28

187

There's yet another verse, call'd Semipause,
One line contains four stops,—Observe its laws;
"Warms' in the sun, refreshes' in the breeze,
Glows' in the stars, and blossoms' in the trees.'
Writing.

Do you desire in Writing to excel?

Let these remarks, be first then studied well;
Your Capitals, as letters small should lean,
And rather more than twice their height be seen.

189

Those letters which have stems, as I and d,
Compar'd with small, just twice their height should be.
Make dots to i and j, the height of 1;

The loop of f is higher when made well.

190

The stems and loops of j, f, y, and g,
Are nearly thrice as long as n to be
The letter t, two-thirds of the l's stem,
And cross'd, with f, in line with top of m.

191

These general rules observe, as strictly right,
And join small letters at one-third their height;
All up and down strokes too, take care to pen,
At equal distance, like a well form'd n.

192

We now conclude,—and should some say, In vain I seek to learn, my head can ne'er retain

A Song so long,—'tis courage that you need,—

Try, try again,"-I'm sure you will succeed.

193

See mountains levell'd, and the vallies fill'd,—
To small impressions do they daily yield.
By single stones, our mighty structures rear
Their tow'ring heads, and all through PERSEVERE.

PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION.

RULES

FOR A COURSE OF DISCIPLINE,

TO AID IN

OBTAINING THE ART OF READING, AND SPEAKING EXTEMPORE.

"To change the awkward gait to ease and grace,
Suppress the crimson of the blushing face,
Correct the errors thwarted nature gave,
Or those indulged by habit's early slave,
For these we learn the grave or comic verse—
The bold harangue pronounce, the tale rehearse.
Hence we are taught to shun the sullen tone
Dull as the ceaseless humming of the drone;
To let the speech run tripping on the tongue,
And add new music to the poet's song;
While artful pause and emphasis combine
To bid each charm with double lustre shine."

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

THAT our language has its faults and imperfections it would be folly to deny. These have been often pointed out; and when well considered may tend to its improvement; but its excellencies, particularly its great power and beauty, have never been more effectively stated than by the late Earl of Moira, when Governor-General of India. At one of the anniversary meetings of the College of Fort-William, in Calcutta, when the prizes were distributed to the students for proficiency in the Asiatic tongues, his Lordship thus eloquently and justly eulogized his own:

"It may appear singular, that on a day professedly devoted to applaud and stimulate proficiency in the Asiatic languages, I should beg permission to expatiate for a few minutes on our English tongue.

"Regard it not I beseech you, as the mere medium of ordinary intercourse. It is a mine whence you may extract the means of enchanting, instructing, and improving communities yet nameless, and generations yet unborn. Our English language has never had adequate tribute paid to it. Among the languages of modern Europe, specious but subordinate pretensions have been advanced to cadence, terseness, or dextrous ambiguity of insinuation, while the sober majesty of the English tongue stood aloof and disdained a competition on the ground of such inferior particularities. I even think that we have erred with regard to Greek and Latin, our sense of the inestimable benefit we have reaped from the treasures of taste and science, which they have handed down to us, has led us into an extravagance of reverence for them. They have high intrinsic merit without doubt, but it is a bigoted gratitude, and an undue admiration, which seduces us to prostrate the character of the English tongue before their altars.

Every language can furnish to genius casually, a forcible expression; and a thousand turns of neatness and delicacy may be found in most of them; but I will confidently assert, that, in that which should be the first object of all languages, precision, the English tongue surpasses them all, while in richness of colouring and extent of power, it is exceeded by none, if equalled by any. What subject is there within the boundless range of imagination, which some British author has not clothed in British phrase, with a nicety of definition, an accuracy of portraiture, a brilliancy of tint, a delicacy of discrimination, and a force of impression, which must be sterling, because every other nation of Europe as well as our own, admits their perfection with enthusiasm! Are the fibres of the heart to be made to tremble with anxiety, to glow with animation, to thrill with horror, to startle with amaze, to shrink with awe, to throb with pity, or to vibrate in sympathy with the tone of pictured love,-know ye not the mighty magicians of our country, whose potent spell has commanded, and continues irresistibly to command, those varied impulses? Was it a puny engine, a feeble art, that achieved such wondrous workings? What was the sorcery? Justly conceived collocation of words is the whole secret of this witchery, a charm within the reach of any one of you; and remember that there was a period, not remote, when all these recorded beauties of our language were a blank, were without form and void. The elements of those compositions, which now so uncontrollably delight and elevate our minds, existed; but they existed as dormant powers, inert capacities: they were the unconnected notes of the gamut; the untouched strings of the harp. The music was in the instrument; but the master's hand had not thrown itself across the chords to arouse them from their slumber, and bid them scatter ecstacies. Then, do you make trial of their force; fear not that the combinations are exhausted. Possess yourself of the necessary energies, and be assured you will find the language exuberant beyond the demand of your intensest thought."

PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION.

and

THE general principles of a good Elocution, are, a proper management of the voice, expressive variations of countenance, and graceful attitudes of body; its essential qualities are a correct pronunciation, a distinct utterance, a judicious employment of pauses, emphasis, and inflections, and a prompt adaptation of tones, looks, and gestures, to the various passions, sentiments, and figures of speech, which enrich, adorn, and diversify a popular oration.

Before the Student can attempt to become an orator, he must be sure that he is a good reader. Clear articulation, proper accent, judicious emphasis, and suitable tones, are not to be acquired without patient and diligent attention.

The following rules and illustrations are added for the purpose of facilitating these attainments:

RULE 1. Pronounce every word, consisting of more syllables than one with its proper accent.

See Grammar ver. 102.

2. In every sentence distinguish the more significant words by a natural and forcible emphasis. See Grammar, ver. 106. 3. Relieve your voice at every stop; observing the rule for punctuation.-See Grammar, ver. 117, &c.

4. In reading, begin gently, let the tone of the voice, be natural and easy, but, with sufficient force to be heard by every auditor in the assembly.

5. Vary the voice, according to the nature of the subject; the solemn, the serious, the vehement, the familiar, the humorous, or the ironical.