The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-01-19
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R Il A DIN G

EA DIN IT,
The ability to read we'll is to some
extent a gift, and all cannot attain il.
The great difficulty with many, is the
absence of quick perception in grasp
ing at glance, the idea of the whole
sentence, SO rs to grasp it in their own
minds, and feel it in their hearts, and
therefore be able to express its mean :.
ing to their listeners. Indeed, the chief
cause of monotony and of poor reading
generally, is the fact, that very often,
the mind of the reader does not com.
prchcnd the thought Of the author. nor
his heart sympathize with the feelings
expressed, and he reads therefore mere
words hardly attaching more meaning
to them, certainly giving to them no
more expressions, than though they
were OF y foreign tongue.
There must be enthusiasm in the
reader, to produce effect upon the hear
cr. Yet the noblcst enthusiasm, the
deepest feeling, and the highest apprc-
citation Of the thought, cannot alone
make good reader. The voice must
be trained. The instrument must be
in tune. The organs of speech must
be SO drilled, that they will habitually
accommodate themselves, to the con-
dition Of the reader. There is much
that is mechanical in reading, which
every one may acquire, aud without
acquiring which, no one eau read We'll.
Thoughts are expressed by words, and
he fails, who, for whatever reason, does
not give full fu:cc to words, sounding
each one distinct, yet rs n unit made
up Of several elements. Feelings are
expressed by tones of the voice, and
he, who cannot scnsibly change his
voice from one tono to another, fails
in producing the legitimate effect Of
good reading.
Two persons, of the same natural
musicul talent, may play upon the pi-
a,tortc the same tune. The one,
having comparatively but little prac-
tice, is obliged to give his whole attcn-
ton 10 mechanical execution, in order
that the proper notes may be strucl,
in the proper time, and he performs the
piece without positive fault, and yet
affords but little satisfaction to his lis
tcners. The other, the master of the
instrument, who has praticcd upon the
scales till the mechanical execution of
the most difficult music requires ofhim
but little thought, looks through the
mere melody and rythm Of the music
performed, to the theme upon which
it is founded, and gives it such express
sion, that his hearers are often melted
into tears. Now the voice is the in
strument by which chiefly we commu-
nicate thoughts and feelings to others;
and accordingly rs we are or arc not
masters Of its powers, shall we be ena-
bled TO express eilcctually our own
feelings and those Of the author wo
,rcad. :.
These two elements in good read
ing--thc mechanical and intellectual
are hardly kept enough distinct in the
instructions in reading in our schools.
The mechanical part may and should
be acquired chiefly by the pupils, when
in-thc lower classes. For the organs of
speech are more llcxible in early years,
and careless habits in pronunciation
and articulation can then be more cas-
ily corrected, than when they have been
c, firmed by habitual practice. We
were sorry to see in some Of our schools
carcicssness m this respectseccasIonal-
ly on TIE part Of teachers, oitcn OH the
part of pupils in the younger classes,
and sometimes among the pupils of
the first class. For example, words
ending in ing pronounced without
sounding the final letter-words end
ing in ess, pronounced rs though spell.
cd css-thc letter omitted in words
like subject and beasts. We all know
how diilicut it is for one, who has not
paid particular attention to articula-
ton, to pronounce, for instance, the
word acts, SO that it can be distinguish
cd, except by tho context, from tho
word are. Yet our language abounds
in such difficulties; and they can only
be met and conquered by constant
practice and watchtulness in carly
years.
Common School Report