Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-14
LEARNING TO SPEAK AND ACr.
Exercises that ssndens. o. s,se-ue,
and Acsin4 are Pat ThrOaxh.

and Acsins are Pat Through.
WHAT STAR REPoRTER saw Al SCHOOL IN THM
cITf-oKAcE AND kxrREssloN m nKADrHa-TRAfs-
INC THE BODY AND RtfnN ArlNo AwnwAnpxpss-
PRAcricfNe TIE STAGE PALI, src.
series Of grunts and groans grssted the safs of
STAR man. as he entered q college OF eioeution IN
TINS city, The class In voice culture that had assem-
oled numbered about forty pupils, Including law
ersciergymen and students, and small sprinkling
OF the gentler sex The professor standing little to
the 'front.' was testing the voice Of each pupil and
recording the results In 0 note book. The work OF
testinx The voice seems to be quite exhilirating
ana the cheeks OF the pupils glow with the un-
wonted exercise. The most amusing OF the many
vocal exercises was what Is termed 1.-THE syllable
movement" or throwing Q tone from the
diaphragm This the class seemed to like, and many
VINO at nrst could not be heard distinctly SO feet
away were able in short time to utter with eass
tones that could be distinctly heard from one end
TO the other OF large hall
Inc class In voice culture having completed
Ing was called The professor Instructed each one
10 take long breath. This was done, but no two
seemed to breathe alike. Some raised their
snouIoeIs 700 much, while most OF the male stu
dents insisted upon throwing their shoulders back
at each inhalation. The faults were soon cor
nose while the mouth was open WAS unSeTtaken'
but few could do this at Is impossible" said the
PROFESSOR f0r anyone to get sore throat or TO re-
tain catarrh If every Inhalation is taken through
the nose"
CHARACTER AND EXPRESSION.
Glasses In elementary elocution, expressive read
Ing grace and gesture followed quickly, the
expressive reading" to bnng out the powers Of
each member OF the class. "a person cannot put
more expression into reading than he possesses,
SAID the professor. "A stream cannot rise higher
than It's fountain head. and character IL the
fountain head OF all expression in reading. THIS Is
the secret OF success In teaching the art OF eOcu
ton, for expressive reading is elOcution proper"
81, but what can be done with persons who lack
.'rhey should be taught to develop 1t. Our class
work is the most inspiring In the world for that
purpose. The attempt to express beautiful
thought beautifully reacts on the nature, and on
tine mind and heart We soon md ourselves grow
and In literature; and this liking develops into as
ISOLATION with all that Is excellent Thus character
may grow very rapidly"
LESSON IN GRACE.
The first lesson in grace was quite amusing and
decidedly interesting. Awkwardness cropped out
everywhere Stiff wrist, stin elbows, cramped
shoulders, stin carriage OF the neck. and every
KIND Of walk imaginable showed a lack of grace
even In the disappearing pupils On the first
tap OF the bell the pupils stand on the second they
raise the arms full length; on the third the hand
loses its strength aud falls lifelesS ut the wrist;
on the fourth the forearm falls feless at the ell
bow; the fifth the life is taken out OF the entire
arm from the shoulder; on the sixth the neck be-
comes powerlesS and the head drOOps, giving to
the entire class the appearance OF sleeping statues
on the seventh tap OF the bell the chest sinks, and
Ine upper Third OF the body c0llapses; ON the
eighth the waist loses all It's power sustain the
body. and the Class stand Ike dropping flowers,
shrunken and withered, or like rows oil drunken
the upper half OF the body; on the tenth bell
well, II did not strike 1t does not strike In the
junior or non-prolessional year, but when 1t does
stIlhe IN the acting department the entire class
fall as dead, and remain SO until revived by the
eleventh bell. The twelfth ends the full work, for
then the class returns to full lie and sit down.
exercise -
moving the stiffness OF the body.
The art Of sitting at ease In society was dis
body, and especially the use Of the hands The
bow was next practiced The society low, the
stage or platform bow, and their various changes,
were elaborated.
PRAcTIc1Na THE STAGE FALL
At this moment q succession Of heavy falls at
tracted the attention OF the reporter.
May inquire the cause Of this noise7"
"Come with me and you shall see for yourself"
The professor led the way to an adjoining room
where several young ladies, attired In lowing
dresses with loose sleeves were standing In a row
on large plat OF heavily padded carpet They
paid no attention to the approach Of the visitors,
but just as they entered 6lue-eyed, red-cheeked,
healthy young woman fell forward as though shot
dead At the farther eud OF the room another
rosy-faced girl seemingly tainted dead away, and
lay PROSTATE on her side. sun another fell back.
ward and lay In the stern agonies or death. 1t
was not our approach that cause so much faint
ing and dying. The pupils were merely practicing
1--WE win Try them In unison" said the professor
As he spoke the class formed in lines Al the FIRST
zap Of the bell they fell forward on their faces
though actually heless The realistic action was
quite appalling. They lay perfectly unconscious,
ana did not move until another sound came from
the bell In an instant they were on their feet.
tudes, which changed the direction OF the 1ail
tdewtSe, backward, ObfQue, &C.
DEATH SCENES AND SILENT ACTING.
A death scene followed The person dying was
an old man whose life was fast ebbtng away,
death being FASTENED by the shock OF bad news
relating to his son. The parts taken by the pu-
pill, were executed with much naturalnesS They
gathered around the couch and showed every sign
OF pity and sorrow as the gasping for breath tndi-
Gated the near approach OF death.
Another death scene followed. 1t was that Of
young girl who died from poison: Her sui1erings.
mother, who was standing by, tainted and fell
prostrale upon the dead body OF her daughter.
Next the familiar death scene from "Hamlet" was
presented, anu this Was followed by series OF
falnting acts
Silent acting was the next exercise. The con-
duct OF an imaginary person provoked the pupils,
seemingly. TO great anger. Faces were set and
huSned the eyes appeared Wild and the browS
were corrugated Then Jealousy was effectively
depicted On every cOuntenance. Next Game love
scenes, which tine professor said he always hest
tated about showing TO susceptible visitors In
sanity was simulated. commencing with the
mi der freaks OF Hamiet and the gentle sweetness
OF Ophei.a running 10 the mama OF milder natures
and inally terminating In the utter madness OF
From the gloomy sides Of life the class passed to
the portrayal OF the brighter and more agreeable
phases OF human nature.
PANTOxINK.
The final lesson was that Of legitimate panto-
mime. The curtains were dropped and the repor-
ter made the pretense OF departing, but in reality
only got as far as the folding doors where he hid
himself to await developments, as the professor
informed him the pupils would not perform in his
presence AT last the curtain arose, and pupil
entered. He was apparently composed and at
ease with all the world. In his hand he had
letter. which he read slowly. At first the contents
did not interest him, but later his face showed
a beam OF pleasure which ripened into downright
merrtment; this was followed by q slight shade
OF surprise which soon gave way to one OF aston
iShmepL The letter apparently referred 70 some
sorrowful event as he turned 10 the next page for
every feature Of his face depicted sadness The
grief that followed showed itself In face, head,
hands, arms, and In the walk also, for he slowly
paced the door and finally sank into a chair with
the letter unfinished Another pupil In the guise
OF a friend now entered, and sympathy and en-
couragelnent were pictured In his face. Two
ladies passing stopped to Offer coincidence. The
letter that brought the sad news was lying on the
floor anu the ladies stood with divided attention
When they beheld the grief-stricken man they
letter on the floor, cure sty sat supreme upon
their countenances. Curiosity conquered, and
soon they had the letter. intently perusing ~
Their faces expressed eagerness as they steDped
forward and began TO read. Surprise, astonish-
ment, sorrow aud grief came and went In turns
The ladies finished the letter which the man had
not been able TO DO, and seemed amazed at the
contents OF the latter part OF the epistle happy
smile merged into laughter, and this into extreme
excltem.nf AZ burytpdly no nhed fho Iaftas -