Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1890-03-07
THE ART OF READING.
Why It Should Be Cultivated In
the Public Schools.

An Accomplishment Capable OF Ahording
Much Social Enjoyment When Thor
oughly Mastered - Reading
Gnd Defamation.
In these times, when every girl who ts
educated for polite society desires above all
things to make one accomplishment 30
much her own that she shall excel all others
in that one particular line, it seems strange,
says writer in the Chicago Herald, that
the very one which is in the power Of most
persons to attain is little attempted, in fact,
almost overlooked. refer to the delight
full and ever-pleasing accomplishment Of
reading aloud and in this / do not at all
consider those whose aspirations soar to
the height Of elocution.
Nothing is further from enjoyment than
TO be forced to listen to q bad recitation or
defamation, as it is very apt to become,
and yet infictions Of this sort befall US all.
Perhaps we owe grudge to Mrs. James
Brown Potter for 1t, and then again, per.
haps, we do not; who can tell2 1t may be
the tendency nay, the longing-of the
young idea Of this age to shoot forth in this
direction.
However that may be, recfting in public
and reading aloud are two entirely differ
ent thfngs except In one particular, which
is the dread Of another dose excited in the
minds Of tho persona who have secretly
pronounced q 4rst hearing absolutely hor.
rible.
Yet pathing affords greater enjoyment To-
others thsn reading aloud well dono
1t Ia useless to say, for all know, and
some perhaps with tinge OF envy, how
welcome are people at our homes who can
sing or play on some musical instrument
we'll; but reading aloud we'll, for which one
does not need genius, will afford fully as
much pleasure And If there is one accom-
plishment more than another which con-
tributes to the enjoyment Of tho family
circle it is the art Of reading aloud The
average OF children between twelve and
fifteen, Of either SCR, could no more read
UNDERSTANDABLE fine passage from
Shakespeare or Dante or one Of Ruskin's
delightful essays than he or she could inter-
pret at sight passage from Wagner or
harmony, all the dramatic force, all tho
humor, all the poetic lmaginings in tho
lines seem to vanish like magic in an unin.
telligihle tumble of sounds, as distressing
to the hearer as maddening to the conscious
reader.
Why do cite this boy or girl from twelve
to fifteen as an example2 Because at about
this age is the practice OF reading aloud
dropped from the course at school. In no
curriculum for advanced pupils do remem-
Der having noted this study, and where elo-
cution is one Of the branches the teacher
soays far, far above the teaching Of read
ing; reciting with dramatic force and gest-
ure is alone what he taught until lately,
when many have looked into the study Of
Delsarte, physical culture, etc., and include
these In their instruction.
Far be it from mo to decry the value Of
these accomplishments, for certainly none
are more charming aRd yet none are more
abused.
But for practical use, for a good every
day possession, they are no more to be COM
pared with the possibility Of reading out
loud WE'LL expressively, understandably,
agreeably, than our daily bread aa an article
Of diet may be compared with our occasional
cake and pte, 7s.-s--7.--.-
The actual value Of such an accomplish
ment is hard to estimate, though II can
scarcely be exaggerated, Sewing is not
such an easy task, and it may chance that
half the small worries and not a few of the
faults we commit may be due to the
dullness and inanity with (which our days
of which we feel the force at every turn
Every little thing, then, which will make
domestic life brighter and sweeter and
home happier should be encouraged and
cultivated,
A person who reads we'll Is much more of
an acquisition to the household than even
one who sings well or playa finely, for their
means Of entertainment are not objection,
able during the hours Of practice, nor is
their reading limited to- narrow field Of
that which ia familiar. but extends over
the literature of the world for learning to
read aloud does not at all mean to read one
article or one book, but to make interesting,
comprehensive and euphonious to the ear
either short paragraphs or long accounts
in newspapers, magazines or books.
Parents who are sending their children to
good schools often have some passing
thought suggested by chance, and hasten to
notice II elocution is taught in these schools
Finding it ls, they arrange to have their
children take private lessons or enterclasses
| in this art, and with what resulta Children
are taught like mocking-b birds to commit to
memory certain lines and certain infections
to be used in certain'places in these lines. In
other words. they repeat, parrot-like, after
the instructor line after line until they can
initiate his voice, his tone and his gesture;
but they can not use what they have learned
in any other lines. The why and wherefore
of what they do is Greek to them.
Moreover, as o general rule what they
learn to recite is poetry. Few, indeed, Of
the professors Of elocution know the least
thing about reading prose. have investi-
gated this matter q little, and have made
occasion to hear the best known teachers
read off-hand letters and items, and not one
have found who reads less stumblingly
than the ordinary person.
It is not from lack of ability, but from
lack Of practice.
OF course, this should not be, and the won.
der is that the attention OF the people has
not been called to this before.
In the curriculum Of the public schools,
as well as in private ones, reading aloud
should be continued as daily exercise up,
tl the day the scholars are graduated.
To q man IN public life such an accomplish.
ment would be invaluable, and to all who
listen 70 his reading of reports or sermons
or any Niag else q pleasure,
In reading aloud the prime requisite 10 an
appreciation of the subject IN band and a
faaaEitss4ty with the general styles Of
wsssiAe. A naturally e,eaF and musical
tsfee n A great gift, but IT IL not tho secret
ct Aucsess "a a reader. Practice is the great
factor tn this as in every other success.
Any intelligent person can read well and be
well read.
~ - 4