Hope still lifts her radiant finger
Pointing to the eternal home
Upon whose portal yet they linger,

Looking back for us to come.

Moore.

From Brutus's Harangue over the Dead Body of Lucretia.

Thus, thus my friends! fast as our breaking hearts
Permitted utterance, we have told our story;
And now, to say one word of the imposture-
The mask, necessity has made me wear.
When the ferocious malice of your king,—
King! do I call him?-when the monster, Tarquin,
Slew, as most of you may well remember,
My father, Marcus, and my elder brother,
Envying at once their virtues and their wealth,
How could I hope shelter from his power,
But in the false face I have worn so long?
Say-would you seek instructions: would you seek
What ye should do? Ask ye yon conscious walis
Which saw his poison'd brother, saw the incest
Committed there, and they will cry, Revenge!-

J. Howard Payne.

CHAPTER X.

PLANES OF GESTURE.

Hor

Gesture, has three points of direction: Ascending, Horizontal, and Descending. Ascending gesture moves from the level of the shoulder toward the zenith. izontal gesture is the middle between ascending and descending. It is even with the shoulder. Descending gesture moves from the shoulder to the nadir. Each of these may be made toward the front. the oblique, the side or lateral, and the backward oblique.

The Hand has several different positions or uses. The principa uses of the hand are-the Supine, in which the palm faces up; the Prone, with the palm down; the Vertical, with the palm out; the Index, with the index finger extended and most prominent; the Clasped and the Clinched. Taking the first etter of each of the above we have the following concise notation of gesture:

Ascending gesture belongs to the imagination. It pertains to the realms of the ideal, the virtuous, the noble, the heavenly, and, in general, expresses superiority.

Horizontal gesture belongs to the realm of the intellect. It is employed in locating, denoting equality, etc.

Descending gesture belongs to the will and is used therefore in bold assertion and strong resolution. It is also used to express inferiority, the baser passions, and, in general, things that we scorn or hate.

Front gestures signify nearness. They are more direct and personal than the others.

Oblique gestures are less emphatic than front gestures. They are used more in generalities.

Lateral gestures are less emphatic than even the oblique. They express great extent, universality, etc.

Backward gesture refers to something remote either geographically or chronologically.

The supine hand reveals, the prone conceals or imposes, the vertical repels, the index points out, the clasped strongly entreats, the clinched shows the existence of strong passion.

These significations are not to be looked on as specific. They are general and admit of a very liberal interpretation. For practice on these different planes of gesture and faces of the hand, assume the Unexcited position, let the arms hang loosely and entirely decomposed. Now raise the arm in the required direction taking care that the shoulder leads and each joint unfolds in succession. At the emphatic word end the gesture by a quick turn of the wrist. This last movement is known as the ictus of the gesture, or the climax. However, be the movement. of the arm as gracefu as it may be, unless the position of the hand harmonizes, the effect will be unpleasant. For the expression of ordinary sentiments the hand should be gently opened with index finger extended, thumb slightly bent outward, the other fingers gracefully curved. They should neither be widely separated nor tightly pressed together.

Carry the right hand through all of the above planes of gesture, and, as far as practicable, in all the different faces of the hand. Practice the left next, and then both together in the same way. The descending vertical and the double backward oblique are not practicable.

In the sentences given below the abbreviations show what gestures are appropriate. Where the hand is not mentioned, the right is supposed, and where the use is not given, the supine is to be understood.

The Supine Hand.

This hand may be used in the expression of almost any emotion. In general, it is used to reveal.

What could I do in such a state of health?

Away with such trifling!

To thine own self be true,

D. L.

And it must follow as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

D. B. 0.

Away with such an abominable idea.

Let those who did the deed now look to it.

H. F.

Sir, I appeal to you, for you were present.
This above all, to thine own self be true.

H. 0.

Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

This is my opinion, Gentlemen.

H. L.

Search the latest records and you will find it inscribed.

Not that I loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more.

H. B. 0.

Turning from civilization, e struck out into the jungle. !!is past life now appears to him a dream.