Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-03-12
Reading Aloud.

II, IRON among tho thousands who
listened to him, few could bo induced
10 carry the practice into private life
We know Of no accomplishment &c
valuable - that of reading "witt
good emphasis and discretion" o.
catching the meaning and spirit Of ar
aathoe, and conveying them to other'
.-sss : distinct and infAllIsible utter
ance and yet, strange 10 say, there
is no department Of modern education
90 much neglected. Indeed, SO gen
eral is this neglect, that scarcely one
young lady or gentleman in dozen
who boast Of having "finished" theil
education, can, on being requested
read aloud TO private company with
that case and graceful modulatior
which is necessary to the perfect ap.
probation of tho author. There il
eithor forced and unnatural mouth.
ing, hesitating and imperfect articu-
lation, or monotony Of tone so thor.
oughly painful, that one listens with
impaticnce, and is glad when some
excuse presents itself for his absence
Whatever may be the imperfectioni
of our school tuition, this defect il
rather to be attributed to want o.
taste, and consequent neglect of prac
tice on the part Of grown-up individ
uals, than 10 any defect in their slc
mentary training. There may bo 0
deficiency of good models; but the
main difficulty arises from the unequa
valuo which seems TO be attached to
good reading as compared with music
dancing, painting and other fashiona
Bile requirements. Why it should be
so, we can discover no good cause, but
on the contrary see many substantial
reasons why reading aloud should be
cultivated as one of the most usefu
and attractive of domestic accomplish
ments.
To young ladies', for example, the
habit of reading aloud has much to re
commend il. As mere exercise, IL Il
highly beneficial on account of the
strength and vigor which II confors or
the chest and lungs; while the mon
tal pleauro TO be derived therefrom Il
one OF the most uuiighsrui shat auvrus
the family circle. Gathered round the
winters FIRE or evening lamp, wha,
could be more cheerful for the aged and
infrm, what moro instructive to the
younger branches, or moro exemplary
to the careless, than the reading alouc
Of some entertaining author, and who
could do this with greater grace OF
more impressive effect than a youth
ful female ! 1t requires no great
effort to attain this, art, no neglect O
music, painting or other accomplish
ment II is, in fact more a practic,
than study, and one which the in
terest excited by now books and peri
odicals would always prevent from
becoming dull or tiresome. Were fe
males Of oil ranks 10 adopt the prao
tico moro than they do at present
thcy would bind to their homes many
who are otherwise disposed to go il
search of unworthy enjoymcnts, ant
would add another chain of delightful
associations wherewith TO attach th,
young TO the family hearth. Another
advantage which it would confer OF
the fair readers themselves, would b,
the improved utterance and intona
tion which correct reading would pro
duce, instead of that simpcring ant
lisping which are so often to bo me
with oven among females Of the high
or classes. Nor is it to women IL
their domestic capacity only that th'
practice Of reading aloud would be at
tended with benefit. Many Of thu
middle and lower classes are undel
tho necessity Of earning LIVELIHOOD
by indoor employment, such as mil
linery, straw-plaiting, making
and the like, and being in general oc
''oupicd in one apartment Of moderat,
'ize, the reading aloud Of proper
books would be 10 them not only I
iourcc Of healthy recreation, but o
amusement and instruction. Ia sucl
establishments, reading by turns wSpif
present o beautiful picture, and how
overimitcd the amount Of information
disseminated, 1t would at all events b'
a thousands times preferable 10 thai
system of idle and worthless gossiI
which is said now 10 prevail.
To young men preparing for pro
fessional labors, the art of reading
aloud is indispensable, and although
not equally necessary for what ar'
called business mon, still to such, 1t Il
a becoming and valuable requirement
Ask your son, who has lately gone Il
tho counting room, 10 read you th'
last debate in parliament, and ten Y
one hc will rattle through it with sucl
a jumbling indistinctncss OF utteranc'
that you aro glad whom his hour call
him away, and leaves you to tho quic
enjoyment Of self-pcrusal. And why
is this' Simply because tho you'll
has never been taught TO regard read
ing aloud in the light Of graceful
accomplishment. Az schaol be learn
cd to know bis words, and that wa
- n. r. l.s A. ~~.1 svantIo