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accurately known. Punctuation, in this case, is of little consideration, when once the author's meaning is arrived at, since it only serves to point out the grammatical structure of the sentences.

The reader should guard particularly against a rapidity of utterance and a vociferating manner, two faults which arise from a neglect of pause and a want of proper management of the lungs. These defects have but one remedy, and that is, a slow manner in reading; for when a piece is read or delivered slowly, it is almost impossible that the vociferating propensity can be freely indulged. It is owing to this mistaken notion of the ear, if I may so call it, that a person is frequently obliged to pronounce some words at the close of a sentence in a tone scarcely audible. Such a contrast to the rest of his words must be very perceptible to his hearers, and occasion in them great impatience and uneasiness. Another defect is indistinctness, the chief source of which is the rapidity of utterance just mentioned. "As, in school," says Sheridan, "the principal object of the master is to make boys perfectly acquainted with written words, so as to acknowledge them at sight, and give them a ready utterance; the boy, who at first sight is slow in knowing the words, is slow in uttering them; but as he advances in knowledge, he mends his pace; and not being taught the true beauty and propriety of reading, he thinks all excellence lies in the quickness and rapidity with which he is able to do

it. The prize to boys, who have made any proficiency in reading, seems to be destined to the swift; they set out at a gallop, and continue their speed to the end, without regarding how many letters or syllables they drop by the way, or how many words they justle into one another. This bad habit, which is often transferred into their discourse, afterwards gathers strength, because the boys are neither conscious of their own defects nor receive any intimation of them from others. Nor do they suddenly find any disadvantages arising from such imperfect utterance. For their masters, companions, and relations, by being used to their manner, understand them perfectly, in the same way as the prattle of children is understood by their parents and nurses; or as a very bad hand is read by those who are accustomed to it. Such blemishes and defects are obvious only to strangers, and they, in good manners, will not mention them. Thus the evil remains irremediable through life."

But, whilst reading, let not the reader ever imagine himself to be a speaker, for, "in point of fact," says Mr. Smart, "a reader is liable to be moved only in the way in which a hearer is liable, while he recollects that he is a reader: his passion or feeling is, in such case, the effect of what the author lays before him, not a part of the author's language. A reader whose feeling is thus generated, and who gives way to it, as most readers do,

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under a notion that to read impressively is to read on this principle, seems, as he goes on, to say thus much, How tender, or, how sublime this is, which I am reading, how affecting to my feelings,'—and so the hearer is called upon to be equally affected. But such reading, however prevalent, is in bad taste; plain, simple, significant reading is better, and will be found far more effective. Either the reader must keep strictly within his province, or, in order to be legitimately and effectively impassioned, he must forget that he is a reader, and, by so forgetting, become a speaker. The reader of true taste begins as a reader, nor does he become impassioned but by forgetting, at times, his real place, through the enthusiasm with which he takes up his author's purpose. To this enthusiasm, whenever he can, he gives way, and becomes impassioned in consequence; but he relaxes at suitable moments, and so, upon the whole, fulfils a part between a reader and a speaker."

In making these remarks, I speak only of that kind of reading usually termed significant, and not of the style of reading which can be classed either as impressive, rhetorical, dramatic, or epic. For a reader of this class, the following are the requisites: a good articulation, proper emphasis, purity of pronunciation, due attention to pause and accent, and sufficient strength of voice to enable himself to be heard and understood, added to which should be a suitable demeanour. I shall conclude these

remarks with the following extract from Lord Chesterfield, given as advice to his son :—

"Read what Cicero and Quintilian say of Enunciation, and see what a stress they lay upon the gracefulness of it: nay, Cicero goes farther, and even maintains, that a good figure is necessary for an orator; and, particularly, that he must not be vastus, that is, overgrown and clumsy. He shows by it, that he knew mankind well, and knew the powers of an agreeable figure and a graceful manner. Men are much oftener led by their ears than their understandings. The way to the heart is through the senses: please their eyes and their ears, and the work is half done. I have frequently known a man's fortune decided for ever by his first address. If it is pleasing, people are hurried involuntarily into a persuasion that he has a merit, which possibly he has not; as, on the other hand, if it is ungraceful, they are immediately prejudiced against him, and unwilling to allow him the merit, which, it may be, he has. Nor is this sentiment so unjust and unreasonable as at first it may seem; for if a man has parts, he must know of how much consequence it is to him to have a graceful manner of speaking and a genteel and pleasing address, and he will cultivate and improve them to the utmost. What is the constant and just observation as to all actors upon the stage? Is it not, that those who have the best sense always speak the best, though they may happen not to have the best

voices? They will speak plainly, distinctly, and with a proper emphasis, be their voices ever so bad. Had Roscius spoken quick, thick, and ungracefully, I will answer for it that Cicero would not have thought him worth the oration which he made in his favour. Words were given us to communicate our ideas by; and there must be something inconceivably absurd in uttering them in such a manner as that either people cannot understand them, or will not desire to understand them. I tell you truly and sincerely, that I shall judge of your parts by your speaking gracefully or ungracefully. If you have parts, you will never be at rest till you have brought yourself to a habit of speaking most gracefully; for I aver, that it is in your power. You will desire your tutor that you may read aloud to him every day; and that he will interrupt and correct you, every time that you read too fast, do not observe the proper stops, or lay a wrong emphasis. You will take care to open your teeth when you speak; to articulate every word distinctly; and to beg of any friend you speak to, to remind and stop you if ever you fall into the rapid and unintelligible mutter. You will even read aloud to yourself, and tune your utterance to your own ear; and read at first much slower than you need to do, in order to correct that shameful habit of speaking faster than you ought. In short, you will make it your business, your study, and your pleasure, to speak well, if you

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