The world's speaker, reciter and entertainer for home, school, church and platform; recitations, readings, plays, drills, tableaux, etc. ...

Front matter

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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 w ith 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 tbese 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.

Frances P. Hoyle, B.E., graduate 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. Hei 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 -uhject is remarkable for its simplicity The common-school child can follow her s

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 ot 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 undei 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 mannei 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.

Part I PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Preface 27

Relaxing Exercises for the Hand

Foot

" Head . . .

" Whole Arm

" Whole Leg

Trunk and Arms

the Whole Body

29 29

30 30

MM

Exercises for Strengthening the Arms . 31

" Legs . 3a " ■ for Making the Feet Strong and

Pliable 33

" to Strengthen the Hands ... 33

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

Their Proper Place ... 34 <! to Strengthen the Body as a

Whole . 35

Part II DELSARTE TRAINING AND ELOCUTION Sketch of Delsarte ' . . 37

The Correct Position for Reciting ... 39

Walking 39

Exercises for Poise and to Properly

Place the Weight 40

Exercise to Acquire a Narrow Base . . 41 Exercise to Avoid Bending the Front

Pivoting Exercises 41

Exercises to Give Lightness to Body . 42 Exercise to Add Dignity to Walk, or

"Stage Walk" 42

Exercise for Bowing. Front, Street

Bow and Stage Bow 42

Exercise in Walking Backwards ... 43

How to Pick up Anything 43

How to Sit 44

How to Rise 44

How to Go Up and Down Stairs ... 45

Gesture 45

Delsarte 's Laws of Gesture ...... 46

Exercise for Harmonic Poise of Arms

and Hands 47

Breathing 48

Breathing Exercises 48

Focusing the Tone ......... 49

Exercise for Focusing Tone ..... 5a

Loudness 50

Distinctness 51

Difficult Sentences 51

Words in Which Long U is often Mispronounced 53

Words in which Short Italian A is often

Mispronounced . . . 53

Flexibility of the Voice 54

Slowness 55

Different Styles of Reading 56

I. Styles of Reading in the Natural

Voice 56

a. Pathos 56

b. Solemnity 57

c. Serenity, Beauty and Love . 57

d. Common Reading . .... 57

e. Gayety 59

/. Humor 59

II. Styles of Reading in the Oro-

tund Voice 61

a. Effusive Orotund 61

b. Expulsive Orotund .... 6a

c. Explosive Orotund . . . , . 63 Remarks by the Editor . . « , , . . 64

Part III PATRIOTISM AND WAR America 66

Ajnerica, an Aggregate of Nations . . 81 American Union, a Geographical Necessity, The 81

Admiral Susan Jane 130

American Flag, The 131

Battle Hymn of the Republic, The . . 83

Black Regiment, The 91

Boer Swan Song, The 91

Boer National Hymn 91

Baby and the Soldiers, The 99

Blue and the Gray, The 104

Battle of Manila Bay no

Bound in Honor to Grant Philippine

Independence 117

Bernardo Del Carpo 124

Boer Prayers at British Graves . . . .130 Columbia, the Land of the Brave ... 72

Camp Calls 92

Charge of the Light Brigade 98

Custer's Last Charge 108

Devotion to Patriotic Duty 65

" Dixie " up-to-date 90

Dirge of the Drums 93

"Do not Cheer" 112

Dixie Doodle 114

Dying Captain, The . 119

Decoration Day 134

Fourth of July, The ......... 94

Fitzhugh Lee 109

Freedom's Flag . 135

German's Fatherland, The 87

German Battle Prayer 87

God Save the King 88

God Save the Queen . . • 88

Gustavus Vasa to the Dalecarlians . . 99

Greater Republic, The 114

General Robert E. Lee 128

Heroic Example has Power 71

Hail, Columbia, Happy Land 72

Hero of the Commune, The 95

Hero Down Below, The 113

Home Voyage, The 127

International Sympathies on the Increase 7 1

Incident of the French Camp 96

Incident of the War, An 102

I Want to Go Home 129

Love of Country, The 65

Liberty and Union, One and Inseparable 83

Lincoln's Address at Gettysburg . . .101

Land of our Forefathers, The 120

Legend of the Declaration, A. . . . . 128

Marseilles Hymn 84

Marching to Cuba 89

" Maine," Red, White and Blue, The . 89

Mother's Lament, A 93

Men Always Fit for Freedom 95

Marco Bozzaris 97

" Merrimac," The 112

Man who Does the Cheerin', The . . .122

Mother and Poet 133

Massachusetts 136

Napoleon's Farewell to his Army at

Fontainebleau, 18 14 96

New Rosette, The 107

New "Alabama," The 112

No Dishonor to Haul Down the Flag .118

On Taxing America 72

Our Heroes 90

Objection to the Mexican War .... 99

On the Force Bill 100

Patriotism Assures Public Faith ... 66 Patriotism Inculcates Public Virtue . . 67 Patriotism Broad as Humanity .... 68

Plea for Universal Peace, A 78

Parody on "Auld Lang Syne, " A . . . 92 Peaceable Secession Impossible .... 101 Prophetic Toast to Commodore Dewey 1 10

Picture of War 123

" Private Jones " 129

Queen of Prussia's Ride," The .... 97

" Recessional," The . . : • 88

Reign of Peace Foreshadowed, The . . 77 Resistance to British Aggression ... 73

Revolutionary Sermon, A 74

Republic, the Strongest Government, A 78

Reveille 93

Rifleman's Fancy Shot, The 10 1

Rienzi to the Roman Conspirators in

1347 132

Roman Sentinel, The ... . „ . . .125

Saul Before his Last Battle 94

Spirit of the Age Adverse to War, The 76

Spanish Patriot's Song, The 84

Sheridan's Ride 103

Song of our Fleets 123

Soldier's Offering, A 130

Star-Spangled Banner, The ..... 76

PAGE

True Patriotism is Unselfish 66

They'll Never Get Home in

To the Flying Squadron 122

Union Linked with Liberty 82

Valley Forge 121

War Inevitable, March, 1775, The . . 74

Washington to His Soldiers 94

Wrap the Flag Around Me, Boys . . . 104

PAGB

War Ship " Dixie," The 111

Wheeler at Santiago 113

War the Game of Tyrants 120

Washington's Birthday 127

" We'll Fling the Starry Banner Out " 128 Who Will Care for Mother, Now? . .129 Yankee Dewey 9°

Part IV After the Battle . ". 150

Aunt Polly Green 167

Burning Ship, The 144

Bells, The 158

Bill Mason's Ride 164

Changing Color 170

Diamond Wedding, The 145

Death of Fagin 148

Death of the Old Squire, The . . . .160

Daniel Periton's Ride . 165

Fairy Tale, A 150

Fireman, The 159

Fire-Fiend, The . v 169

Glacier Bed, The 154

Gladiator, The 162

Little Breeches 165

Little Meg and I 171

Married for Love 147

Pompeii 168

Raven, The 137

Rodney's Ride 157

Skeleton in Armor, The 139

Song of the Shirt, The 146

Sioux Chiefs Daughter, The 163

Tom 149

Trysting Well 155

Part V Aged Prisoner, The '. 173

Bridge, The 192

Chapter From the Annals of the Poor, A 1 73

Death of Little Nell 174

Dying Boy, The 183

Dying Alchemist, The 191

Good-Night, Papa 175

Gambler's Wife, The 186

In the Bottom Drawer 179

Limpy Tim 182

Nobody's Child 190

Our Folks 180

Old Man's Vigil, The 181

On the Other Train 185

Old Spinster, The 189

Poor Little Jim 176

Poor Little Joe 179

Progress of Madness, The 184

Singer's Climax, The 183

To Mary in Heaven 182

Part VI Admiral Von Diederichs 216

An Apostrophe to Aguinaldo . . . .216

Baby in Church 194

Buck Fanshaw's Funeral 207

Baby's First Tooth, The 220

Bell-Wether and the Deacon, The . . 225

Baby's Soliloquy 227

Bill Nye on Hornets . 232

IABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Case of Gunu vs. Barclay 204

Casey at the Bat 205

Comet, The 212

Counting Eggs 220

Christopher Columbus 229

De Campane of Nineteen- Hundred . . 195

Der Drummer 206

Dying Confession of Paddy McCabe, The 210

Drummer, The 217

Elder Lamb's Donation 241

Experience with a Refractory Cow . . 242 Girl's Conversation Over the Telephone, A 230

" Helen's Babies " on Noah's Ark . . 198

How "Ruby "Played 200

Hans and Fritz 209

Interviewer, The 236

Kentucky Philosophy 199

Leedle Yawcob Strauss 209

Man and the Mosquito 196

Mollie's Little Ram 211

Manifest Destiny 211

Mark Antony's Original Oration . . .219 Mark Twain Introduces Himself . . . 232 Most Obliging Little Sister, A . . . . 226

Miss January June's Lecture on Woman 's Rights r 229

Miss Malony on the Chinese Question . 238 Mrs. Caudle Has Taken Cold .... 240

Owl-Critic, The 203

01' Pickett's Nell 215

Paddy's Reflections on Cleopatra's

Needle 206

Photogragh Album, The ...... 234

Reverie in Church 197

Requiem on the Ahkoond of Swat . . 244

Serenade to Spring, A 221

Sermon for the Sisters 231

School Girl's Declaration of Independence, A 242

Then Ag'in 218

Theology in the Quarters 222

Terry O'Milligan, the Irish Philosopher 233

Widdy O'Shane's Rint, The 193

Was It Job That Had Warts on Him ? . 194

When We Get There 202

What the Little Girl Said 222

Yankee in Love, A 228

Zeb White's Unlucky Argument . . . 234

Part VII Apostrophe to the Mountains, An . . .256

Advice to Young Men 262

Apostrophe to Niagara 265

Advice to a Young Man 267

After Twenty Years 269

Brotherhood of Man, The 247

Books of the Old Testament, The . . .251

Building and Being 251

Brought in Pa's Prayers 252

Bravest of Battles, The 263

Clipping the Bible 246

Christian Martyr, The 247

Cynic, The 262

Crucifixion, The 246

Don't Be in a Hurry 264

Don't Fret 272

Funeral, The 265

Forgiveness . , 267

" God is Calling Me " 246

Glories of the Life Beyond, The . . .251

Good Old Mothers 265

How Prayer Was Answered 253

How the Organ Was Paid For .... 25.5

Influence of Small Things 264

Last Hymn, The 263

Life is What We Make It 271

My Creed 245

New Ten Commandments, A 248

No Religion Without Mysteries .... 253

No Sects in Heaven 257

Oh, Why Should the Spirit of Mortal

Be Proud ? 248

One Touch of Nature 257

Papa's Letter 261

Pegging Away 27c

Rizpah 254

Shall We Know Each Other There . - 255

Stick to Your Bush 269

Tact and Talent 268

Universal Prayer, The 245

We are not Always Glad When We

Stmte rro

Pakt VIII

Appeal for Temperance 276

Brave Boy, A 280

Cost of the First Drink 274

Drunkard's Daughter, The ..... 282

Face on the Floor, The 274

Men Behind the Vote, The 276

New Declaration of Independence, A . 277

Power of Habit, The 277

Pledge With Wine 283

Two Glasses, The 281

Water and Rum 273

What is a Minority 279

Part IX Among the Animals . 292

Address to a Teacher, An 299

Army Diet 309

Baby, The 287

Boy's Mother, A 288

Blue and the Gray, The 294

Best of Menageries 299

Bluebell's Reward, The 301

Boy Who Didn't Pass, The . . ... 301 Boy's Lecture on "Knives," A . . . 302

Boys Wanted 303

Baby's Logic 303

Blessed Ones, The 305

Christmas Has Come 292

Children's Day 297

Closing Address 299

Doll Rosy's Bath 290

Dialogue for Two Boys 294

Days of the Week 304

Easter Bonnet, An 307

First Pair of Breeches, The .... 298

Fourth of July Record, A ..... . 304

Fairy People's Spinning, The . . . .311

Grandmother's Chair 288

Good Country, A . . . 289

George Washington 303

Grandpa's Aversion to Slang . . . .312 How the Sermon Sounded to Baby . . 287

Her Papa 309

If I Were You 305

Johnny's Opinion of Grandmothers . .310

Katie's Wants 289

Lament of a Little Girl . . . . . . .288

Little Girl's Speech About Herself, A . 288 Lulu's Complaint 291

Little Tommie's First Smoke . . . .291

Little Boy's Wonder, A 291

Little Kitty ' . . 292

Little Boy's Lecture, A . 294

Meaning of the American Flag, The .289

Mary and the Swallow 292

Missionary Hen, The 307

New Baby, The 290

Only Child, The 290

Opening Address, An 298

Price He Paid, The 310

Queer Little House, The 301

Questions About Women 307

Remember, Boys Make Men 306

Rough Rider at Home, A 308

School Girl's Presentation Speech . . 297

School Idyl, A 304

Song of the Rye 308

Spanish War Alphabet 309

That's Baby 290

They Say " 293

Time Enough 293

Twenty-third Psalm 305

Tale of a Dog and a Bee 306

True Bravery .7 311

Valedictory . . 299

Vacation Time 300

Why I'd Rather be a Boy 288

Why Betty Didn't Laugh ...... 289

Words of Welcome 298

When Mamma was a Little Girl . . . 298

Watermillion „ 298

What a Boy Can Do ... ..... 303

What to Drink 305

When Father Carves the Duck .... 306

Part X Avast, There George 314

Aunt Jemima's Courtship 315

Ain't He Cute 320

Bonaparte to the Boer 317

Dad's Swore Off . 321

Did You Ever See ? 320

Farewell, Old Shoe 322

From Sublime to Ridiculous 321

Grandpapa's Spectacle's 322

He Came 316

Indian Mixed Oratory 314

Just My Luck 313

Little Orphant Roberts 317

Lost Penny, The 319

Mother's Advice, A 314

Mrs. Lofty and I 315

Maiden's Ideal of a Husband, A . . .320

Marchin' Wid De Ban' 321

New " Lest We Forget," The . . . . 317

Old Cane Pole, The 319

Only a Baby's Hand 318

Poor Indian, The 313

Trouble Borrowers . 319

Total Annihilation 320

Unfinished Still 315

Village Choir, The 316

Part XI Creed of the Bells, The 325

Caesar's Message to Cato 344

Courtship Under Difficulties 350

Christmas Eve (A Pantomime) .... 358

Castles in the Air 359

Dream of Fair Women, A 345

Failed 327

Farmer's Kitchen Before Thanksgiving 358

Gustavus Vasa, From 341

Goin' Somewhere 352

Gipsy Camp (Tableau) 357

Home Scene in the Chaplain's Family, A3 23 Hallowed by Thy Name (Tableau) . . 358 Lochiel's Warning 343

Love in the Kitchen 356

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland . . . 336

Polish Boy, The 326

Pageant of the Months 329

Pat's Excuse 335

Peasant Boy, From the 339

Resolve of Regulus, The 328

Signing the Pledge (Tableau) . . . .358 Sam Weller's Valentine (Tableau) . . 358

Scripture Tableau 358

Scripture Scene (Tableau) 358

Two Flower (Flour) Girls' (Tableau) . 358

Uncle Pete 334

Woman's Rights (Tableau) 357

Part XII SHAKESPEAREAN DEPARTMENT

Antony and Ventidius — From Antony

and Cleopatra 372

Coriolanus and Aufidius 374

Lost Reputation — From Othello . . . 565 Mark Antony to the People on Caesar's Death 369

Othello's Apology — From Othello . . . 362 Quarrel of Brutus and Cassius — From

Julius Ccesar 370

Seven Ages of Man 376

Trial Scene — From Merchant of Venice . 366