, and delight, are among the most powerful arts of persuasion: but the impressions must be enforced on the mind by a command of all the sensibilities and sympathies of the soul. That your course may be ever upward and onward, remember, none but a GOOD man can be a perfect orator; uncorrupted and incorruptible integrity is one True patriots we; for, be it understood, We left our country-for our country's good. of the most powerful engines of persuasion. 437. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. Is any Ignorance-Willfulness. The ignor government-as important as the principles it should protect and extend? 2. Should we ant-oppose without discrimination. Harremain passive, when our country, or politi-vey, for asserting the circulation of the blood, cal rights are invaded? 3. Are banks beneficial? 4. Have the crusaders been the cause of more evil than good? 5. Was the war waged against the Seminoles of Florida, just? 6. Which is the more important acquisition, wealth, or knowledge? 7. Is there any neutral ground between good and evil, truth and falsehood? 8. Which should we fear most, the commission of a crime, or the fear of punishment? 9. By binding the understanding, and forcing the judgment, can we mend the heart? 10. When proud people meet together, are they not always unhappy? 11. Is not common sense a very rare and valuable article? 12. What is the use of a body, without a soul?

438. MANNER AND MATTER. The secret
of success in Music, as well as in Elocution,
is, to adapt the manner perfectly to the mat-
ter: if the subject be simple, such must be
the manner: if it be gay and lively, or solemn
and dignified, such, or such must be the
manner in addition to which, the performer
must forget himself, or rather lose himself in
the subject, body and soul, and show his re-
gard to his audience, by devoting himself to
the subject: and hence he must never try to
show himself off: but hide behind the thought
and feeling, and depend upon them to pro-
dyce the effect: if there is any affectation,
the hold on the heart is in that proportion
relinquished. Oh, when shall we take our
appropriate place and regard use as the grand
object!

But sure to foreign climes-we need not range,
Nor search the ancient records of our race,
To learn-the dire effect of time-and change,
Which, in ourselves, alas! we daily trace;
Yet, at the darkened eye, the withered face,
Or hoary hair-1 never will repine;

But spare, O Time! whate'er of mental grace,
Of candor, love, or sympathy divine;

hate'er of fancy's ray, or friendship's fame is mine.
BRONSON.

11

was styled a vagabond, a quack; and perse-
cuted, through life, by the medical profession,
In the time of Francis I., Ambrose Pare-in-
troduced the ligament, to staunch the blood
of an amputated limb, instead of boiling hot
pitch, in which the bleeding stump had for-
merly been dipped; and he was persecuted,
with the most relentless rancour, by the Fa-
culty, who ridiculed the idea-of risking a
man's life upon a thread, when boiling pitch
had stood the test for centuries. Medicines
have been proscribed as poison, and then pre-
scribed in great quantities; the proscriptions
and prescriptions being both adopted with
equal ignorance and credulity. There is no
hope for man, but a thorough and correct
education in the school of truth and goodness.

Varieties. 1. Does the nature of things depend on the matter, of which they are formed; or on the laws of constitution, by which matter is arranged? 2. Is not vegetable matter formed from oxygen and hydrogen; and animal matter from these two and carbon? But what are their constituent parts? Were their essences created, or are they eternal? 3. What large portions of the world there are of which we know compara. tively nothing! and although we are familiar with our bodies, externally, yet how little of their internals do even the best physiologists know? 4. How much is really known of the nature of mind? and yet there is presumption enough in some, to decide at once, upon all the phenomena of the mind, and prescribe its limits. 5. Thus, man clothes himself with his fanciful knowledge, and plays such insane tricks before the world. make the angels weep.

The fisher-is out on the suunyn,

And the reindeer-bounds o'er the pasture free;
And the pine-has a fringe of a softer green,

And the moss-looks bright, where my foot hath been

PRINCIPLES OF ELCCUTION.

portance. 5. Our states of mind differ as much as our spirits and temper. 6. Death-cannot kill what never dies, mutual love. 7. If you will les, 8. Open rebuke is better than secret love. 9. not hear reason, she will rap you over your knuck Good counsel is thrown away on the arrogan and self-conceited. 10. He, who resolves to amend, has God, and a good beings on his ride.

439. EFFECTIVE STYLE. The more your Maximns. 1. Happiness is the shadow Ź reading and speaking partake of the freedom contentment, and rests, or moves forever with it and ease of common discourse, (provided original 2. A drop of wisdom is worth a tun of you sustain the object and life of the compo- riches. 3. Whatever does not stand with credia, sition) the more just, natural, and effective will not stand long. 4. Business must be attend will be your style of delivery: hence the need to, at the expense of every thing else of less im cessity of studying nature, of avoiding all affectation, and of never attempting that in public, which is beyond your ability. Some mar, or spoil what they are going to say, by making so much ado over it, thinking they must do some great thing; when it isal most as simple as-wash and be clean: whatever is not natural is not agreeable or persuasive. 440. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. 1. Were any beings ever created angels? 2. Is it right ever to do wrong? 3. Why was a revalation necessary? 4. May we not protect our person and character from assault? 5. Does civilization increase happiness? 6. Which excites more curiosity, the works of nature, or the works of art? 7. Ought a witness to be questioned with regard to his religious opinions, or belief? 8. Was the general bankrupt law a benefit to the country? 9. Why are we disposed to laugh, even when our best friend falls down? 10. Which is the greatest, faith, hope, or charity? 11. Should controversy interrupt our friendship and esteem for each other? 12. Have christians any right to persecute each other for their opinions?

Anecdote. Vanity Reproved "I am very thankful, that my mouth has been opened to preach without any learning," said an illiterate preacher, in speaking against educating ministers, to preach the gospel. A gentleman present replied, "Sir, a similar event took place in Baalam's time."

Education-should give us command of every faculty of body, and mind-call out all change the creatures of impulse, prejudice our powers of observation and reflection, and passion, to thinking, reasoning, and lov ing beings; lead to objects of pursuits, and habits of conduct, favorable to the happiness of every individual, and to the whole world, and multiply all the means of enjoyment, and diminish every temptation to vice and sensuality; and true education will do all this,

441. It is much to be regretted, that our Varieties. 1. What is moral virtue? 2 tachers are sò illy qualified to instruct their The greatest danger to public liberty, is from pupils even in the first rudiments of reading: vice and idleness. 3. He, that showeth merand they are all so much inclined to fall into CV, shall receive mercy. 4. Never attempt bad habits, and the imitation of faulty speak anything more, than there is a prospect of ers, that it requires constant watchfulness to accomplishing. 5. Should not beasts-as keep clear of the influences of a wrong bias, well as men, be treated with kindness? 6. and false, and merely arbitrary rules. We Rational liberty-is diametrically opposed never can succeed in this important art, until to the wildness of anarchy. 7. We should we take elementary instruction out of the never ascribe bad motives, when we can suphands of ignoramuses, and insist upon hav-pose good ones. 8. Nothing is more prejuing persons fully competent to take charge than uncertain and varying policy. 9. Is dicial to the great interests of a nation, of the cause. Away then with the idea, that any one can teach reading and speaking, casion? 10. Prefer the evident interests of it lawful-to contend with others, on any oc merely because he can call the letters, and the community, to the suggestims of the next to godliness. pride of consistency. 10. Cleanliness--↳

speak the words so as to be understood.

Operating Circumstances. We are too apt, in estimating a law, passed at a remote period, to combine in our consideration, all the subsequent events, which have had an influence upon ; instead of conforming ourselves, as we ought, to the circumstances, existing at the time of its passage.

So live, that, when thy summons comes-to join
The innumerable caravan, that moves

To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber-in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave, at night,
Scurged to his dungeon; but, sustained and soothed
By an infaltering trust, approach thy grave,
Like one, who wraps the drapery of bis couch
Abou' him, and lies down-to phasant dream.

Why have those banished and forbidden legs
Dared once to touch a dust of England's ground>
But more than why-Why have they dared to march
So many miles upon her peaceful bosom ;
Frightening her pale-faced villagers with war,
And ostentation of despised arms?
Comest thou because the anointed king is hence?
Why, foolish boy, the king is left behind,
And in my loyal bosom lies his power.
Were I but now the lord of such hot youth
As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself,
Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of man.
From forth the ranks of many thousand French;
Oh, then, how quickly should this arm of min
Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee,
And minister ourrection to thy fault!

Maxims. 1. Old age and faded flowers, no remedies can revive. 2. Something should be learned every time a book is opened. 3. A truly great man never puts away the simplicity of the child. 4. The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man-perfected, without adversity. 5 The full stomach cannot realize the evils of hunger. 6. When thought is agitated, truth rises. 7. A child requires books, as much as the merchant docs goods. 8. Learn by the vices of others, how detestable your own are. 9. Judge not of men or things, at first sight. 10. Reprove thy friend pri vately, and commend him publicly.

442 ELOQUENCE. What were all the attribut es of man, his personal accomplishments, and his boasted reason, without the taculty of SPEECH? To excel in its use is the highest of human arts. It enables man to govern whole nations, and to enchant, while he governs. The aristocracy of Eloquence is supreme, and, in a free country, can never be subdued. It is the pride of peace, and the glory of war: it rides upon the zephyr's wings, or thunders in the storm. But there is in eloquence, in painting, the life of the canvas, which breathes, moves, speaks, and is full of action: so is there in the dance, the poetry and music of motion, attorneys overtaking a wagoner, with two Anecdote. Sharp Reply. Two country the eloquence of action; whose power con- span of horses, and, thinking to be witty at sists in the wonderful adaptation of the gra- his expense, asked him, "How it happened, ces of the body to the harmonies of mind. that his forward horses were so fat, and the There is eloquence in every object of taste, rear ones so lean?" The wagoner, knowboth in art and nature; in sculpture, garing them, answered, "That his fore span dening, architecture, poetry and music; all were lawyers, and the other-clients." of which come within the scope and plan of the orator, that he may comprehend that intellectual relation, that secret clause in the liberal professions, which, connecting one with another, combines the influence of all. Virtue, alone, ennobles human kind,

And power-should on her glorious footsteps wait.
Wisdom-finds tongues-in trees; books-in run-
ring streams; sermons-in stones, and GOOD-in
verything.

You pride you-on your golden hue;
[too.
Know-the poor glow-worm-hath its brightness
When men of judgment—feel, and creep their way,
The positive-pronounce-without delay.

"Tis good, and lovely, to be kind;
But charity-should not be blind.

A little learning-is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep-or taste not the Pierian spring?
There, shallow draughts-intoxicate the brain,
But, drinking largely, sobers us again.
Ah me! the laureled wreath, that murder wears,
Blood-nursed and watered with the widow's tears,
Seems not so foul,-so tainted,-and so dead,
As waves the night-shade round the sceptic's bed.
443. MUSIC is the oral language of the
affections; as words are the natural language
of the thoughts. The notes of a tune are
analogous to letters; the measures-to words;
the strains to sentences; and the tune, or
musical piece, to a discourse, oration, or po-
em. As there is a great variety of affections,
and states of affection in the human mind,
so there is a great variety of tunes, through
the medium of which these affections, and
states of affection are manifested. There
are three grand divisions of music, which,
for the sake of distinction, may be denomin-
ated the upper, or that which relates to the
Supreme Being; the middle, or that relating
to created, rational beings, or social music;
and the lower, or what appertains to that
part of creation below man-called descrip-
Live music.

Ambition is like love,-impatient-
Both of delays,—and rivals.

Selfishness-seems to be the complex of all vices. The love of self, when predominant, excludes all goodness, and perverts all truth. It is the great enemy of individuals, societies, and communities. It is the cause of all irritation, the source of all evil. Peo

ple, who are always thinking of themselves, have no time to be concerned about others; their own pleasure or profit, is the pivot, on which everything turns. They cannot even conceive of disinterestedness, and will laugh to scorn all, who appear to love others, as well as themselves. Selfishness-is the very essence of the first original sin, and it must be corrected, or we are lost.

Varieties. 1. The wind, the falling of water, humming of bees, a sweet voice reading monotonously, tend to produce sleep; this is not so much the case with musical tones. 2. The trilling and quivering of the voice, which please so much, correspond to the glittering of light: as the moonbeams playing on the waves. 3. Falling from a discord to a concord, which produces so much sweetness in music, correspond to the affections, when brought out of a state of dislike; and also with the taste; which is soon cloyed with what is sweet alone. 4. Music has great effect on mind and body, making us warlike or the reverse, soft and effeminate, grave and light, gentle, kind and pitiful, &c., according to its nature, and perform ance; the reason is, because hearing is more closely associated with feeling or spirits, than the other senses. Observe the effect of Yankee Doodle, God save the King, Marseilles Hymn, &c. 5. When music speaks to the affection, affection obeys, as when nature speaks, nature replics.

Let gratitude-in acts of goodness flow;
Our love to God, in love to man below,
Be this our joy-to calm the troubled breast,
Support the weak, and succor the distress'd⚫
Direct the wand'rer, dry the widow's tear;
The orphan guard, the sinking spirit cheer.
Tho' small our power to act, tho' small our skill,
God-sees the heart; he judges-by the will.

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