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would be extensively called forth, and this would be added to our social and domestic pleasures.-Dr. Channing.

The above extract is from a discourse, delivered before the Massachusetts Temperance Society, in the year 1836, by the Rev. William E. Channing, of Boston. It shows clearly, that elocution is an emendation of morals. It moreover sets forth, most happily, its superiority over the Drama. It should be read in a colloquial style. As a moral and philosophical essayist and writer, Dr. Channing ranks so high abroad, as well as at home, that when Spurzheim, the celebrated phrenologist, was asked what prompted him to leave Europe, and visit the United States, he replied, "Shall I not see Dr. Channing ?"

ELOCUTION OF LADIES.

1. Reading aloud, with propriety and grace, is an accomplishment worthy of the acquisition of females. To enter into the spirit of an author, and convey his sentiments with a happy adaptation of tone, emphasis, and manner, is no common attainment. It is peculiarly valuable in our sex, because it so often gives them an opportunity of im parting pleasure and improvement to an assembled family, during the winter evening or the protracted storm. In the zeal for feminine accomplishments, it would seem that the graces of elocution had been too little regarded.

2. Permit me to fortify my opinion, by the authority of the Rev. Mr. Gallaudet. "I cannot understand why it should be thought, as it sometimes is, a departure from female delicacy, to read in a promiscuous, social circle, if called upon to do so, from any peculiar circumstance, and to read too, as well as Garrick himself, if the young lady possesses the power of doing it.

3. "Why may she not do this, with as much genuine modesty, and with as much of a desire to oblige her friends, and with as little of ostentation, as to sit down in the same circle, to the piano, and play and sing in the style of the first masters? If, to do the former, is making too much of a display of her talents, why should not the latter be so? Nothing but some strange freak of fashion, can have made a difference."

4. Fine reading is an accomplishment, where the inherent music, both of the voice and of the intellect, may be

uttered; for the scope and compass of each, is often fully taxed, and happily developed, in the interpretation of delicate shades of meaning, and gradations of thought. Its first element, to be clearly understood, it is often too much disregarded, so that, with some who are pronounced fashionable readers, low, or artificial intonations so perplex the listener, as to leave it doubtful whether "the uncertain sound was piped or harped."--Mrs. Sigourney.

As elocution includes conversation and reading, as well as public speaking, it is a matter of nearly as much interest to ladies, as to gentlemen. A large portion of the time of ladies, is employed in conversation and reading. To read and converse well, is, therefore a very desirable attainment. The above extract from Mrs. Sigourney's excellent "Letters to Young Ladies," is commended to their perusal, in the hope that they will be induced to acquire a pure, polished, and graceful elocution.

ELOCUTION,-ITS EFFECTS UPON THE

HEALTH.

1. Reading aloud and recitation are more useful and invigorating muscular exercises, than is generally imagined. In forming and undulating the voice, the chest and the diaphragm are in constant action, and communicate to the stomach a healthy and agreeable stimulus; and, consequently, where the voice is raised and elocution rapid, as in many kinds of public speaking, the muscular effort is more fatiguing than the mental, especially to those who are unaccustomed to it.

2. When care is taken, however, not to carry reading aloud or reciting so far at one time, as to excite the least sensation of soreness or fatigue in the chest, and it is duly repeated, it is extremely useful in developing and giving tone to the organs of respiration, and to the general system, As excercises in reading aloud, public speaking, and lectu. ring, require some exertion, they ought to be indulged in with prudence, and constant reference to the constitution and health of the individual.

3. When early resorted to, and steadily persevered in, they are instrumental in warding off disease, and commu nicating strength to an important function. But when

begun suddenly, and carried to excess by persons with weak lungs, they are more directly injurious than almost any other cause. It is not uncommon for young divines to give themselves up to preaching, without any previous preparation for the effort which it requires; and to experience, in consequence, pains in the chest, spitting of blood, and other dangerous forms of disease, which often extinguish their brightest prospects in the morning of life.

4. Sacrifices of this kind, are the more to be lamented, because it is probable, that, by the well planned system of gradual preparation, many who fall victims, might find in their profession, even a source of safety. The celebrated and lamented Cuvier is considered to have been saved from an early death, by engaging in the moderate and regular exercise of his lungs in lecturing. Other examples of the same kind, might be mentioned.

5. But it is important to observe, that in all of them, the exercise was, at all times, accurately proportioned to the existing state of the lungs. Had active disease existed, or the exertion required, been beyond what the lungs were fully able to bear, the effect would have been, not to improve health, but to destroy life; and this condition of accurate relation between the amount of exercise and the state of the organization, must never, for a moment, be overlooked.

6. With a little care, however, the point at which direct exercise of the lungs ought to stop, may easily be determined by observing its effects. The loud and distinct speaking enforced in many public schools, is productive of much good to the young.

7. Let any one who doubts its efficacy as an exercise of the lungs, attend to what passes in his own body on reading aloud a single paragraph, and he will find, not only that deep inspirations and full expirations are encouraged, but that a considerable impulse is communicated to the bowels, affording a marked contrast to the slight breathing and quiescent posture of those whose voices never rise above a whisper.-Dr. Andrew Combe.

The above article, from Dr. Combe, is worthy of attention. That we all ought to be careful of our health, is too plain to require argument. Our duty and happiness alike prompt us to preserve it. Some of the an

cients used to employ physicians to prevent their becoming sick. If we are temperate and prudent, and occasionally engage in invigorating exercises, we shall seldom need medical aid. The beneficial effects of vocal gymnastics, judiciously conducted, are not yet fully appreciated; but there is, I think, a probability that they will ere long form a part of every liberal course of instruction in all our literary institutions.

THE VOICE.

i. The preservation of the voice, and the means of improving its tone and compass, are subjects of no little inter est, especially to the public speaker. Even though it be exerted only in ordanry conversation, in reading aloud, or in singing,-whether as a part of religious worship or in the social circle, a full, clear, and pleasing voice, must be considered as no mean accomplishment.

2. The first and most important rule for the preservation of the voice, supported equally by ancient authorities and modern experionce, is, that the public speaker should, if he "strive for the mastery," be habitually temperate in all things; moderate in the indulgence of the table, and not given to any personal excess.

3. The voice should not be exerted after a full meal. It should never be urged beyond its strength, nor strained to its utmost pitch, without intermission. Frequent change of pitch is the best preservative. The voice, when hoarse, should not be exerted, if it can possibly be avoided.

4. To speak well with any thing in the mouth, is scarcely possible. Few things are so injurious to the voice as tobacco. By the use of it, the voice becomes dry, and is rendered harsh and broken. Snuffiing is even more objec tionable than chewing: by causing the breathing to be carried on solely through the mouth, the use of snuff produces very nearly the same change in the tone of the voice, as occurs in an individual laboring under a cold.

5. The voice, as well as the health of a speaker, suffers materially, unless the chest is allowed to expand freely. Hence, all compression or restraint should be carefully removed from this portion of the body for the same reason, an erect position should be assumed, as well in speaking and reading aloud, as in singing.

6. The tone of the voice is also considerably impaired and its strength diminished, by a tightly drawn or large cravat. The neck should, therefore be free from compression, and but lightly covered. The great means of improv. ing the voice, as well as all other improvements, is constant and daily practice.

7. The ancients were in the daily practice of preparatory declamation. Their rule was, after proper bodily exercise, to begin at the lowest tones of their voice, and proceed gradually to the highest. They are said to have produced about five hundred lines in this manner, which were committed to memory, in order that the exertions of the voice might be less embarrassed.

8. In order to strengthen the voice, Mr. Sheridan advises that such persons as have weak utterance, should daily practice to read and repeat in a large room, in the hearing of a friend. The latter should be placed at the farthest point at which he can hear distinctly, without the voice of the speaker being strained. There he should remain du. ring his declamation.

9. It will be found, perhaps, that the same practice will be more easily and effectually pursued in the open air, par. ticularly as every speaker cannot conveniently obtain the use of a room of the requisite dimensions.-Journal of Health.

The ideas promulgated in the above article from the "Journal of Health," published at Philadelphia, are perfectly correct. Health is certainly promoted and the powers of the voice greatly developed, by reading, conversing, reciting, or exploding the elements, aloud. It is equally true, that all stimulating drinks and things are prejudicial to health, and particularly so to the voice. Especially, do ardent spirits, wine, tobacco and snuff, injure the voice as well as the general health. The consumption, to which so many fall victims among us, may, in some instances, be avoided by rhetoricel and gymnastic exercises. The Latin writers put it upon that ground. Seneca advises his friend Lucilius, who was of a consumptive habit, to engage in reading and declamation. Such exercises strengthen the chest, and fortify the lungs against disease. The learned Armstrong says:

"Read aloud resounding, Homer's strains,
And wield the thunder of Demosthenes :-
The chest so exercised, improves in strength,
And quick vibrations, through the system drive
The restless blood."

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