Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-15
THE TRUE AND FALSE.
DIR. Warman's Interesting Lecture on
STYLES of Elacutiou

DIR. Warman's Interesting Lecture on
Styles of Elocutiou.
E. B. Warman lectured-to large audi
ence last evening at the Congregational
Church, under the auspices of the Sacra.
mento Lecture Association, on The True
and False in Elocution.h In opening his
lecture he said that next to the difficulty
experienced in finding needle in a hay
stack is that of finding true elocutionist.
Really good orators and perfect rea iers are
rare. Indeed, he said, there are but three
readers in the United States. And" he
added, facetiously, two of them are dead -
But all persons cannot become good read
ers, as no one can read correctly who does
not breathe properly. To be good elocu-
zionist one must understand the functions
and possibilities of the lungs and respira-
tory organs. Elocution had most beneti-
cial effect in developing the proper use of
these organs. By understanding the use
of the voice many lung and bron chial
troubles may be avoided. Properly used,
elocution will invigorate the whole system.
The lecturer said that people go into
the pulpit, on the rostrum and into the
school-room without any knowledge of the
use OF the lungs. and presume to educate
others in what they call elocution.
Quality of voice, he claimed, is as essen
tial as quantity. He referred to many of the
objectionable faults of elocutionists, and
gave illustrations of some of the most
glaring ones exhibited by so-called teach
ers. all reading. he said, is painting. and
the true artist endeavors to get all the deli
cate shades and touches of speech-in
short, all the cOlors of the rainbow are re.
hected in the cultured voice. Some elocu-
tionists imagine that motion is synonymous
with emotion. No two persons should be
taught the same method-what is suited to
one is not suited to another and yet many
teachers of elocution never vary their
method, for the reason that they cannot
A large class of teachers and readers
never had lesson themselves in elocution
they are sell. made. and worship their
creator. They know it all, and reminded
the speaker of the boy who built boat of
which he was proud, and then said he
made it all out of his own head, and had
wood enough left for another" Some
teachers claim to be able to turn out per-
feet elocutionists in ten lessons. They
have elocution on the BRAIN but no brain
the work of life time To learn to play
upon the human voice is to gain the mas
terry of the most delicate instruments
known.
Nature should never be sacrificed to art.
1t is the most difficult thing in the world to
be natural. We seldom see anything
awkward in little child; it never becomes
awkward until it gets old enough to become
conscious of its awkwardness.
Referring to that class of elocutionists
who indulge in stage gymnastics and con-
tortions, the lecturer said the false elocu-
ZIONIST cannot keep still; he must keep
moving, while his arms are always going
like windmill. He said it was mistake
to recite too much, that many of the
choicest gems of literature were spoiled in
their delivery by not being read. There
are two schools of elocution, as well as of
acting-the natural and the declamatory
The latter is the false. The empty wagon
makes the most noise.
Throughout the lecture various styles of
platform oratory and elocution were de-
scribed, and comparisons drawn with the
true art. The lecture es whole was in
structive, interesting and amusing.