The Canadian Elocutionist | Page 2

practice of acting, a most
important point is the study of elocution; and, in elocution one great
difficulty is the use of sufficient force to be generally heard without
being unnaturally loud, and without acquiring a stilted delivery. I never
knew an actor who brought the art of elocution to greater perfection
than the late Charles Mathews, whose utterance on the stage was so
natural, that one was surprised to find when near him that he was really
speaking in a very loud key." Such are some of the testimonies to the
value of this art.
Many persons object to the study of elocution because they do not
expect to become professional readers or public speakers, but surely
this is a great mistake, and they might as well object to the study of
literature because they do not expect to become an author; and still
more mischievous in its results is the fallacy, only too current even
among persons of intelligence, that those who display great and
successful oratorical powers, possess a genius or faculty that is the gift
of nature, and which it would be in vain to endeavour to acquire by
practice, as if orators "were born, not made," as is said of poets.
The art of reading well is one of those rare accomplishments which all
wish to possess, a few think they have, while others who see and
believe that it is not the unacquired gift of genius, labour to obtain it,
and it will be found that excellence in this, as in everything else of
value, is the result of well-directed effort, and the reward of unremitting
industry. A thorough knowledge of the principles of any art will enable
a student to achieve perfection in it, so in elocution he may add new
beauties to his own style of reading and speaking however excellent
they may be naturally. But it is often said "Our greatest orators were
not trained." But is this true? How are we to know how much and how
laborious was the preliminary training each effort of these great orators
cost them, before their eloquence thrilled through the listening crowds?

As Henry Ward Beecher says: "If you go to the land which has been
irradiated by parliamentary eloquence; if you go to the people of Great
Britain; if you go to the great men in ancient times; if you go to the
illustrious names that every one recalls--Demosthenes and Cicero--they
all represent a life of work. You will not find one great sculptor, nor
one great architect, nor one eminent man in any department of art,
whose greatness, if you inquire, you will not find to be the fruit of
study, and of the evolution which comes from study." So much for the
importance of Elocution and the advantages of acquiring a proficiency
therein.
A few remarks to those who are ambitious of excelling in the art may
now be given, showing how they may best proceed in improving
themselves therein.
The following rules are worthy of strict attention:--1. Let your
articulation be distinct and deliberate. 2. Let your pronunciation be bold
and forcible. 3. Acquire a compass and variety in the height of your
voice. 4. Pronounce your words with propriety and elegance. 5.
Pronounce every word consisting of more than one syllable with its
proper accent. 6. In every sentence distinguish the more significant
words by a natural, forcible and varied emphasis. 7. Acquire a just
variety of pause and cadence. 8. Accompany the emotions and passions
which your words express, by corresponding tones, looks and gestures.
To follow nature is the fundamental rule in oratory, without regard to
which, all other rules will only produce affected declamation not just
elocution. Learn to speak slowly and deliberately, almost all persons
who have not studied the art have a habit of uttering their words too
rapidly. It should be borne in mind that the higher degrees of excellence
in elocution are to be gained, not by reading much, but by pronouncing
what is read with a strict regard to the nature of the subject, the
structure of the sentences, the turn of the sentiment, and a correct and
judicious application of the rules of the science. It is an essential
qualification of a good speaker to be able to alter the height as well as
the strength and the tone of his voice as occasion requires, so accustom
yourself to pitch your voice in different keys, from the highest to the

lowest; but this subject is of such a nature that it is difficult to give
rules for all the inflections of the voice, and it is almost, if not quite
impossible to teach gesture by written instructions; a few lessons from
a good and experienced teacher will do more to give a