The American speaker: being a collection of pieces in prose, dialogue, and poetry ...

Front matter

AMERICAN SPEAKER:

BEING

A COLLECTION OF PIECES

Preface

Although the exercise of declamation has, of late, received more attention in schools than was formerly devoted to it, still it is true that less consequence is attached to it than its real importance demands. The advantages of frequent practice in "speaking" are so many and so great, that it should receive more prominence, in all our schools. If scholars, at quite an early age, should be trained in the rehearsal of pieces, as a regular school duty, we think it would tend to produce a degree of freedom, force, and naturalness in reading, which could be obtained in no other way ; and if the very "^-orable influence it exerts in promoting distinctness and energy, in this and other branches, was the only benefit to be derived from its practice, it would be entitled to particular consideration.

But there are other advantages resulting from the exercise ; and not the least in importance is that which comes from the habit of committing selections to memory, — a custom much less common than formerly, but none the less beneficial.

The compiler of this volume has endeavored to make such a collection of pieces as will meet the wants of schools in the department under consideration. He has taken several selections which have been long before the public, but their merit is such as to entitle them to a permanent rank among lessons for declamation. Some of the pieces possess interest only as adapted to occasional circumstances. It lias been a leading design of the compiler to exclude such pieces as breathe a highly martial spirit ; and while in some there may be a degree of humor, it will be found that most of them inculcate wholesome sentiments. A volume of similar size, composed exclusively of dialogues, will be published in a few weeks, in which will be inserted exercises of greater length and variety.

It has not been deemed essential or important to insert rules and directions, because books, abounding in such rules, are already numerous, and because it is believed that the teacher can impart all needed instruction more clearly and efficiently than can be given by any printed directions.

With the earnest hope that the book may be both acceptable and useful, the compiler commends it to the attention of his professional brethren, and to the use of those for whose special pleasure and benefit it has been prepared.

Contents

No. Authors. Page.

1. Importance of Oratory, Knowles, 9

2. Free Schools, the Glory of New England, . Story, 10

Part II. — Dialogues

1. Pride, Parley's Magazine, 93

2. Deportment, 95

3. Order, Anon., 96

4. Dancing, " 97

5. About Going to School, 99

6. Kindness Recommended, 101

7. Self-interest, Berquin, 102

8. Physiognomy, Anon., 106

9. Hamlet and Horatio, Shakspeare, .... 109

10. Hard to Please, Miss Edgeworth, . .111

11. Charles II. and William Penn, Weems, 114

12. Light Conversation with a Heavy Man, . Anon., 116

13. The Doctor and his Patient, C. Ticknor, .... 118

14. Gesler and Tell, Knowles, 120

15. False Pride, Anon., 122

16. Equality, Miss Edgeworth, . . 124

17. Learning and Usefulness, Anon., 127

18. The Two Robbers, Aikin, 128

19. The Evil Adviser, Goodrich, 130

20. The Beer Trial, Temp. Dialogues, . 134

21. Yankeeism, E. L. Blanchard, . 135

22. The Monster of Many Names, Temp. Dialogues, . 137

23. Doing because Others do, J. G. Adams, . . .140

24. The Indian Doctor, F. Poole, 144

25. The News Dealer, Anon., 151

26. Nobility, Miss Edgeworth, . . 153

27. Fortune Telling, Anon., 156

28. Children's Wishes, Mrs. Gilman, ... 159

29. Choice of Countries, " ... 160

30. Why Alexander was called Great, .... Anon., 162

31. Home, * B. Cornwall, ... 164

CONTENTS. VII

No. Authors. Page.

32. Choice of Hours, Mrs. Gilman, 165

33. Woman — Account Current, Anon., 160

34. The Seasons, " 167