Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-04-06
EXTRACTED FOR THE AMERICAN,
e l. u & u II q N.

fully and advantageously applied to the great
and practical purposes of life, than Elocu,ion.
II is IN the most frequent use of any other fac.
ulty with which our nature is endowed When
ever we exercise the organs of speech, whether
in conversation, reading, or public speaking,
Throughout all the dvcrsites of rank and sex,
including kings pnd beggars, oil individuals be.
gin to practice it, the second, if not the first
year of their existence. IT is but another word
for the faculty ofspeech,-a faculty which -le-
Yates man above the brute creation, and which
should not be permitted to
--''rust out unused"
and unimproved That the reading or speaking
voice, as well as the singing voice, is suscepti-
bic ofamost an unlimited degree Of cultivation,
is truth, with conviction of which, men have
been deeply impressed, in all ages the world.
Especially is this true of the citizens of Greece
and Rome. They paid great attention to the
art of eloquencc, as it was called in ancient
times now, elocution which is ',he rose by
another name !" and we learn from history, that
their labors were rewarded with beneficial re-
suits.
Passing over in silence, other great and inn
mortal names, let us direct our attention for
moment, to Demosihcnes Cicero, and Percles
Nature did not very literally provide Domos.
themes with power of speech. lie, however,
possessed genius in an eminent degree. And
yet, without industry, his name would have
"mouldered in oblivion" By undyiug perse-
verance in the pursuit oc oraiory, and by unre.
mittng attention TO the principles upon which
good speaking is founded he acquired an eIo.
quence which "astonished all Greece" We
may say of him without any poelical license,
he spoke,
Confusion heard his voice. and wild uproar stood
ruled"
Cicero, by close application, reading, and de-
claiming, rendered his voice SO melodous, pow.
erfnl and thrilling, that it hushed the Roman
Senate into silence, and made "great Cmsur''
himself tremble on his seat. Perices so sue.
cesstully cultivated the noble art of elocution
that with him, manner was almost matter An
incident is related in history, which may serve
to give us an idea Of the power OF his eloquence
Thucidides, although an enemy TO Pericles
when asked Which was the best wrestler, an.
swered: "Whenever have given him saE,
he af1irms the contrary, in such strong and for
chile terms, that he pursuades all the specta'
tors thati did not throw him, though they them
selves saw him on the ground" Those three
renowned orators adopted in early life, the ex.
cellert motto, that "nolhng is given to mor,als
without ndea'igabc labor" Dlscardmg the
absurd notion, that the Gods made orators, OF
that they were born so, they acted upon The
true principle, that however much or little ma
trre had done for them, they would rely exclu
The docillty Of nosthcnes, Cicero, and Peri
cles, through life, and the care and success will
which they cultivated the science of speakin!
well, afford examples worthy Of universal imi
tation, from the President of the United States
members OF congress, and of State legislatures
: lawyers, clergymen, conductors of literary in
e stilutions, and other gentlemen OF public con
0 sderation, down TO the humblest citizen of on
: republic. Those peerless orators immortal izet
r their names by "patent labor, ana patient labo
I. only" If they excelled Americans, or any O
r ther men that the world ever produced, i, is be
= cause they devoted time, money, and labor L
n the improvement of their manner ofspeaking.
'f Who does not know that nattention to a sub
y ject, is tan,amornt 10 ignorance oft! Know
c ledge is not ntuitve. The infant grasps alik
y the near flame, which would burn him, and tn
bright orb of day, which he cannot reach II i
a truism, but, nevertheless, one which is to
= often practically disregarded, that we know Ii,
tie or nothing, except what we learn. WI,
then, talk 30 much of natures orators!" G.
!, cero says, that the "poet is born, but the orato
! is made" Nature, doubtless, makes a grea
:, difference in the capacities with which she er
: dows her childreni but art makes still grea
. er difference. In an excellent letter addresse
= to young man engaged in the study law, tn
if late Hon. William Writ, truly observes, that Z"
), is Fat of fate, from which no genius can al
NJ solve YOUTH that there is no excellence withol
- great labor"
.. Vocal music is more gratifying than instr,
mental, because the human voice, whether i
notes are heard in song or speech, is the mobiles
and sweetest instrument Of music in existenc,
BY It, however, differs from musical instrumel
nd in this respect, among others it is capable
G., r. - al