Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-08

Therefore If il had been the lot of the great Gin
clnnatus, TO live in our times, so FAR from being
our hrst magistrate, he could not even be con
Stable But, he the post of honor, the private |
station The study of eloquence, and of history,
and the encouragement of science, would tend
much to impede, if not arrest the fatal course a.
long which, it appears to me, the republic is has
lcning Trusting that these desuitory reflections
WI be duly appreciated, Twill now proceed to
the main subject.
| But, It may not be aniss to state one of the
prime pal reasons why eloquence prevailed so
much formerly, and is so little cultivated at pre-
seat. At those periods of the world when elo-
!quence fourished, the art of printing was un-
known Consequently, there were no news pa
| pers. All public affairs were proposed and de-
bated, and acted on, publicly. Roma, and the
cites of Greece, then afforded the most ample
hel,ls, and exhibited the most sublime spectacles
OF forensic warfare. No man, it he were def
Gent IN this accomplishment, and the knowledge
with which it was accompanied, could hope for
preferment or distinction Eloquence was power.
Our extensive republic would necessarily require
the representative system OF government but.
were it not the case, the ART of printing, and
news papers, would supersede in some measure,
the nae, though, not the utility of eloquence.-
Thus, we have exchanged oratory for news pa
| pers, and orators for news mongers with this
disadvantage, that, formerly, the people attend
ed the public debates, and heard both sides of all
questions; but, now, they hear very little, and
real very little; and it's all exclusively one
side or the other. Therefore, our people are not
so well informed and are less capable of acting
on state affairs.
True it's, that when Greece had become COR
iupt, the Kings of Persia and Of Macedon brib-
ed some o. her orators, in order 10 sway the peo
Pies but it has been often asserted dat not only
demagogues, but foreign governments have
bought the subsesvieucy of news papers.
lhavc said, III tn first number OF these little
essays, that although man may have stored his
mind with every other useful Knowledge, vet, Il
he be dehc eIlt in the correct and elegant use of
Language, either by composition, or by eiocu ION
and gesture, his knowledge could be of very lit
tie use to others, because he would have no a.
dequate means by which o convey it. The man
he'', which includes voice, enunciation, attitude,
look ard gesturesis more important than the
y matter OF speech. ".4cfion is universally IN
teliiSibie, the lowest nearer coulp-ehends il ::
While the language ofthe orator, of en- shoots over
ms head and misses ITS alJn.'i Even the correct
and spirited reading of q speech, withou- the
powerful auxiliary oil action, has wonderful ei-
tect AS an instance OF thIs, We are told Of Der
nos,aenes, that when he frs, made his appearance
as an orator, has manner was unTrac efh and
his pronounc alton so defective that he was hoo;
81 by the audience. HIS friend Sat,rIts, the
| actor, made him sensible of the Cause OF hIs ial :
lure, BY requesting him 20 repeat = speech IN
some Greclat tragedy When Demoihenes had
done, SatyruS pronounced the same speech with
10y u @SN'h, ol'l'lt stll(l
60 mulch in character, that II appeared TO the ora
TOR quite diite ent passase."S Language
and action are twin brothers, and IKE Castor and
Pollux, should always accompany each other and
act iogether They assist each Others cakness,
and by unitrg Their strength, each makes the.
oihef doubiy strong. What IS It that enables one
player 10 act part SO much better han another
when the part IS precisely he same It is The
superior delivery and acton OF theone, over those
OF the Other. 1t IS the suiting OF the words 10 the
Ann Il
imitation of nature, without overstepping her
modesty"
IHs o. Bachelor tells US that &c the voice. conn.
iel.rc1 and .irlbs should undergo an eaIly train,
fdg bg exercises Of reading and speakiag SO as 10
1u're ali me heAlbtiy and variety of which
,hey are susceptible ana So as 10 respond readily
and altogether toany key of passion or sent,
IneD, which may be touched. 3Hese erercises
should take place in childhood, while the organs of
speech, the muscles and the limbs are ender and
! ducule and be continued wIh unremittng indus.
try, through youth, up TO manhocd.
Ii Is almost Incredible to whist compass. IA
| What apower, melody, br,iliancy, a rapidly
of transition, the voice may be Carried py kitln
culture. 1he boy should be taught 10 feel and 70
express al me regular and stalely swell am Z ne
deep-toned majesty of he heroic me.l ure Itie
abrupt broken grandeur OF the pindarie; ali sne
sweet simplicity and DELICIOUS tenderness OF pas
torai verses AZ the terrible sublime OF the tr,,ec
muse ana all the versatility, humour and eaiery
al the como. Thus framed, IT Is Impossible t,r
| iIose who have not tried It with ze.,' ami perse
] verance, 20 estimate the richness of mobilization
Ire variety Of cadence, the tremuioIIs deicac OF
| touch, and quickness OF transition 10 which AN
apt boy may be carried Tins process 100. has
t,e advantage OF cultTating, at the same time.
rs sensibIhly and ms fancy Dotn oil which are.
pf srch high and indispensable importance to the
orator. de tells us that We want a system of
education, and that except with those few happy
iAvorites whom nature has made pa tec,, great
success IS not to be expected but by long, vi
8orous, jud!clous framing early yUuthf
We are informed That Cicerus delivery and
action were nearly as defective as those OF DE.
mosthenes bat that he made himself master of
these cssentrd QUALIFICATIONS, by the assistance OF
the celebrated actor Roscrus, VINO took hun into
training. Ii these men, laborlng under great ma
| tural disadvantage, became so emment, no one
should despair OF ike success by pursuing s.,
milar means. IL IS fatal error TO lInIF thaI be-
i cause nature has m a few instances, pro,luceo
perfect orators, such as Patrick Henry ana q few
Others any one may, if he will, become an orator,
without Tie assistance ofart and without The ne.
cessary labor.
Bisirt says Tie great objects to which every
pubic speaker should drec has attenttOn ,n form
ing hlsdeiTery, first, to speak 50 as 10 De 6l-
| ly and essly understood by his hearers and
next, 60 pres ghmsetf with such frrsce ond a.