Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-30
PROVIDENCE.
FOR THE LITERARY CADET.
DECLAMATI0N.-No. 9.

vance, that children acquire bad habits Of gesticu
This objection may be reasonably urged by those
who have so large number ofpupils that they can
not attend to this branch Of instruction: but pri-
vate teachers, if they have small charge, cannot
make it withou, tacity duplicating their own neg
lect. For they have time enough for the purpose,
and it is their business to correct them, from the
first moment of their attempting to speak
This is labor of great magnitude, but it is pro-
portionably important. Though it is not possible
for all to become good speakers owing to physical
defects, and stammering abits yet it is possible
for every TO correct, In some measure, such de-
fects. The old story, related Of Demosthenes,
needs no repetition, to convince o this for the
efforts that are made in modern times, are crowned
with complete success. The seminaries that are
established in New York, Philadelpha, and other
places, Tor curing impedments of speech, have
cceded in restoring many persons, formerly aalict
ed in this way to the proper and free use of tlnir
organs. The principles by which these cures are
performed, will probably soon be known to the
public; and every tutor will then have it in his
power to employ them for the benefit OF his own
pupils. The writer of this, had the pleasure OF
hearing several persons converse uently, who were
formerly troubled with great hesitancy, that
they actually panied the ears Of their auditors
Though strict secrecy is now enjoined upon them,
yet there can hardly be a doubt that the method
consists chiefly in habituating them to the pronun
p;a nnfxy haf n to ho NIT
account of certain consonants. Some boys cannot
distinctly articulate the letter 8, as it occurs in
SMALL, sNAG, sc. Others cannot pronounce the
II, In GRACE, RAIN, &c. Some peculiarly of this
kind distinguishes almost every child. But as chill
dren grow older habit makes them familiar with the
enunciation of these letters. few retain their i'm
pediments through life, because care has not been
taken to obvate them. The most obstinate cases
can doubtless be remedied by attention; and moth
Ing has greater tendency to do this, than the prac
tice of Defamation. He who can speak with
clearness, ease and effect, must of necessity be a
good reader. Words, with him, lively repre-
seatations, not dull and obscure symbols and he
knows how to feel and to express the full force oi
them.
There appears to be great error in the suppo-
siton that children should first be taught artificial
rules to guide them in gesticulatlon; whereas, if
the directions Of mature were followed, and all
alterations from pointed out they occur, chill
dren would rarely, in the end, fail to acquIt
themselves handsomely. When they have made
considerable advancement in dstincness OF artcula-
ton, and propriety Of action, few of the rules,
the most obvious may be impaired to them. Per-
haps nothing has tended to set aside the bene-
fits resulting from them, than the immature season
at which they are brought forward and promulga-
ted, as the only orthodox rules of the art. They
may be studied with much advantage, when the
mind has made some progress towards maturity
PATRICK HENRY owed none of his eloquence to
their assistance. He followed the impulse oi ma
ture which they may often assist, but cannot direct
An important argument in favor of the practice
| Of School Defamation, may be adduced from the
fact, that many of youth, when they first enter
| the University, not prepared TO commence
| successful competition with those who have had
| the advantage Of previous instruction. They feel
| an overwhelming lack Of confidence, which pre-
vents them from appearing well in their first at
tempts and almost preclude them from attaining to
| any degree of excellence. Their enunciation hai
not been improved by exercise, and they are soor
made sensible of their own inferiority, aud shrink
from it as from task of great difficulty. The con
sequence is, they must either make unwearee
| exertion, and devote to it that time which
should be occupied in the usual studies Of thei'
class or they must be contented to take stand IN
fnitely below their real merits. For the gra
| dations of scholarship are chiefly founded on th
degree of excellence in compositions and declama
upn. And this is because men do not wilingl
give crejenoe to the qualifications and accomplish
ments of any one, unless they have had chance t
observe him, when his talents called into actua
exertion. One Of the greatest inducements to en-
courage the practise of this art is, that every per
son who has received good education, is expecte
10 manifest the fruits oft and sooner or later, ha
an opportunity Of ensuring good reputation, D.
displaying talents for public speaking. CoLANus.
sIt is intended to offer few renarks on COMPOST
| ION in the next number.
\