IX READING AND SPEAKING. I) 



row, or of any other passion, to accompany such pas- 

 sion by a corresponding tone of voice and gesture. The 

 tones of the passions are uniformly the same to every 

 sex and people, and they cannot be expressed in any 

 other way than by the voice. It is they which give a 

 force and spirit to whatever we utter. How powerfully 

 are we acted on by the earnest and pathetic delivery of 

 a moving discourse ; our feelings become roused, and 

 like chords in unison respond to their kindred sound. 

 A speaker will only affect his hearers in proportion as 

 he is affected himself. He must, therefore, not only be 

 a perfect master of the sense of his subject, but he must 

 enter into the spirit of it ; for no one can properly and 

 thoroughly convey another's ideas unless he considers 

 them his own. If he really feel what he utters, the 

 tones of the voice and expression of countenance will 

 obey such feeling. 



The effect resulting from the delivery of any impas- 

 sioned subject, not only depends on the tone of the voice, 

 but also on the easy and graceful manner of the speaker : 

 a few observations are, therefore, here made relative 

 thereto, which are intended for the more juvenile reader. 



On the delivery of any impassioned piece, the speaker 

 should stand perfectly erect, his weight inclining on his 

 right foot, which should be a little in advance ; and if the 

 subject be of a solemn or dignified nature, his right 

 hand should be extended, witbTthe palm inclining up- 

 wards, the left hand remaining gracefully by his side. 

 Any particular emphasis should be marked by a corres- 

 ponding stroke of the hand, and at the conclusion of 

 every sentence, at the last emphatic word the hand 

 should be allowed to fall. 



The expression of any passion will require also a cor- 

 responding action and manner. Joy demands a buoy- 

 ancy of manner, with an animated action ; Sorrow, on 

 the contrary, requires a downcast look, with a plaintive 

 utterance, interrupted occasionally by sighs and tears. 

 Love is expressed by a most beautiful serenity of coun- 

 tenance, and liveliness of manner ; while Anger clenches 

 the fist, and strains the muscles as if they were about 

 to burst. But he that can identify himself with his 



