The standard American speaker and entertainer; recitations, readings, plays, drills, tableaux, etc., etc

Front matter

Class I j

Copyright!"

COPYRIGHT DEPOS1E

Introduction

IN presenting this work to the public, the publishers beg to state that it has been prepared expressly to meet a practical need. There are many speaker books, yet

there seems to be an almost universal demand for a volume combining appropriate selections for declamation, recitation, reading, dialogues, tableaux, plays, musical numbers, etc., which shall be suitable alike for the home, school, church, temperance, patriotic, social and all ordinary entertainments.

There is hardly a community where such entertainments are not of frequent occurrence, and, we might say in nine- tenths of them, the chief difficulty is to find persons with ability or training to take part. A second difficulty also arises in making up a programme of suitable selections. This volume will be found a help in overcoming both these obstacles. It furnishes for the teacher and the individual a method of simple training which enables them to train others or prepare themselves to speak easily and gracefully ; and at the same time places the material at their hands from which to make suitable selections.

Miss Frances Putnam Pogle, B.E., of the Cumnock School of Oratory, of Chicago, who prepares the departments of "PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT" AND " DEL- SARTE TRAINING AND ELOCUTION," is one of the most successful teachers of these specialties. She has devoted years to the study, practice and teaching of

elocution as an art. She begins by training the body to make itself a willing, graceful and obedient servant to the will and the emotions of the speaker. Next she trains the mind to abandon itself to the spirit of the selection in hand, forgetful of self and surroundings, the speaker becoming for the time the real character or soul of the lines rendered.

The Delsartean method has been thoroughly mastered by Miss Pogle. Her instructor was trained by the famous Delsarte himself. Elocutionists and orators everywhere declare it is the only system by which to discover and develop those true powers of eloquence which, Webster declares, " Labor and learning may toil for in vain. Words and phrases cannot compass it. It must exist in the man, in the subject and in the occasion," and come from the speaker as naturally as "the breaking out of a fountain from the earth." Miss Pogle 's method of teaching this subject is remarkable for its simplicity. The common-school child can follow her

INTRODUCTION

easy conversational description and instruction. It is written in the author's simple and familiar manner of teaching individuals by correspondence. Possessors of this book will feel as if they were her personal pupils — as they really will be — following the instructions of a letter written personally to themselves.

This series of lessons will be found of incalculable value to those who have not had a course at a school of elocution and physical culture. Even reading the pages over in a casual way will be found interesting and beneficial, while a short period each day devoted to study and practice will make any ambitious young man or woman more than a fair elocutionist, besides repaying the student with general benefit both mentally and physically.

Mr. George M. Vickers needs no introduction to the American people. Every child in the public schools sings his famous song, "Guard the Flag," and there are few elocutionists of note who do not number in their repertoire one or more of this author's poetic productions, for they are to be found in many of the best books of selections. His "Poems of the Occident." which recently appeared, has many new numbers, never before published, and the best of those for recitation are to be found in this volume. The special Musical Department in the work is also prepared by Mr. Vickers, and contains several of his newest and most popular songs. "Columbia, My Country," is of national reputation, the author having received special testimonials from President McKinley, the governors of many states, and others high in the public service, voicing their appreciation of the patriotic sentiment expressed in both words and music. " The New ' Dixie,' " also found in this volume, is a grand musical tribute to the South, breathing a patriotic spirit of reconciliation from a Northern soldier to those who wore the gray. The music, while new, has the same dashing time of the famous old "Dixie Land," and the words may be sung to that thrilling Southern air when so desired. " The Public School," a new and rousing school song, with a grand chorus, is fast finding its way into all the schools of the land. "The Little Foresters," a musical sketch for Arbor Day entertainment, and " The Musical Asters," a flower song with special settings, are both designed for several singers, and, with others, were prepared exclusively for this volume, and cannot be found elsewhere.

The general selections for the book are divided into departments, those relating to "PATRIOTISM AND WAR," leading, in deference to the prominence of these two subjects at present, as well as to the duty of patriotism upon every citizen and our obligation to teach it to the young. The remaining departments, " NARRA- TIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE," " HUMOROUS AND DIALECTIC," "RELIGIOUS, MORAL AND DIDACTIC," "PATHETIC," "TEMPERANCE READINGS," etc., embrace the best selections and cuttings to be obtained from a wide field of research in both ancient and modern literature. The classifying of all the selections under their proper headings renders the work of choosing suitable pieces of any character easy.

Attention is particularly called to the department of " ENCORE SELECTIONS/'' so much sought after by popular reciters ; also to "THE LITTLE FOLKS' SPEAKER," a department of the work devoted entirely to bright speeches for children— enabling mamma to find something pretty for the child to speak in a few moments.

INTRODUCTION

"HAPPY QUOTATIONS is another department which, with the suggestions as to the manner of using them, will also be found both helpful and entertaining to old and young.

"DIALOGUES, TABLEAUX AND PLAYS" are also grouped together in a department devoted exclusively to that class of selections ; and, the SHAKESPEAREAN DEPARTMENT," in which representative cuttings from the great plays of the world's greatest playwright are presented, will prove of special value to those who aspire to the higher levels of the dramatic art.

Thus it will be seen that the work, while most comprehensive, including altogether more than 1,000 selections, suited alike to all ages and to all occasions, is so classified and arranged as to make it of the greatest possible convenience and availability in the practical using.

We trust that the labor expended upon it, and the efficient and original manner in which it has been executed and arranged for the practical use of the masses may be rewarded by the cordial reception which this new and originally planned work deserves at the hands of the public.

Respectfully.

THE PUBLISHERS.

PiiR/r I

Preface

Relaxing Exercises for the Hand ' ' Foot

" Head

" Whole Arm

" Whole Leg

Trunk and Arms

the Whole Body

27 Exercises for Strengthening the Arms . 31

29 ' ' for Making the Feet Strong and

29 Pliable 33

29 "to Strengthen the Hands ... 33

30 ' ' for Strengthening the Back . . 33 30 " " Putting the Shoulders in

30 Their Proper Place ... 34

31 " to Strengthen the Body as a

Whole . 35