School and college speaker

Preface

This book is designed for the use of classes in Public Speaking in colleges and secondary schools. It seeks to give instruction in the essentials of Elocution, and to furnish declamations adapted to school and college boys and girls. In compiling these declamations I have sought those which furnish exercise in the various elements of expression and at the same time appeal to students, — those which present a vivid picture, tell an interesting tale, deal with a concrete situation, or advocate principles and policies fervently and eloquently.

Many of these selections are new; they deal with live subjects; a large number of them have never before been printed as declamations. Nearly all of them, however, have been tested in prize-speaking contests and classroom work in Bowdoin College.

To encourage the wide reading that is essential to intelligent and appreciative speaking, I have given in nearly all cases definite references to the whole speech, oration, poem, or story from which the selection is taken.

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to many of the authors of these declamations for valuable suggestions, and to the publishers mentioned in the prefatory notes for generous permission to use copyrighted selections.

W. B. M.

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me.