an indispensable means of natural expression and true effect in reading or speaking. The difference between vivid and dull or flat utterance will often turn upon the exactness with which this expressive function of the voice is exerted."- Russell. "Ye gods, it doth amaze me, A man of such a feeble temper should And bear the palm alone." Cassius to Brutus.—JULIUS CESAR. "Pile my ship with bars of silver-pack with coins of Spanish gold, away! THE BALLAD OF CASSANDRA SOUTWICK.- Whittier. "Deserted! Cowards! Traitors! Let me free Had I relied upon myself alone, I had kept them still at bay! I kneel to you— Let me but loose a moment, if 't is only To rush upon your swords." Icilius, in VIRGINIUS.- Sheridan Knowles. Thorough Stress is stress laid upon the concrete sound throughout its whole course. "This stress, when applied to long syllabic quantity or to continuous speech, is a sign of rudeness and vulgarity. By destroying the natural structure of the vanishing concrete, it banishes this refined spirit, and allpervading grace and delicacy of the human voice."- Rush. "Thorough Stress is one of the most powerful weapons of oratory, but if indiscriminately used, it becomes ineffective, as savoring of the habit and mannerism of the individual, rather than of just or appropriate energy. Under such circumstances, it becomes rant, and when joined, as it sometimes is, to the habit of mouthing,' it can excite nothing but disgust." "If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms! -never! never! never!"-Wm. Pitt. "What in the world he is That names me traitor, villain like he lies: On him, on you, who not?—I will maintain My truth and honor firmly."— Edmund, in KING LEAR. "Call me their traitor! - Thou injurious tribune! "He called so loud, that all the hollow deep Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find Satan's Speech to his Legions.—PARADISE LOST. The following plan, suggested by Prof. Russell, for teachers who are instructing classes, who will find great aid in the use of the blackboard, is for the purpose of visible illustration, in regard to the character and effect of the different species of stress. Let represent the radical stress on the sound of a in the word all, in the following example of authoritative command: "Attend ALL!" the vanishing stress on the same element of impatience and the median stress "Join ALL ye crea displeasure: "I said ALL, - not one or two.". on the same element, in reverence and adoration. tures in His praise!"-the compound stress in astonishment and surprise: "What ALL! did they ALL fail? ”. the thorough stress in defiance: "Come one-come ALL!"-. . . . the tremor of sorrow: "Oh! I have lost you ALL!" The practice of the examples and the elements should extend to the utmost excitement of emotion and force of voice. "Ocular references may seem at first sight to have little value in a subject which relates to the ear. But notes and characters, as used in music, serve to show how exactly the ear may be taught through the eye; and even if we admit the comparative indefinite nature of all such relations when transferred to forms of speech, and of reading, the suggestive power of visible forms has a great influence on the faculty of association, and aids clearness and precision of thought, and a corresponding definiteness and exactness in sound."-Russell. SELECTIONS. ILLUSTRATIONS OF MEDIAN STRESS. THANATOPSIS. William Cullen Bryant. To him who in the love of Nature holds Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, To Nature's teachings, while from all around – In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground, Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim To mix forever with the elements, To be a brother to the insensible rock The oak And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain Shalt thou retire alone,-nor could'st thou wish Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, In majesty, and the complaining brooks That make the meadows green; and, poured round all, Old ocean's gray and melancholy waste, Are but the solemn decorations all Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun, The flight of years began, have laid them down So live, that, when thy summons comes to join |