The Horizontal Line (-) denotes the Monotone.

The Rising Slide

The Falling Slide
The Curve

() denotes the Rising Inflection. () denotes the Falling Inflection. denotes the Circumflex.

The MONOTONE is that sameness of sound, which arises from repeating the several words or syllables of a passage in one and the same general tone.

REMARK.-The Monotone is employed with admirable effect in the delivery of a passage that is solemn or sublime.

EXAMPLES.

1. Man that is bōrn ōf a wōmān, is ōf few days and füll ōf trouble. He cometh forth like å flōwēr, and is cut down; he fleeth älsō ās a shadow, and continuēth not.

2. Man diēth, and wāstēth āwāy: yēā, mān gīvēth up the ghōst, and where is he? As the waters fail from thẽ sẽā, and the flood dēcāyēth and driēth up, sō mãn liēth dōwn, and rīsēth nōt; till thē hēāvēns bē nō mōrē, thẽy shāll nōt āwāke, nōr bē rāïsed ōût ōf their sleep.

3. Fōr thus saith the high and lofty ōne that inhābītēth ētērnity, whōse name is Hōly, I dwell in thẻ high and hōly place.

4. Lōrd, thōu hāst bēên ōūr dwelling-plāce în āll gēnērātīōns. Bēfōre the mōūntains wēre brought fōrth, ōr ēvēr thōū hādst fōrmed the earth and the world, ēvēn from ēvērlāsting tō ēvērlasting, Thou art Gōd. Bible.

5. O thōu that rōllēst ābōve, rōūnd as thē shield of my fathers! whence are thy bēams, O sūn! thý everlasting light?

6. High ōn a thrōne ōf rōyāl stāte, which fär
Outshōne the wealth of Ormūs ōr of Ind,

Or where the gōrgēōūs east, with richest hand,
Shōwērs ōn her kings bārbārīc peal and gōld,
Sātan exalted sat! Milton.

Ossian.

REMARK.-But the inappropriate use of the monotone,fault into which young people naturally fall, is a very grave

QUESTION.-How are they sometimes denoted? What is the Mono

tone? What passages should be read with the monotone? examples?

Give

and obstinate error. It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous. It should be studiously avoided.

The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, Are you

prepared to recite your 1éssons?

The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as,

What are you

dòing?

In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the general pitch; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it. The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams:

QUESTION.-What is the Rising Inflection? What is the Falling Inflection? In the falling inflection should the voice sink below the general pitch? Is it raised above the general pitch in the rising inflection ?

And hath man the power, with his pride and skill,
To arouse all nature with storms at will?
Hath he power to color the summer clóud,—
To allay the tempest, when hills are bowed?
Can he waken the spring with her festal wreath ?
Can the sun grow dim by his latest breath?

Will he come again when death's vale is tród?

Who then shall dare murmur,-"There is no God?”

REMARK.-The same degree of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the nature of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks

another: Are you in

earnest ?

the degree of inflection would be

earnest ?

much greater, than if he playfully asks: Are you in The former inflection may be called intensive, the latter,

common.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you send me those flowers? Yès; or, I will.

2. Did you give me séven? 3. Are we better than they?

4. Is he the God of the Jews

Yès; of the Gentiles also.

No; I gave you sìx.

No; in nò wise.'

only? is he not also of the Géntilos 1

QUESTIONS.-IS the same degree of inflection to be used at all times. Repeat Rule I. Give examples.

5. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: we establish the law.

Bible.

6. Will he plead against me with his great power

Nò; but he will

7. Was it ambition that induced Regulus to return to Cárthage? Nò• but a love of coùntry and respect for trùth-an act of moral sublimity, arising out of the firmest intègrity.

8

Hark! comes there from the pyramids

And from Siberian wastes of snow

And Europe's hills; a voice that bids

The world be awed to mourn him? Nò. Pierpont.

NOTE I.-When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes the intense falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. William, did we not recite our lessons còrrectly?

2. Can a more inconsistent argument be urged in its favor?

3. Did he not perform his part most àdmirably?

4. Was the Crystal Palace in New York, equal in size to that in Lòndon?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by yes or no, usually take the falling inflection, and their answers the same.

EXAMPLES.

1. How many lessons have you learned? Three.
2. Which has the most credit marks to-day? Julia.
3. Where did your father go, last week? To Boston.
4. When do you expect him to return? Next week.

5. Who first discovered Amèrica? Christopher Colùmbus.

NOTE I.-When the indirect question is one asking a repe tition of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the rising inflection.

QUESTIONS.-Does the direct question ever require the falling inflection? Give examples. Repeat Rule II. Give examples. Does the direct question ever require the rising inflection?

EXAMPLES.

1. Where did you find those flowers? In the lawn.

Where did you say? In the lawn.

2. When did you say congress adjourned? Last week.

NOTE II.-ers to questions, whether direct or indirect, when expressive or indifference, take the rising inflection, or the circumflex.

EXAMPLES.

r. Where shall we go? I am not partícular. 2. Shall William go with us? If he choses. 3. Which do you prefer? I have no choice.

4. Did you care for his friendship? Not much.

NOTE III.-In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you come to-morrow or next day? Yes.

2. Will you come to-morrow, or next day? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK.-The first question asks if the person addressed will come within the two days, and may be answered by yes or no; but the second asks on which of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.

RULE III.

When questions are connected by the conjunction or, the first requires the rising, and the second, the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Does Napoleon merit práise, or cènsure?

2. Was it an act of moral coúrage, or còwardice, for Cato to fall on his sword?

Repeat Note II. How do direct questions become indirect? What is Rule III. Give examples.