308 
cation of my system of elocutionary instruc- 
tion, yet I could not but reflect that many 
of those to whom such investigations might 
be most acceptable, might be least in the 
habit of seeking their information in the 
periodical pages. In the second place, it 
is still exceedingly doubtful how far it 
may be practicable to pursue the series 
into its more interesting departments: for 
the Lectures, in fact, were always spon- 
taneous ; nothing more (with the exception 
of a few definitions and references) having 
originally been committed to paper than 
the few pages of general heads or titles 
at the end of the short Lssay on Rhythmus 
(now out of print), prefixed to a small vo- 
lume of Selections, some fourteen, or fifteen 
years ago. However, in consequence of some 
negociations with an extensive publisher, a 
portion of the elementary series was reduced 
into a more tangible form; the subject- 
matter of some four or five of the Lectures 
was roughly written out, and two of them 
prepared for the press. Various circum- 
stances, however, conspired to arrest the 
progress of the design; and, among the 
rest, the necessity, for several successive 
years, of a laborious application of ten 
hours in every day (from eight in the morn- 
ing till six in the afternoon) to the prac- 
tical duties of my profession. And, although 
it has never been my intention that my 
discoveries should perish with me, yet, 
whatever may be our zeal for the diffu- 
sion of a favourite science, necessary duties 
and vocations will often preclude the pos- 
sibility of devoting the time which may be 
requisite (and, in this instance, it would be 
very considerable) to labours that can have 
no adequate remuneration. In the mean 
while, it is some satisfaction that what has 
been so far done should be placed upon 
permanent record. ‘The first of the two 
Lectures, which had been fairly transcribed, 
is concluded in the present number: the 
second will follow in what remains of the 
present volume ;* and though, in their pre- 
sent technical nakedness, stripped of the 
’ popular illustrations and digressions with 
which they used to be accompanied in 
vocal delivery, they may not haye their 
wonted attractions, they may evince, per- 
haps, some portion of that research into 
primitive sources and principles, which 
formed the basis of the axiom upon which 
my system rests: namely — that “ the 
whole science of FXocution, in all the infini- 
tude of its applications (from the grossest 
necessities of intelligible utterance to the 
highest graces and accomplishments of 
oratorical declamation), depends upon the 
adaptation of the principles o/ musical pro- 
portion and inflection te the peculiarities of 
anatomical structure, and the physiologi- 
cal necessities by which the actions of 
* Two others remain in a state. that 
would require transcription and revision, 
and may possibly, therefore, be inserted in 
the yolume that ensues. 
Danish Traditions and Superstitions. 
[May 1, 
voice and enunciation are restricted, or im- 
pelled.” J. THELWALL. 
1, Dorset Place, Pall-Mall East. 
—<z———_- 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
Danisu Trapitionsand SuPpERSTITIONS. 
(Continued from No. 407, p- 104.) 
The Oldenborg Horn. 
HEN Count Otto, of Oldenborg, 
on the 20th day of July 990, was 
hunting by Odenburgh, and was very 
thirsty, he wished for a draught of water. 
There came a fairy-maiden out of the hill 
of Oven with acostly silver drinking horn, 
which she placed in his hand, and in- 
vited him to drink, saying, that if he 
did, the house of Oldenborgh would in- 
crease in might and power; but if he 
did not drink, there should be no una- 
nimity or good understanding among 
his descendants. He paid no regard to 
her speech, but flung the liquor over 
his shoulder, and some drops of it faly- 
ing upon his horse’s back, the hair was 
immediately scorched off. The Count 
then rode away with the horn, which 
is still preserved and exhibited in the 
Museum at Copenhagen. 
The Swan and her Golden Eggs. 
Somewhere on a height between 
Gisting and Vogenserup, in the bailli- 
wick of Holbeck, a swan broods upon 
three golden eggs, each of which is a 
king’s ransom. ‘This swan lets herself 
frequently be seen in the neighbour- ° 
hood, but will not suffer herself to be 
followed. A nobleman, who wished to 
take possession of her golden eggs, went 
early and late in quest of her, and saw 
her, at last, upon the height : but at the 
moment he bent his bow to pierce her, 
his castle, which was not far off, burst 
into ruddy flames, and was presently 
burnt to the ground. 
The Fairy Bride. 
A peasant went one day into his 
field, and as he was ploughing the earth, 
there came to him a beautiful woman, 
who pleased his fancy so much, that he 
promised to marry her. On the mar- 
riage night there was much feasting and 
rejoicing in the house. But when the 
bride-pair got to bed, the bridegroom 
found, to his utter astonishment, that 
he was embracing an oak-stump instead 
of a lovely woman, and, at the same 
time, he heard a mournful voice singing 
abroad at the chamber window— 
** Come out to her whom thou didst wed, 
Upon my heath is rais’d thy bed.” 
From which words the poor fellow was 
convinced that he had had to do with 
an elf, or a fairy. 
DIRECTIONS 
