Young American's speaker; or, Popular program containing choicest recitations and readings from the best authors ...

Front matter

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Preface

THERE is an immense and constantly growing demand for the very best selections from the best authors for readings and recitations. No form of entertainment is more universally popular than this for Schools, Social gatherings, Lyceums, Lodges, Church and Sunday-school Anniversaries, Christmas Exhibitions and many other public occasions. The cultured voice and magnetic personality of the successful reader are always charming and welcome.

This demand is fully supplied by this work, which is a rich casket of gems in Prose and Poetry, all strikingly adapted to instruct and entertain. They are suited to every conceivable occasion where a reading is in order, and are the best afforded by the whole range of literature, comprising Eloquence and oentiment ; Pathos and Humor ; Dramatic and Descriptive Selections ; Juvenile Readings, Dialogues, Tableaux, etc., etc.

The Illustrated Broom Drill, with which the work begins, furnishes an excellent exercise for young people. It keeps the body erect, requires a great variety of positions, develops all the muscles and teaches the easy, graceful use of the body. In this part of the work is a great variety of Selections which -young people find suitable for readings and recitations on every occasion.

These and all the other pieces the book contains have been selected with the greatest care. < Their moral tone is elevating, and this renders them such selections as no parent or teacher would hesitate to put into the hands of the young. '$he prevailing character of this part of the woik is dramatic, affording an excellent opportunity for the best display of ability in the reader's consummate art.

A very choice collection of Dialogues adds greatly to the value of this volume. There is often great difficulty in obtaining suitable dialogues for public occasions, such as exhibitions and anniversaries.

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Those which are here presented afford a wide scope for the varied talents of young persons. Some of them are humorous, and contain playful hits at prevalent follies. Full instructions are given for preparing the stage and presenting the drama in the most effective manner.

A collection of short pieces is entitled Encores. These are short and pithy, and such as may be delivered when one, having made a success of his reading, is called out for a second performance. These may also be used as first selections for any entertainment.

Recognizing the fact that Humorous Readings are always popular, the editor of this volume has devoted to them a large space. Here are presented the best things by humorous writers of world-wide fame, such as Dickens, Burdette, Charles Adams, Mark Twain, Eugene Field, etc. These selections, when recited, are always received with bursts of merriment and applause. Very often the success of a recitation does not come from any special merit on the part of the reciter, but from the quaint and humorous character of the reading itself. A glance at this part of the volume will convince every one that it could not be improved. Strange happenings, laughable mistakes, playful incidents and grotesque situations are all described. In short, the whole work is bright and cheery, and is an excellent volume for ordinary reading. It should be in the hands of every young person in America.

Following on from these bright flashes of wit and drollery by authors of great renown, we come to Readings for Juveniles. This is a charming collection of sprightly and beautiful recitations for the little folks, suited admirably to every occasion on which the boys and girls are expected to appear. The grave, thejjay, the beautiful, the serious, the fascinating, are all mingled here in a manner that delights all young people.

A beautiful volume like this, for which there is an urgent demand (a every school and academy throughout the country, has a value that cannot be estimated. It may be truthfully said that this is a book which has a mission. There is something grand for it to accomplish, ft is an educator of the young, and the influence of its inspiring sentiments will be felt in the entire after life of those who make it theii companion. Its grand thoughts will be embedded in their hearts and memories, and will have a controlling effect upon their characters, leading them to aim at the highest ideals of education and true nobility.

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