It is usually employed in indirect questions (those that cannot be answered by yes or no,) in answers to direct questions, and for all ideas that are positive, complete, known, and to express authority, revenge, exclamation (not designed as a question), denunciation, anger, reproach, etc. EXAMPLES. 1. When are you going home? To-morrow. 2. I thought it was right. 3. Leave the room. 4. Revenge is stamped upon my spear. 5. Of all God made upright. Most fallen, most prone, most earthy, most debased. 6. Illustrious fool! Nay, most inhuman wretch. When words or clauses are contrasted and compared, the first part usually has the upward, and the last the downward inflection; though, when one side of the contrast is affirmed and the other denied, generally the latter has the upward inflection in whatever order they occur. EXAMPLES. 1. 1 have seen the effects of love and hatred, joy and grief, hópe and despair. 2. This book is not mine, but yours. 3. I come in love not in hate. The Circumflex is the union of the inflections on the same syllable or word, either commencing with the upward and ending with the downward, or commencing with the downward and ending with the upward, thus producing a wave of the voice. It is employed when a comparison or a contrast is implied, and also to express sarcasm, ridicule or mockery. The Downward Circumflex, which commences with an upward and ends with a downward slide of the voice, is marked thus, ; the Upward Circumflex, which commences with a downward and ends with an upward slide, is marked thus ~. EXAMPLES. 1. He intends to walk, not ride. 2. Oh, but you regretted the robbery! Yes, regretted! You regretted the violence, and that is all you did. NOTE. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to give rules for the regulation of all the inflections of the voice in reading and speaking. The sense should in all cases determine the di rection of inflections. A Series is a succession of words, phrases or sentences, linked together in construction, but conveying different ideas. A series is either simple or compound, commencing or concluding. Simple, when the members in succession are single or convey single ideas. Compound, when the members are complex in form, each containing several ideas. Commencing, when it commences a sentence, or when the sense is unfinished at the close of the series. Concluding, when the sense is closed with the series. A Simple Commencing Series in affirmative sentences takes an upward inflection on every member of the series except the penultimate, which takes a downward inflection. EXAMPLE. Faith, Hope and Love are mine. A simple concluding series takes an upward inflection on every member of the series except the last. EXAMPLE. Mine are Faith, Hope and Love. A compound commencing series usually takes a downward inflection on every member except the last, which receives a strong upward inflection. EXAMPLE. A good disposition, virtuous principles, a liberal education and industrious hábits, are passports to happiness and honor. A compound concluding series usually takes the downward inflection on every member except the penultimate, which receives the upward inflection. EXAMPLE. Contentment, happiness and honor reward a good disposition, virtuous principles, a liberal education and industrious hàbits. Students should be required to tell what rule or rules are illustrated by the following EXERCISES IN INFLECTION. 1. Do you see that lovely flower? Yes, it is beautiful. 2. We shall make this a glórious, an immortal day. 3. Will you come to-morrow or the next day? I will come to-morrow. 4. That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character. 5. Do the students deserve praise or blame? 6. If he ask bread will he give him a stone? 7. Is a candle to be put under a bushel or under a 8. O Rome! O my country! how art thou fallen! 9. Sweet Sleep! how have I frighted thee! 10. Woe is me! my heart is broken! 11. A fool with judges; among fools a judge. béd? 12. Temperance marches to the music of progress and will carry its flag across the continent and around the world. 13. Do you vote to shield and advance the interests of your wives and children when you vote to sustain and perpétuate the rum traffic? 14. Knowest thou what wove yon wood-bird's nest Of leaves and feathers from her breast? Or how the fish out-built her shell Painting with morn each annual cell? Read the following selections, noting inflection according to the preceding directions. 15. A man passes for what he is worth. What he is engraves itself on his face, on his form, on his fortunes, in letters of light which all men may read but himself. There is confession in the glances of our eyes, in our smiles, in salutations, in the grasp of hands. 16. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls. Who steals my purse, steals trash; 'tis something, nothing: 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed. 17. What hast thou done, and how? Where is thy work? Swift, out with it; let us see thy work. 18. God must needs laugh outright--could such a thing be--to see his wondrous manikins here below. 19. The ideal always has to grow in the real, and to seek out its bed and board there, often in a very sorry way. . 20. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRIFLES. Since trifles make the sum of human things. A small unkindness is a great offence! To spread large bounties though we wish in vain, To bless mankind with tides of flowing wealth, Our little lot denies; yet, liberal still, When kindness, love and concord may be ours. Hannah More. 21. EXHORTATION TO COURAGE. But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad? And fright him there, and make him tremble there? Oh, let it not be said! Forage, and run To meet Displeasure farther from the doors, And grapple with him ere he comes so nigh! 22. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? |