The intermediate standard speaker, containing pieces for declamation in schools, colleges, etc

Front matter

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Preface

The success of The Standard Speaker having been dch as to elicit from the public and the publisher a emand for a series of Speakers by the same author, and adapted to the different ages of pupils^ the present volume has been prepared. It forms the second of a series of three; of which The Standard Speaker is the largest and most comprehensive, and The Primary Standard Speaker the smallest and most simple. Eepetitions of pieces are, with a few unimportant exceptions, avoided in these books, so that they jointly present nearly all the approved gems of oratory, ancient and modern, and all the choicest lyrical and dramatic pieces in the English language, suitable for school delivery.

It will be seen that considerable original effort, in the way of translation, adaptation, and alteration, has been expended on this work. Teachers of elocution are well aware that many excellent pieces, which a slight change would make appropriate as exercises for the young, are rendered useless because of their length, because of their episodical passages, or because of certain objectionable expressions which they may con-

4 PREFACE.

tain. It is hoped that this general acknowledgment of the liberties that have been taken, where objections like these were to be removed, will be rightly received.

The introductory matter is much of it compiled from the best authorities, and no other merit is claimed for it than that of careful appropriation.

The translations from the Greek, Latin, and French, have, with two or three exceptions, been made expressly for this w^ork.

The present volume will be found fuller in the department of dialogues, humorous pieces, <fec., than The Standard Speaker; while the latter will be found' very full, if not complete, in the department of Senatorial eloquence. Indeed, the number of great masterpieces, like those of Chatham, Patrick Henry, Webster, Grattan, Shiel, Mirabeau, &c., in this department, is limited, as every compiler must admit.

The debates in the present volume are a new feature, and will be found interesting exercises for school exhibitions.

In his selection of pieces, the compiler has had regard chiefly to their effective declamatory character. Many works passing under the name of Speakers might more properly be called Readers^ because the pieces, though interesting, and having the attraction of novelty, are not suitable for an expressive and anim^d delivery from the Speaker's stage. It is believed that this objection is avoided in the Standard Series of Speakers.

PAGE.

Introductory Treatise on Elocution, 11

GENERAL DIVISIONS.

I. The Rostrum, 27

III. The Camp, 105

IV. The Bema, 117

V. The Tribune, 123

VI. The Floor of Parliament, 131

VII. The Floor of Congress, 157

VIII. The Stage, 188

IX.. Humorous Pieces, 275

X. Lyrical and Narrative Pieces, 299

XI. Debates, 399

•For American Independence, Adams, Samuel, 70

Cato's Message to Cassar, AoDrsoN, Joseph, .... 191

Cato on the Death of his Son, " '' .... 269

Cato's Soliloquy, '' " .... 272

Domestic Uses of Books, Alison, Sib Archibald, . 30

To the Ladies, " " .31

Study of Languages, " " .78

On the British Treaty, Ames, Fisher, 157

The Worth of Eloquence, Anonymous, 27

Poetical Address to Poland, " 112

Gustavus to the Dalecarlians, *' 114

Resolve of Regulus (Dialogue), " 195

The Gamblei-'s Son (Dialogue), " 200

The Will (Dialogue), " 225

Pedants Seeking Patronage (Dialogue), ... " 236

Indigestion (Dialogue), " 250

Yorkshire Angling (Humorous), " ...... 27G

The Poet and the Chemist (Humorous), ... " 284

The Removal (Humorous), " 287

The Retort (Humorous), " ...... 288

The Tippler Confounded (Humorous), .... . " 291

The Directing Post (Humorous), '< 292

The Doctor and his Apprentice (Humorous), . '' 295

Three Words o^ Strength (Poetry), " 335

Song of the Cornish Men, " 356

Dreams, '^ 356

Song of the Forge, " 300

Where are the Dead, " 362

The Lyre and the Sword, " ...... 3G8

Occasion (From the Italian), '' 386

War-Song of Dinas Vaur, 0" 394

The Suitor Disenchanted, " 396

1). 5

CONTENTS,

Debates. I. Mental Capacities of the Sexes, Anonymous,

" 11. On the Admission of Ladies, tfeo., '^ . . . . !

" III. A Taste for Poetry, ''

The Poet's First Tragedy, Bayly, T. H.,

Effects of Intemperance, Beecher, Rev. L., . .

An Orator's First Speech, Bell, Alexander, . \

A Highway to the Pacific, Benton, T. H., ....

The Oregon Settlement, " ....

Money makes the Mare go, Berquin, A.,

From the Tragedy of Spartacus, Bird, R. M.,

Breakers Ahead, Blacker, Col

True Courage, Bowring, John, . . .

Gustavus and Cristiern, Brooke, Henry, . . .

The Returned Tourists, Brooks, C. T., ....

To the Liverpool Electors, Brougham, Lord Henry,

Vocation of the Schoolmaster, *^ "

Song of Marion's Men, Bryant, W. C, .

The Green Mountain Boys, " "•

The Christian Martyr, Buchanan, Rev. H

Against Taxing America, Burke, Edmund,

Right of American Taxation, ^^ ^'

English Liberty in America, '^ ''

The Laboring Poor, '^ "

The American Revolution, '' "

Impolicy of Injustice, '^ ^^

The Beautiful, Burrington, E. H.

Saul before his last Battle, Byron, Lord G. G.

On the Death of Sheridan, '' ''

Address to the Ocean, " '^

The Isles of Greece, " ''

The Gladiator, " "

The American Republic, " "

Greece, " '^

The Field of Waterloo, " ''

Childe Harold's Departure, " "

War the Game of Tyrants, ^^ ^'

The Ruins of Rome, '« "

Freedom for Europe, ^' "

Internal Improvements, Calhoun, John C,

Our Naval Victories, " *^

On the Force Bill, " ''

On Taxing America, Camden, Lord, .

The Deliverance of Europe, Canning, George,

The License of Opposition, . ^^ <^

The Love of Popularity, " "

The Seed of Freedom's Tree, Campbell, Thomas

Prospect of Immortality, ^' ^'^

Belief in a Future State, '< "

Skepticism of the KgQ, Carlyle, Thomas,

Horrors and Honors of War, Channing, Rev. W. E

The Common School System, Chapin, Rev. E. H.,

On Constitutional Resistance, Chatham, Earl of.

The Measures against America, ^' ^^

On the American War, '' ^'

The Expulsion of Wilkes, '' ''

Washington's Farewell Address, Choate, Rufus, . . ,

Vv'ar under the Guise of Peace, '' "

Against Catiline, ..." Ctcf.ro, Marcus Tullius,

PAGE.

Contents

PAOE.

National Grlory, ♦ Clay, Henry, 101

War consequent on Disunion, '^ ^' 171