New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-29
THE ART or SPEAKING.
MRS MILWARD ADAMS TELLS HOW TO
READ AND RECITE WITH ORA
MATIC EXPRESSION

Mrs. Milward Adams gave the third lecture In
her present course yesterday morning at the nome
OF Mrs Robert l.. Johnson. No 327 Lexington-ave..
THE Speech Arts: Reading Recitation ana
Dramatic Expression" These were fine arts, she
said and ought to rank as such. while sght-read-
Ing In her opinion. almost the highest Of all
arts.
"To read aloud agreeably at sight requires great
intellectual development the par; of the reader.
said Mrs. Adams zone must see. hear ana enunci-
ate at the same time and not only enter into the
thought OF the writer but be able to project tha'
thought-a thing that very few OF US can DO
"One reason" she went to say. why people
are so fearful OF attempting to read anything AT
sight is that they are In the habit OF reading with
out prOnouncing the words to themselves ana con-
sequenty no idea that they can do II. or now
the words sound They catch the thought ana ley
the words go. This manner of reading Is UNI
rivalled as a method of creating chaos and con-
fusion in the mental order. Among other things. 1t
ruined the memory and limited the readers vocab-
ularv To pronounce mentally when reading en-
abled one to hold the Ideas and had a wonderfully
steadying effect upon the mind; and while TINS
would be found slow and difficult at first 1t would
soon come to be easy and natural as the ordi-
nary method.
"A certain knowledge of technique" the lecturer
continued SIS absolutely necessary in all the speech
arts Without 1t cannot even read a secretary :
report properly. We can't forgive speaker for not
making himself Heard. and in order to make me
voice carry one must know how 70 find ana us" us
medium or kcyrote. Neither Will we excuse any
one for getting frightened Or excited, ana nothihs
will give US camness ana confidence like TINS me
dunn quality Of the voice ,, ~.
For the extemporancous speaker a KNOWLEDGE OF
vocal art Is most necessary. for, no matter no"
clearly he thinks and expresses himself he VIII ere
ate confusion I'm the minds of the listeners II ne IS
not technique enough to hold his voice suspended
and indicate by his tone the proportion OF ms SEN
fences Emphasis, by-the-way. should never pe re-,
sorted for this purpose. In America we MAKE az,
variety in this way. but II is IL sign OF cruden"S9
and an insult TO the intelligence OF the listeners as
though they did not know enough 10 see the lflpoi
lance of a word without its being thrust upon thelr
notice" -, .L,
Speaking of Rotations. Mrs. Adams said tha'
ANYBODY should be able to learn to give them agrec
ably as everybody could select what suited ms or
her temperament. They should always be lyrlr is, o'
bits OF portraiture not suitable for large piaceS.
Monologues require a little more study. but are
within the reach OF many, but for the dramatic ART
must be born -. H.. a,1
The next and last lecture. on symbolism ana
Dramatic Art" will be given on February T. Dsen1-
ming at II O'clock at the home or Mrs. frahcis H.
I.eggett No q West Thirty fourth-st. .
Among those present yesterday were MIS-. .. -.
White Mrs Henry Cam. Mrs. Charles Eaton Mss
Minnie Dwight. Miss Lille Berg Miss Mcleod; MT.
Charles Ditson, Miss Thursby and Miss Ina Ihurs-
by.