Sentence:  His recitations were prompt and correct, and his answers were given with confidence. But perhaps he did himself most credit in <WSD>declamation</WSD>. He had always been very fond of that, and though he had never received and scientific instruction in it, he possessed a natural grace and a deep feeling of earnestness which made success easy. He had selected an extract from Webster--the reply to the Hayne--and this was the showpiece of the afternoon. The rest of the <WSD>declamation</WSD> was crude enough, but Harry's impressed even the most ignorant of his listeners as superior for a boy of his age. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The public recitation of speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges.