The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-03-24
EVOLUTIONARY ASPIRANTy.
Oueer Persons Who Th1nk The1 Rooeo
Dsanaele Talene.

0~eer Pers~ss We rhssk They Ressss
Dramatic Tsleae.
fFrom the New York SUM-
sTherc are some queer persons who
try to learn elocution," efwell-spokcn
professor said.
1T is really surprising TO sec with
what persistence those who are positively
disqualified will strive to acquire the de-
clamatory art. Public school education
is responsible for good deal a this.
Take class Of college boys; they are al-
most men. Their tastes and capacities
are thoroughly marked It y obvious
that some Of them have no aptitude Tor
elocution. Their voices are inadequate;
their action is irretrievably bad. Yet the
curriculum requires that they should de-
claim regularly. No amount q natural
disqualification relieves them from this
duty. The result Is that they only fur
nish sport for their companions, and 60
through the college course with only .
perfunctory performance Of this part Of
their duties. OF course, this in direct
conflict with the most advanced thought
on the subject Of education. Both COM
mon sense and science dictate that it is
waste Of time to try TO teach some
persons spme things: Vast sum: 9.
money and long periods Of time misht
be saved by refraining from attempts to
perform the impossible in teaching.
But there are some funny instances
Of persons Of more mature years trying
to learn elocution. Persons who have
had little or no education in school, who
can neither read nor pronounce, to whom
proper name is an insurmOuntable OBJ
stacle and word beyond the common
place rnbicon, think they can he fitted
to SHINE in elocution. Those persons
always trip up on pronunciation. They
make the most ludicrous blnntlers with
out the faintest conception why they are
laughed at. You may say that We ought
not to try to teach such persons. You
might as well say that a dry goods mer-
chant should not sell unbecoming goods
Here is young fellow who is doing
moderately we'll in business. He goes
into company and finds that elocntion is
all the rage. He sees others brought into
prominence by readings and recita-
tons He thinks that he can make
his mark, and he comes to me OR some
other professor to get instruction. had
q Young grocer who took notion 70 read
Slakespearean pieces. He tripped over
eyerv unusual word, he stumbled over
every proper name, and he absolutely Tell
down on the point Of memory. It was
only by dint Of hard hammering TINT
could get him drilled into one twenty
minute reading. Finally got tired Of
taking his money, and had to send him
| away.
"'rhen I had fat, fussy little fellow,
who took notion to play Ifumiet with
| dramatic association. ! told him
| frankly that his physique was not at for
the character. Imagine the melancholy
Dane with paunch! had . big butcher
once who wanted to play ''Claude
Melnotte." He was better fitted to lug
side Of beef than TO toy with pauline.
II seemed wrong to take his money, but
I was afraid to tell him the truth. I be-
lieve the audience cured him ct his first
| and last attempt. But the climax OF abb
surdity was little bantam fellow, who
took fancy for heavy parts. He want
ed to play COriOidnns or Richard
III, or other parts that required
voice and action. / never saw him try
ing one Of those characters without
thinking of the fable Of the toad and
the OK. His tragedy was always very
funny. When first began teaching /
used to try to get these fellows to listen
to the truth. got no thanks for my
honesty. and only lost my customers.
Now, when any one comes % me % be
taught do the best l can to teach him.
never get tired taking their money -
long - they don't get tried paying.