The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-01-21
Reading Aloud.

Charles Kcmblc has been reading Shaks
\ pcnrc to London audiences, and Il would be
well IT, frc:n among the thousands who listen
cd TO him, a few could be induced to carry The
practice into private life. We know Of no nc
conplishmentso valuable az that Of reading
with good cmpbrsis md discretion" Of catch
ing tho meaning and spirit OF mn nuthor. and
conveying theu TO others with distinct and
inteElgablc utterancc; and yet, strange to say,
thercts no department ofmodern education so
'ltns<ci4 neglected Indeed, so general IL this
'P4e6ietA that scarcely one young lady or gen.
}emnn jns dozen who boast Of having "tin
1 ished thcif education, cnii, on being rcrucs-
ted, read aloud to a private company with that
case and efnceful meditation which Is neces.
sary to tho perfect apprcciation OF the author.
There 70 either q forced and unnatural mouth.
ing, hssita;ing and impe 7fcct articulation, or
n9snotony & tcne e thosoqgh!y painful, that
somc excuse presents itself i6r. his absence.
| Whatever may be tho itnpetfsctions of our
school tuition, this defect Is rather to De at-
tributcd toIa want Of taste, and CONSEQUENT
neglect of practice OH the part Of grown. .np in
diyidunIs than to any defect In their clcmen-
tary trairing. There may be d deficiency al
good morals; but the main cvjl arises from, the
unequal value which seems to he attached to
good reading AZ compared with music, dnu-
cling, painting, and other fashionable acquirc-
mcpts Why il should be so, we can. d;scoy-
or no good cause, but on the contrary, sec
many ysubs'nntial reasons why reading aloud
should be cultivated MS one Of the most useful
and attractive of domestic Accomplishments
To young ladies, for example, the habit of
reading aloud has much TO recommend II. AS
r:ere.cxercisc, II IL highly beneficial, on &C
connt of the strength nnd vieor whichi Il con-
fers on the chest and lungs, while the mental
pleasure to be derived thercfrom is ono Of the
most delightful that can adorn the family cir.
Gle. Gatherd round the winters fire or cr-
cning lamp, what could be moro cheer full for
the aged md inflrm, what moro instructiyc
TO the younger branches, OF moro exemplary
to the careless than the reading aloud Of some
cnicrtain'ng author and who could do this
with greater grncc, or moro impressive effect,
than q youthful femalcg II requires no great
effort to attain this nrt---no neglect Of music,
painting, or other accomplishment. II is, in
fact moro practice than n study, and one
which the interest excited by now books aud
periotlicals would always lhavent from bccon,-
ing dull or tircsomc Werc females Of all
ranks to ndopt the practiecEiorc than they do
at'prcscnt, they would bind 10 their homes
many who orc otherwise disposed Ia 60 ip
search of unworthy enjoyincuts, and would
add another chain of delightful associations
heartl, Another ADVANTAGE Which Il would
confer on tho fnjr readers fbcmec,ves would
| be the improved uttcrnncc md intonatior
which correct reading wonld .prod,ccg i,,stend
] Of that simpcriig dlisptnx which nre so s,f.
| ten to bc met With. even among females or tho
/ higher classes. Nor is IL To- women In their
domestic capacity only that the practice 81
reading aloud would be csat.cndcti with benefit.
Many Of the middle and lower classes are under
1 the necessity uf earniug Il livelihood by indoo,
cmpioynicnta, siicli is millinery. strawspiait.
ing, pattern-paintn mud the iik efat,ss bains
Fin general occupied iii one afartn,ent Of mod
crate sizc, tho yendin aloud cs proper hooks
would be To them not only a source of health
til rccraations but of amusement and ifstfiics
ton. In such establishments, rending by
turns would present beautiful picture md
however, limited the amount ofiafpsinatIon dig
soniinaicd, IL would. at ali cvcnts, he thor
sand tifnes preferable 10 that system OF idle
aud worthless gossip which. is said now TO pre-
vail.
To Young men pronaripr for professional
labors, the art of reading aloud is indispensa
bic; and though not equally necessary for
what arc ci.flcd business men. stil! 10 sucl, Il
IL d i,ceonilnr and valuable artluircment. AK
yo,r sass, wlin bias iasey gone 10 the counting.
room. torsasi 10 you tho Inst debate in Par.
lament, and ten TO one no will rattle through
i witha juitbling indistinctness OF utterauee,
that you arc glad when his hour c',llsS him
away, and leaves You to the quiet eujpymesit
OF sclfperusai. And why = this Simply
because the youth has never been taught to
regard rendsag aloud IN the light Of graceful
scconipiIs'isnent: AZ school ne learned 10
know ms WORDS, anu that WA go lar tiasfii'
but 10 fead as gsnucman. ~ ths spirit ansi
meaning OF the suthor shnt = WHIST hc ms yst
70 ss'li,rp oy tue 'ui''ainu ot ssst ine1ets
anu 1,s ireeueht pfscuee; has the sss ti rsad-
'ng alnau = ss u's snw sS,s we nsnsioi, any
one can stRsiiiy convince hi,'sseH uy rsgneS-