GENERAL HINTS TO THE READER AND THE SPEAKER. The most eloquent manner of reading and of speaking, is the most easy of attainment, if sought for through the proper channel; for it is as simple as it is natural. But many who aim at it, fail by the very efforts adopted to gain it. They overreach the mark. They shoot too high. Instead of breathing forth their sentiments in the fervid glow of simple nature, which always warms, and animates, and interests the hearer, they work themselves up into a sort of frigid bombast, which chills and petrifies him. One, therefore, who would read well, or who would speak well-who would interest, rivet the attention, convince the understanding, and excite the feelings of his hearers-needs not expect to do it by any extraordinary exertion or desperate effort; for genuine eloquence is not to be wooed and won by any such boisterous course of courtship, but by more gentle means. If one would become glowing and truly eloquent, he must rise naturally with his subject, and without betraying the least art or effort. As in grammar and rhetorick, so in eloquence, defects are artificial; original beauties are natural. It is, therefore, a great mistake to suppose that visible art can do any thing towards making an orator, or an eloquent reader. Cultivation may do much. The rules of every science, as far as they are just and useful, are founded in nature, or in good usage. Hence, their adoption and application tend to free us from our artificial defects, all of which may be regarded as departures from the simplicity of nature. Let the student in elocution, then, bear in mind, that whatever is artificial, is unnatural, and whatever is unnatural, is directly opposed to genuine eloquence. ner. The reader must not suppose, however, that, in cautioning him against an artificial and frigid vehemence of style in elocution, any countenance is given to a cold and indifferent manA slight degree of extravagant warmth, is far more endurable than lifeless dulness and tameness. Notwithstanding all the precautions proper to be observed, therefore, the reader or speaker should not fail to enter with glowing fervour into the spirit of the sentiments which he utters. He should always be in EARNEST; and then, if his manner is simple, natural. sasy, and dignified, it cannot fail of being eloquent. In reading, one should not confine his eyes too much to the book. By this puerile practice, one-half of the effect of his elocution is lost. A good reader has his eyes directed to his hearers, nearly as much as to his book. Great effect may also be produced, by occasionally casting his eyes upon some of the most distant persons in the room. This is, as it were, to hold a closer communion with them, by which their interest in what is read, is greatly increased. HINTS ON THE ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT. The dignity and importance of this subject require that it always be approached with solemn awe; but the very sacredness of the theological office, has betrayed many a one into a false notion of its true dignity and sanctity. A few, brief remarks, therefore, which go to point out some of the most prominent errours and defects in delivery, prevalent among the clergy of our country, may not be unworthy the attention of young men who are just entering upon the duties of the ministry. There is not, perhaps, a more common errour of delivery, displayed by him who officiates in the sacred desk, than an af fected air of sanctimonious solemnity. This is often exhibited in mien, gesture, and tone. But the preacher who is filled with the grandeur and importance of his subject-who considers that his object is, to convince his hearers of the truth of the sublime doctrines of the Bible, and to persuade them to act in conformity to that conviction, will find no time for laying aside his natural tones and mien, but will enter upon his labours in the true spirit and dignity of native simplicity. Affectation, like all other evils, is contagious. Many adopt an affected tone and manner merely by imitating a bad precedent, and are not aware that they are thus tainted. Hence, it would be well for a young speaker often to consider, whether he has not mistaken, and adopted, some affected habits for natural graces. If his tones, gestures, and enunciation generally, closely resemble those he would employ in familiar and earnest discourse with others, they may commonly be regarded as natural. Affectation in the pulpit, is fashionable. This allusion is not made in reference to that affectation of prettiness, adopted by the weak and silly, nor that of sanctimonious austerity and pompous dignity, displayed by the bigoted and hypocritical, but in allusion to that affectation which shows itself in sectarian tone or cant. There is a baptist tone or cant, a methodist cant, a presbyterian cant, an episcopalian cant, a catholick cant, and a quaker cant; but as there is no religion in any of these cants, as they are all disagreeable to a chaste ear, and degrading to the true dignity of pulpit eloquence, the young clergyman would do well to avoid them. Though not unfrequently rude and boisterous, yet our methodist preachers are more effective in their manner of delivery than the more polished and scholastick clergy of some other sects. Who has not observed, that with less learning, but more zeal, with less argument, but more fervour, with less formality, but more vehemence, the former often accomplish more than the latter? And what is the cause of this singular difference? One very plain reason is, in their manner, they are more NATURAL. Having drawn their information more from men than books, the knowledge of the former is more practical in its cast than that of the latter; and for this reason, they can apply it to greater advantage, and effect more with small means, than others do with means more ample. If they have not the advantage of scientifick acquirements and literary polish, neither do they labour under the disadvantage of scholastick stiffness and coldness. Although extravagance, and rant, and bawling, and bombast, are by no means commendable in these "fairspoken days," yet, who would not rather have a preacher breathe forth flames like the mares of Diomedon, and lay about him like a mad dragon from the marshes of Lerna, than to come upon them with frigid gusts from the top of mount Ural, and congeal them into an iceberg? But without stretching farther this chain of unwelcome comparisons, it may be proper to notice one advantage which pulpit eloquence derives from a quarter whence it would seem to be little expected, and that is, from the peculiar habits of "cir cuit riders." They who follow this course of itinerancy, gen erally acquire, in no small degree, what the clergy of other denominations greatly need-a knowledge of human nature: and in this we may perceive an illustration of that grand, equalizing principle laid down by the great Dispenser of all good, by the operation of which, all his creatures, provided they make a proper use of the means placed within their reach, possess nearly an equal chance for usefulness and happiness. If many of our learned divines would study human nature more, and books less, think more, and write less, extemporize more in the pulpit, and read less in it, seek a closer walk with God, and more frequent walks among their parishioners, they would doubtless become far more eloquent and far more useful. QUESTIONS. Of what does chapter 6, treat? What characteristicks of delivery are included under the term, action ? What kind of action is most highly recommended? What kind of language is conveyed by gesticulation and expression of countenance? What is said of art and cultivation in action ?—What, of copying from others?-What should be the leading object of a publick speaker? What constitutes a proper dignity of mien? What should a speaker do with his eyes? In order to become glowing and truly eloquent, what is requisite in a speaker? Does visible art assist in oratory? Does cultivation? On what are the rules of science founded? What is said of a slight degree of extravagant warmth in a speaker? -Should he always be in earnest? What is said about confining the eyes too much to the book in read ing? Is an affected manner admissible in a preacher ?—What then? Is it important that a clergyman possess a critical knowledge of hu man nature? PART II. CHAPTER I. SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY SECTION I. SELECT PARAGRAPHS. Beautiful Metaphor.-IRVING. 1. It is interesting to notice how some minds seem almost to create themselves', springing up under every disadvantage', and working their solitary', but irresistible', way through a thousand obstacles'. Nature seems to delight in disappointing the assiduities of art', with which it would rear legitimate dulness to maturity', and to glory in the vigour and luxuriance of her chance productions'. She scatters the seeds of genius to the winds, and', though some may perish among the stony places of the world', and some be choked by the thorns and brambles of early adversity', yet', others will now and then strike root even in the clefts of the rock', struggle bravely up into sunshine', and spread over their steril birthplace all the beauties of vegetation'. REMARKS ON SECTION I. Articulation.-In reading these selections, the first thing to be attended to, is a clear and distinct articulation of every word, and every syllable, and every letter of each syllable, silent letters only excepted. Modulation. The second important requisite is, to vary the intonation with all the different modulations of the voice which a just and a happy elocution requires. This direction refers to all the varied movements of the voice, considered in regard to pitch, tone, inflection, stress, and cadence, and especially to the prolongation of the tonick and subtonick elements. Inflection. In reading the 1st paragraph, the rising inflection takes place at the words. " disadvantage," "maturity," and "sunshine," in accordance with Rule 7, page 82; and the falling, is made at "them selves" and "winds," agreeably to Exception 1, to Rule 7. The rising inflection occurs at "world" and "adversity," according to Exception |