The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-24

two of my little text books with me. |
was met at the door by the maid, who
said her mistress was busy. Well |
said. Mrs. b. asked me to see her, and .
shall only take a few moments of her
time so was ushered into a back hall,
where the mistress received me wearing
a dust cap, and was busy hanging
curtains and telling me she did not want
any books, that / scarcely knew how [
got out. L left hurriedly, hugging my lit
tie red books and telling them she was
right, that she did not need them, be-
cause she would not know how to use
them. But we do not object to the hu-
morous side of the battle.'
Just what is the difference between
elocution and expresson?' | asked.
The difference between elocution and
expression? | hold that the only correct
way to teach is to hold constantly before
the pupils mind right methods, thereby
little can be gained by telling them of the
faults of elocution, but I want to tell you,
elocution in the general term means imi-
tation.
"A parrot is an elocutionist for does
it not initiate? Elocution means saying
a certain thing. It's certain way al
ways. 1t is melodramatic; believes in
cut and dried recitations such as Half
a League for the young man Seeing
Things at Night for the little boy, Cur
few Must Not Ring Tonight for the
young lady, and Mama $ Precious Dirl
for the little girl. ~To be sure, all the
things are good if properly handled, how
ever they are not properly handled II
the teacher trains the pupil 10 talk as
she does, and to interpret as she does.
Don't let me convey the impression that
the pupil is permitted to interpret selec-
tions wilywilly and has no guidance. The
teacher is the guide, who opens up new
ways, points out by paths that no pupil
can discern for himself. Expression as
taught in the four volumes of Evolution
may be compared to the four periods of
earth First the colossal period, dealing
with the subject as a whole, striving
through our four steps to grasp ana snow
the central thought. The second, analytic,
where we begin to realize and study the
parts. The third, the realistic period,
where we realize that the parts resolve
to the whole as central thought Fourth,
the suggestive period, the artist despairs
of showing his complete thought but
tries by suggestion to lead the mlnd
of the audience to grasp the meaning. Inc
mind always paints pictures for Itself,
and yet how necessary 1T is to be able 10
show that picture to others. How many
helpful things we find in this study.
particular attention should be paid TO
the voice, especially enunciation and ar
ticuIation. Hamlet's instructions to his
PLAYERS should be held before the minds
of the pupils always. Speak the speech,
pray you, as l pronounce it to your trip
pingIy on the tongue How very many
speakers and readers mouth their woros,
giving to their hearers only Jumpieo
sound With our method of voice culture
IT is possible to have a pleasing, musical
speaking voice If people, particularly
women, could know what an asset pleas
ant voice is, and how repellant rasping
voice isl she went on to say
sDr. Emerson tells us that the voice is
the natural reporter of the individual, MS
character and his physical and mental
states Education means to draw OUT
then if educated it will repart the state
of mind within the speaker one OF tne
best illustrations of this is the work OF
Maude Adams as Peter Pan. Her voice
is so childish, because in this she is
child at heart.
Sarah Bernhardt has a young voice
because her spirit is young. There is IN
everyone the making of a good voice, ana
continual practice will give it to them
Yes, my work covers wide field Ihe
physical culture is so wonderful, everyone
appreciates the attraction of beautiful
body, and it should be carried beautifully,
else it will not be beautiful long.'
Beauty of face and of form is GER
tainly a great attribute for the reader
to possess I suggested.
yes, we love to see straight shoul-
ders, high chest and well poised heads
said She 1.-The Germans call this a proud
position Yes, it is, and should be proud,
for the body is the incasement OF the
soul Whenever ] see anyone with
sloven carriage, feel like saying, Wake
up, for surely their souls are sleeping.
Mercury was poised on the balls of his
feet as if ready to soar onward and up
ward We should follow his example,
never say to a child hold your shoulders
back, but rather hold your chest up; then
the members of the body will fall into the
line as soldiers. Ease and grace of car
riaee is to be sought, there is nothing
more attractive than stiff, uneasy man.
nef of holding the body. Don't you like
to watch one walk who does it grace
fully? Take the cat, for example The
articulations of its body are easy, smooth
and natural. They know how to be nat
,ural. and we strive for naturalness in
everything. One of the biggest bugaboos
we have to deal with is self conscious
ness. Once a speaker becomes so lost
n the theme of his subject as to forget
himself he will lose his self conscious
ness, his face. body and voice will re-
spond to his inner self, and then we have
what is termed good presence
What has become of your Story Tell
lao. 7 lxad