New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-28
CLERGYMEN'S ELOCUTION.
Not Hard to Fill Church When
Minister Speaks PLdinIu.

81 won't go far to say that eOcution is
all a clergyman needs but l never yet knew a
forceful and polished speaker Of any creed who
didn't fill his church"
Thus said Henry Gaines Hawn. president of the
National Association of Elocutionists the open
ing session OF the thirteenth annual meeting yes
terday in the Board OF Education building. Mr..
Hawn's theme, however was the clergy, but
elocution, or, more exactly, the sins against dig
nifty and good taste which elocutionists commit in
the name Of their From start TO finish Mr.
Hawn had il OUT with his fellow elocutionists.
He said he would like to see the profession they
all followed take its proper place in public esteem
but would while they do the things they do
Il am seriously angry" he said, in beginning. at
the lack OF popular appreciation for this art Of
ours. One cause Of the cheapness with which 1t
lie viewed by layInen I take be the cheap ad-
vertisements in which many elocutionists indulge
How IS this, in large letters'-and he read from
an lad" None Better?
'-or this-.Always Busy" Best Ever IS the
way IN which another solicits business. The most
successful reader before the public Who says so?
why 60 elsewhere when you can go TO the foun-
tainheadT IS another.
There IS no other art which advertises in such
terms these. in music. in the drama a simple
announcement is all Don't, my friends, indulge
IN these absurd. pOmpous, fragrant and vulgar ad-
vertisements."
Then Mr.. Hawn fell upon the elocutionists who
cheaper their art. by denying that they elocu-
tionists. It filled him with righteous Indignation
10 have a fellow craftswoman say on her circular
Not a mere elocutionist."
And I must ask my fellow eIocutlonists'' he
continued, especially the ladies. be little
more sparing about placing their photographs on
their circulars The audience, which com
posed mostly OF women laughed trife con
STRANGELY. There's cheapness in ii that is not
10 ne avoided.
The dramatic profession pulls Its skirts away
nom U.S. Mr. HaWn went Personally, /
never could that actor was anything but an
elocutionist plus costume. I should Ike TO see
ourselves taken interpreters Of literature. But
please avoid high sounding names Dialectician'
and 'Dialector' both ugly and un-English terms
for generally harmless, well meaning people
we have never been able TO get the public TO
take us seriously. because We do such unserious
things. The most dignifed paper IN New-York
City once sent a reporter TO interview The
reporter pushed a pad and pencil toward me. and
said: Here. you write what you want US TO say
about YOU There are many journals in the
country that IN return for buying a weekly or
monthly card IN their advertising columns will
agree TO give members Of our profession write
ul-that IS, We can write " hat we Ike apo4t our
selves ANY elocutionlst Wao mas TREND al SO.aS
managers understand that. and don't care a pit
for the handsomest newspaper puhs you car
oh, / do wish somebody would get after the
clergymen Of the country" sighed tne speaker.
Not for their elocution but tor the facility with
which they give letters or inaoEsement 10 eyeTy one
heard never heard such eIocuuon before most
IL realize The poorest eIocutionists can get such
reconmendattons and they figure on an circulars
becoming q lost "a On the contrary. II IS com
inS TO the flOT.t-but something else
You'd be surprised TO know how many bankers,
clergy men, physicians and other men come TO me
Tor lessons in elocuton. out most of Them lose no
time telling me. 4 don't want 10 learn TO speak
pieces That's The trouble; we have oVerempha-
sized that side OF our art-the speaking or
pieces. We have acted If the memoriZing OF
pieces and ing them or al audiences were me
chief end OF the eiOcutionist Now, not one IN ten
my pupils could possibly be fitted for dramatic
readers. They don't possess The dramatic teInpera-
rnent. What IS dramatic temperament: II - the
possession % that nervous temperament winch IN
f-ue life responds instantly TO JOY or sorrow
could NOT wish my enemy 10 possess IT,
That terrible. sombre. dramatic temperament.
TO teach people to speak English correctly that
Mr.. Hswn seemed think should be one important
aim with teacher OF elocution. but he SAID he
had attended school conmencemcilts WITHIN
last 1hree weeks. and ia none die he hear
good English used. taking good English TO cover
moi only correct grammar. but human zones OF
voice. Washington was mispronounceo py three
pupils IN scflooi. America was catied Atnur-
Iica ." and other bad names- Later he touched upon
the kind OF teachers this city employs to teach Eng
lsh 10 it's foreigners .,
This is a list OF the teachers licensed 20 teach
Eag,ish foreigners" he said hourishing closey
printed newspaper cutting AT dinners ana otler
functions have been delighted to note that Siehe
have dwell upon the speaking or one $ nlolier
tongue well as positive factor n encou4 siI y!
% triotism and good citizenship. IL seems SO 20
me. Some speakers have heard go so far as 20
hold that unless men could speak EngIsh ngenIiy'
they we're not fitted 20 take part as eecon OFFICIALS