THE POPULAR 



only get his due quantity, but turn the tables on tho vendor, 

 and by the very fraudulent balance itself get more than his 

 money's worth. Suppose he is buying two pounds; then let 

 him have one pound weighed in one scale and the other pound 

 in tho other scale ; it so happens that invariably tho two to- 

 gether are more than two pounds. The reason you will under- 

 stand by an example. Suppose one arm is 14 inches long, 

 and the other 15 inahes. Then, weighed at the latter arm, the 

 purchaser gets only ^|ths, which is less, but at the former ^f bhs, 

 which is more than one pound. But by the latter he gains 

 a Jfth of a pound more than he is entitled to, while at the for- 

 mer he loses only ^th. So on tho whole, xinon a Jjth is greater 

 than a j'gth, ho is a gainer ; ho h;w caught tho vendor in his 

 own trap. Or, you may add up the two fractions {>-ths and 

 ]|ths, and the sum you will find to be greater than 2 by the 

 fraction 5*5. And what is true -of these numbers is true of 

 all others, which represent the proportion of the arms what 

 you lose at the long arm is more than recompensed by what 

 you gain at the short one. 



BEADING AND ELOCUTION. IX. 



ANALYSIS OF THE VOICE (cxmtiniwd). 

 II. DUE QUANTITY, OR LOUDNESS. 



THE second characteristic of good reading, is the use of that 

 degree of loudness, force, "volume," or "quantity," of voice 

 which enables those to whom we read or speak, to hear, without 

 fifort, every sound of the voice ; anil which, at the same time, 

 ;;ived that degree of force which is best adapted to the utter- 

 of the sentiments which are read or spoken. 



All undue loudne** in a great annoyance to the ear, and an 



to the expression : while a feeble aiul imperfect utterance 



f.iils of the main purposes of speech, by being partly or entirely 



>ul consequently utterly unimpressive. 

 ; allure, as regards loudness, is usually made on passages 

 .rate force, which do not furnish an inspiring impulse of 

 emotion, and which depend on the exercise of judgment and 

 aination, rather than of feeling. 



It is of great service, however, to progress in elocution, to 

 : . B the power of discriminating the various degrees of force 

 the utterance of sentiment requires. The extremes 

 <>i vr.v ' loud '' and very li soft," required by peculiar emotions, 

 h>.v\o been exemplified in the exercise ' on "versatility" of 

 voice. 



There are three degrees of loudness, all of great importance 

 to tho appropriate utterance of thought and feeling, required 

 in the usual forms of composition. These are the following : 

 "Moderate," "forcible," and "impassioned." The first, the 

 "moderate," occurs in the reading of plain narrative, descrip- 

 tive, or didactic composition, addressed to the understanding, 

 rather than to the feelings ; the second, the i; forcible," is 

 exemplified in energetic declamation ; tho third, the " impas- 

 sioned," occurs in the language of intense emotion, whether in 

 the form of poetry or of prose. 



Watchful attention will be required, on tho part of the 

 student, in practising the following example?, so as to enable 

 him to detect, and fix definitely in his ear, the exact degree of 

 loudness appropriate to each passage. The exercises should be 

 repeated till they can bo executed with perfect precision, so as 

 to form a standard for all similar expression, in !-.u<- 

 reading. 



Exercise in "Moderate" Ford'. 



An author represents Adam as using the following language : -"I 

 remember the moment when my existence commenced : il was :i 

 moment replete with joy, amazement, and anxiety. I neither knew 

 what I was, where I was, nor whence I came. I opened my eyes : 

 what an increase of sensation ! The light, the celestial vault, the 

 verdure of the earth, the transparency of the waters, gave animation 

 to my spirits, and conveyed pleasures which exceed the powers of 

 utterance." 



" Declamatory " Force. 



Advance, then, yo future generations ! We bid you welcome to this 

 pleasant land of the Fathers. We bid you welcome to the healthful 

 skies and the verdant fields of New England. We greet your acces- 

 sion to the ?reat inheritance which we have enjoyed. We welcome 

 you to the blessings of good government and religious liberty. We 

 welcome you to the treasures of science and the delights of learning. 

 We welcome you to the transcendent sweets of domestic life, to the 



happiness of kiudrt-d, and parents, itutl children. We welcome you in 

 tho immeasurable blessings of nitiouul existence, the immortal liov . ul 

 Christianity, uiid the light of everlasting truth ! 



"I:>>! i-'ofce. 



Shatnc ! thame ' that in such :i JTIM-). i>r>iimut of life, 



Worth ages of history, wli > it hurled 



One bolt at your bluody iiiv 



Between freemen and tyrants hu'I i^u'^.id through the world, 



That then, oh ! dixgrar : *-!ia 



You should falter, sii. yo'iv pitiful breath, 



Cower tlowu inn 'i you might have stood lueii, 



And prefer a slave's life to a glorious death ! 



It is strange ! it is dreadful ! Shout, Tyranny, shout, 



Through your d-uugeoui? and palaces, " Freedom is o'er !" 



If there lingers one spark of her lire, tivad it out, 

 And return to your empire of darkness once more. 



III. DISTINCT ARTICULATION. 



Correct articulation is tho most important exercise of tho 

 voice and of the organs of speech. A reader or speaker, pos- 

 sessed of only a moderate voice, if ho articulates correctly, will 

 be better understood, and heard with greater pleasure, than one 

 who vociferates. The voice of the latter may, indeed, extend 

 to a considerable distance ; but the sound is dissipated i 

 fusion : of the voice of the former not the smallest vibration k 

 wastod every sound is perceived at the utmost ilist.-iv 

 which it reaches; and hence it even pemtratos f 

 one which is loud, but badly articulated. 



In just articulation, tho words arc not hurried over, nor 

 pitated syllable over syllable ; nor, as it were, malted t<,- 

 into a mass of confusion ; they are neither abridged nor pro- 

 longed ; nor swallowed, nor forced, and, if I may so 

 myself, shot from the mouth ; they are not trailud nor dr. 

 nor let slip out carolessly, KO as to drop unfinLslied. 

 are delivered out from tho lip.-, as beautiful coins a 

 from the mint, deeply and awurateh 

 finished, neatly struck by the proper organs, distinct, tsl; ; 

 due succession, and of due weight. 



This department of correct reading belongs, properly. Lo !'' 

 stage of elementary lessons. But negligence in geu<;r] 

 and remissness in ea.rly practice, are extensively the ca< 

 an imperfect articulation. 



A paragraph or two of every reading lesson .should 

 vious to the regular exercise, be read backward, for the purpu : .< 

 of arresting the attention, and securing every sound in ever;- 

 word. 



The design of the present lesson does not admit of <.!< 

 the department of elocution now under consideration. T ; > 

 importance, however, of a perfectly distinct enuneiatk 

 never be impressed too deeply on the mind of the student. An 

 exact articulation is more conducive than any degree of loud- 

 facility of hearing and understanding. Young reader-; 

 should be accustomed to pronounce every word, every syllablr. 

 and every letter, with accuracy, although without labour^ 7 , 

 effort. Tho faults of skipping, Blighting, mumbling, swallow- 

 ing, or drawling the sounds of vowels or of consonants, am 

 not only offensive to the ear, but subversive of meaning, a-; 

 may be perceived in the practice of several of the followiuj.; 

 examples. 



Examples. 



\. That lasix till night : that last still night. 



:.'. He can debate on either side of the question : he OMI debate <?* 



r side of the question. 



.".. Tho steadfast stronger in the forests strayed. 



i. Who ever imagined such an ocean to exist ? Wbo evor imagiuf! 

 such a notion to exist ? 



5. His cry moved me : his crime moved me. 



6. He could pay nobody : he could pain nobody. 



7. Up the high 7dll he heaves a 7mge round stone, 



8. Tho' oft the ear th open vowels tire. 



9. Heaven's first star alike ye see. 



The following description of a whals chase, taken from 

 Goodsir's " Arctic Voyage," will furnish a useful exercise in 

 distinctness of articulation. Bead it with animation 1 and 

 " moderate force," but not too fast. 



We pulled in the direction in which the whale was " heading," where 

 the rest of the boats already were ; before we got up to them, she had 

 made her appearance at the surface j a second boat had got fast to her, 



