Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by

MARK BAILEY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District of Connecticut.

Copyright, 1880, by MARK BAILEY.

AN

INTRODUCTORY TREATISE

ON

ELOCUTION;

WITH PRINCIPLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, ARRANGED FOR TEACHING

AND PRACTICE.

BY PROF. MARK BAILEY,

INSTRUCTOR OF ELOCUTION IN YALE COLLEGE.

PREFACE TO THE INTRODUCTION.

GOOD READING includes a mastery of the elements of language and elocution. Articulation and pronunciation must be not only distinct and accurate, but expressive. This last excellence cannot be attained by merely enunciating meaningless sounds and syllables. Too many such mechanical exercises kill the instinctive use and recognition of expressive tones which the child brings to school, and in the end completely divorce his elocution from the spirit and sense to which it should be inseparably wedded, and which alone can inspire natural expression. The child feels and thinks before he talks. Nature, in her teaching, begins with the idea, and in her repeated efforts to express the idea more perfectly, perfects

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by MARK BAILEY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.

Copyright, 1880, by MARK BAILEY.

the elementary parts of language and elocution. Let us enlist Nature into our service by following her teachings. Let even the earliest lesson in reading be enlivened by the aid of some idea familiar and interesting to the child. He knows the thing, the idea, "man," or "sun"; he has spoken the word. a thousand times, and he is pleased to learn that the mysterious art of reading is only conscious talking, that he is but analyzing, and sounding, and naming the unknown parts of a familiar whole. But especially with the advanced classes (which are expected to use the following work on elocution) would the author commend this practical method of improving the parts, with the immediate purpose of giving better expression to the whole, — of practising and perfecting the execution of the dead elements of elocution, in the life-giving light of inspiring ideas.

"There is in souls a sympathy with sounds."

This analogy in Nature between tones and sentiments is the central source from which the author has drawn the simple principles and hints which are given to aid teachers in their laudable efforts to cultivate in the school-room, and thus everywhere, a more natural and expressive elocution.

The art, embracing the expression of the whole range of human thoughts and feelings, from the earliest lispings of the child to the most impassioned and finished utterance of a Garrick or Siddons, covers too wide a field, and reaches too high a point in human culture, it is evident, to be all compressed into these few introductory pages; nor would the highest refinements of the art be practicable in the school-room if they could be here given. Yet such initial steps have been taken, and clearly marked out in the right direction towards the highest art, it is hoped, as will tempt many to go on farther in this interesting study of nature and art, till they see for themselves to what "rich ends our "most poor matters point."

M. B.