You who will thoroughly study and digest this book, and then put in practice what you here have learned, will have started on the road, the goal of which is Oratory.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
PREFACE[5]
INTRODUCTION[11]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT[15]
Method of Study of Elocution[15]
PART I.
PHYSICAL GYMNASTICS[17]
Attitude[17]
Standing Position[17]
Speaker's Position[18]
Sitting Position[18]
Changing Position[18]
Poise of Body[18]
Rising on Toes[19]
Holding the Book[19]
Note on Attitude[19]
Chest Expansion[19]
Active and Passive Chest[19]
Arms at Side[19]
Fore-arm Vertical[20]
Full-arm Percussion[20]
Hand Percussion[20]
Body Movements[21]
Bend Forward and Back[21]
Bend Right and Left[21]
Turn Right and Left[21]
Neck Movements[21]
Bend Forward and Back[21]
Bend Right and Left[21]
Turn Right and Left[21]
Note on Physical Gymnastics[21]
PART II.
VOCAL GYMNASTICS[22]
Breathing[22]
Abdominal[22]
Costal[23]
Dorsal[23]
Puffing Breath[23]
Puffing Breath, with pause[23]
Puffing Breath, breathe between[23]
Holding the Breath[24]
Tone[24]
Glottis Stroke[24]
Soft Tones[25]
Swelling Tones[25]
Pitch[25]
Learn Scale[26]
Chant Sentences[26]
Read Sentences[26]
Inflection[26]
Major Falling[26]
Major Rising[27]
Major Rising and Falling[27]
Minor Rising and Falling[27]
Circumflex[27]
Monotone[27]
Quality[28]
Whisper[28]
Aspirated[28]
Pure[28]
Orotund[28]
Force[29]
Gentle[29]
Moderate[29]
Loud[29]
Stress[29]
Radical[29]
Median[29]
Terminal[30]
Thorough[30]
Compound[30]
Tremolo[30]
Movement[30]
Quick[30]
Moderate[30]
Slow[31]
Articulation[31]
Elementary Sounds[31]
Vowels[31]
Consonants[32]
Summary of Physical and Vocal Gymnastics[33]
PART III.
ELOCUTION[36]
Pleasant Quality[36]
Articulation[38]
Syllables[38]
Words[38]
Accent[38]
Phrases[39]
Emphasis[39]
Sentences[39]
Fulness and Power[42]
Inflection[44]
Major Rising[45]
Major Falling[45]
Minor Rising[46]
Minor Falling[47]
Circumflex[47]
Monotone[48]
Pitch[49]
High[49]
Middle[50]
Low[51]
Very Low[52]
Quality[52]
Whisper[53]
Aspirate[53]
Pure Tone[54]
Orotund[55]
Movement[56]
Quick[56]
Moderate[57]
Slow[58]
Very Slow[58]
Force[59]
Gentle[59]
Moderate[60]
Loud[61]
Very Loud[61]
Stress[62]
Radical[63]
Median[63]
Terminal[64]
Thorough[65]
Compound[65]
Tremolo[66]
Transition[66]
Modulation[70]
Style[77]
Conversational[78]
Narrative[79]
Descriptive[79]
Didactic[80]
Public Address[81]
Declamatory[82]
Dramatic[83]
PART IV.
HINTS ON ELOCUTION[85]
Defects of Speech[93]

INTRODUCTION.

Rev. Dr. Hall of New York says, "There is one accomplishment in particular which I would earnestly recommend to you: cultivate assiduously the ability to read well. I stop to particularize this, because it is a thing so very much neglected, and because it is such an elegant and charming accomplishment. Where one person is really interested by music, twenty are pleased by good reading. Where one person is capable of becoming a skilful musician, twenty may become good readers. Where there is one occasion suitable for the exercise of musical talent, there are twenty for that of good reading.

"What a fascination there is in really good reading! What a power it gives one! In the hospital, in the chamber of the invalid, in the nursery, in the domestic and in the social circle, among chosen friends and companions, how it enables you to minister to the amusement, the comfort, the pleasure, of dear ones, as no other accomplishment can! No instrument of man's devising can reach the heart as does that most wonderful instrument, the human voice. It is God's special gift to his chosen creatures. Fold it not away in a napkin.