New-York tribune., 1907-09-07

of culture, absence of intellect; for affectatioi
and offensive puerility. But few men Of stand.
ing will admit that they studying elocution
and this is a natural condition, for, despite th'
dictionaries, the word in popular acceptance
means but one thing. the "parlor recitation.
generally of some composition Of The Face or
the Barroom Floor variety. If there is any
thing worse than a parlor recitation it mus
be two pariOT recitatiOns.
DISUSED TERN.
1t is useless to inquire whether the debase-
nnent Of the word "eiocution" is due To Jh5
teachers or the half taught pupils Of the art,
but the use of this word as descriptive Of q
serious study is a thing OF the past. We meg
say mans "elocution is good" and be UNDER
stood as alIudinS to his everyday speech. but t'
say that he rs studying "elocuton" is distorted
into meaning that he is being coached To di
Initiative stunts.
Yet. if the word "elocution." as denctns
branch Of study, is relesated TO the back
ground. the art in its differing manifestations
from conversation through the drama. remai1@
as a constant and potent factor in education
Its teachers are many. and its students earnest
the letter quite frequently saying, i want tc
be able to speak better, 10 express myself. but
don't want 'eIocution
The National Society. then. was formed for
the express purpose Of mutual Improvement in
sueech and i'm the methods of teaching speech
to unity American English. to discountenance
illitera;e "reciters OF pieces and 10 put an edu-
cationaI value upon the study of the spoken
word The high aims Of the association wers
retarded from the first by the title "elocutIon-
lists the local educators We're nearly always
conspicuous by their absence from the convrn-
tions and in some communities the public often
thought a series of shows was offered them.
SPEECH AN INDEX To CHARACTER.
Even under the weight cf this incubus Of
misunderstood title the annual conventions hava
accomplished much Recitation and "dccidnd-
ton platform mpe-sonatioQ' and ali the .mors
trivial forms of speech, properly called enter
tainment." have been considered as legitimate
but not the most desirable manifestations OF oral
delivery If il be true that AS man think
eth so he is" it is certain that as he spcaketh.
SO he seems" The world is more likely To ciaS
sify Us socially educationay and even spiritually
tx speech an index To character than by
any other one thing. and yet for the most part.
we leave the acquisition of this faculty largely to
chance. The recent widespread discussion in the
newspapers and periodicals of poor American
speech" the American voice. etc, timely
and important. but the remedy for our defects.
the conscious study of speech, was seldom sus-
gested.
1t is a scientific fact that speech must be
taught orally, that no diacritical mark indi-
cate sound with which the ear is not familiar.
1t is amazing how many different systems of
English phonetfrs can be heard in an American
household, and all because the vowels of a Ian
guage are Il matter of correct incorrect tore
production The use Of speech in conversation
is more important than public address and the
correct mental (silenD the most important
of all. The matter Is always paramount To tie
manner but a knowledge of the manner is ncccs-
sary both to get and to give the matter
Literature is merely indicated speech. and 10
know the laws of utterance tand OF action is
an essential for it's comprehension.
NEED OF INSTRUCTION.
The national society. therefore. finding the
word elocuton restricted in the popular mini
to mean a dramatic selection, and fully compre-
hending all that it should denote, now employs
a term which includes conversation. pulpit ora
tory forensic address, debate reading voice for
speech dramatic art (actingD the eradication OF
speech defects language study. the use of words
in song (singers diction). platform entertain
ment and the mental use of speech.
The close study of correct speech is without
doubt one of the crying needs of the day. We
feel it when we listen to the spoken word III the
street in the home, from the stage, from the
pulpit. from the rostrum Occasionally, in the
case of genius and a happy environment of con-
junction" we may find a man or woman VINO Is
a natural" speaker, but speech, Ike all arts
must be taught and to speak We'll properly.
demands instruction from those whc