Pierce's Administration (344); Civil War in Kansas (345); Buchanan's Administration (345); Brown's Raid (345); Election of Abraham Lincoln (345); Hostilities at Charleston (345); Ordinances of Se- Capture of Fort Sumter (350); Uprising of the North (350); Conduct of the Slave States (350); Movements of the National Army (350). Battle of Fredericksburg (364); Emancipation Proclamation (364) ; Battle of Chancellorsville (364); Battle of Gettysburg (364). Capture of Vicksburg, etc. (365); Operations of Grant, Sherman, and Thomas (366); Grant's Campaign in Virginia (366); Opera- Destruction of the Alabama (368); Victory by Admiral Farragut (368); Victories of Sherman (368); Occupation of Richmond (368). Johnson's Administration (376); Abolition of Slavery (376); Recon- struction (376); Impeachment of the President (377); Grant's INTRODUCTION. PRINCIPLES OF ELOCUTION. ELOCUTION is the oral communication of thought. When the thought has been previously embodied in written composition, elocution becomes recitation or reading. It is recitation when the composition has been committed to memory, and reading when the composition is delivered from book or manuscript. The principles of elocution are, therefore, applicable to reading, recitation, public speaking, and conversation. They may be grouped under articulation, pronunciation, inflection, emphasis, pauses, and modulation. Articulation is the utterance of the elementary sounds of the language. Distinct articulation is the basis of good elocution. The elementary sounds are the sounds composing syllables and words. They are variously represented by the letters of the alphabet, and may be divided into three classes; namely, Vocals, Sub-vocals, and Aspirates. Vocals are complete or open sounds expressed by the vowels; sub-vocals are sounds modified by the teeth, lips, etc.; aspirates are simple emissions of breath, modified like the sub-vocals. Vocals are represented by the vowels; sub-vocals and aspirates, by the consonant letters. The following is a table of the elementary sounds. [The marks are those used in Webster's Dictionary.] The above table shows that there are 14 vocals;-8 simple, 4 diphthongal, and 2 modifying; also that there are 13 subvocals, and 10 aspirates, making in all 44 elementary sounds in the language. These sounds are variously represented by single letters, and by diphthongs and triphthongs. Thus in the * u in urn is this sound slightly modified; but not a distinct sound. word their, ei is equivalent to a, and in the word view, iew is equivalent to u. The following exercises will practice the pupil in articulation and phonic analysis. I. Spell the following words by their sounds, and articulate with distinctness. Read the following, with particular attention to articulation. 1. Thirst, hunger, and nakedness are ills incident to humanity. 2. The profligate's proneness to play leads him into distress, and is prejudicial to his health and happiness. 3. Whispers of revenge passed silently around among the enraged troops. 4. His false and treacherous friends aimed stealthily to deprive him of his dearly-bought wealth. 5. The merciless blasts, like frightful fiends, howled and moaned, and sent sharp shrill shrieks through the creaking cordage of the laboring vessel. 6. Theophilus Thistle thrust three-and-thirty thistles into the thick of his thumb. 7. Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone. Than the soft myrtle. PRONUNCIATION. The proper pronunciation of words depends upon the correct utterance of the elementary sounds which compose them, and the right placing of the accent. Pronunciation is to be acquired by the careful imitation of the best speakers, and by a diligent study or consultation of a good standard Dictionary. The following exercises are designed to call attention to some of the faults which pupils are liable to commit in the utterance of the elementary sounds. Inflection is a sliding movement of the voice from a higher to a lower tone, called the falling inflection, or from a lower to a higher tone, called the rising inflection. The former is generally indicated by the acute accent ('); the latter, by the grave accent ('); thus, Will you go'? Where have you been'? Did he say no', or yes'? When the voice rises and falls in enunciating the same word, the two accents are combined, so as to form the wave, or circumflex (^ or v—~ or ~); thus, Are you a traitor? Thou art the man. When the voice is sustained in the same tone, without inflection, in enunciating a word or successive words, it is called monotone, and is indicated thus (-); as, The heavens declare the glory of God. EXAMPLES OF INFLECTION. 1. Good morning'! How do you do'? Very well', I thank' you. How do you do? 2. Will you take a walk with me to-day'? Yes'. 3. Will you go to-day', or to-morrow' ? |