Sanders' school speaker; a comprehensive course of instruction in the principles of oratory; with numerous exercises for practice in declamation

Front matter

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Preface

Oratory, in every age of the world, has been an' instrument of wonderful power. In our own time and country, especially, its influence is so great, and the occasions for its use so numerous and important, as to render it a thing of almost universal necessity. The Bar, the Senate-house, and the Pulpit, — those oft-traversed fields of professional eloquence, — still require to be supplied with practiced speakers. But, aside from all these, the demands for skill in public speaking are now so frequent, so various, and so imperative, as to compel almost every man to prepare himself to meet them.

With these views of the importance of the subject, the present volume has been put together, and is now presented to the youth of the country, and to those whose high office it is to prepare them for the duties of after-life, as an easy, interesting, and practical aid, as well in teaching as in learning how to speak well in public.

The work embraces whatever belongs to rhetorical delivery. As all that is required for the production of a finished reader, is but a necessary prehminary to that which distinguishes the finished speaker, it sets out, like all the more advanced of the series of School Books to which it belongs, with a full exhibition of the principles of rhetorical reading. In illustration of these principles, it employs a multitude of appropriate examples, showing the powers of the letters, the effect of accent, of emphasis, of inflection, of vocal modulation, of rhetorical pauses, of whatever, indeed, in sound, in sense, or in spirit, can be supposed to move the passions, and so influence the determinations of the will.

This being done, a Second Part is devoted to the brief, but practical, consideration of the subject of Gesture. The observations and instructions, in this Part, are purposely made to involve those things only, which experience has shown to be free from perplexing minuteness and difficult application.

IV PKEFAOE

In the Third Part will be found a large collection of exercises for practice in declaiming. These exercises represent, though, of course, in brief, the most eminent writers and speakers of almost all countries, classes, and times. They exhibit all varieties of composition suitable for declamation : excluding carefully whatever is dull, feeble, prolix, or common-place, and offering that, and that only, which is spirited, forcible, pertinent, or extraordinary in style, sentiment, or diction. Dialogues, Soliloquies, Parodies, Speeches, — recitations of every name and kind, pathetic, humorous, sentimental, narrative, argumentative, dramatic, all of every sort, are here mingled, arranged and adapted to the purposes of arresting transient attention, awakening interest, and stimulating the wish and the endeavor to acquire a graceful and effective delivery.

But the aim, in the selection and adaptation of these exercises, has been wider still. It has not been forgotten, that the prime element in the constitution of the great orator is, and can be, found only in the good man. Not what the speaker says, so much as what the speaker is, is that which often sways the decisions of an audience. Keeping this in view, nothing has here been admitted, which could, in the slightest degree, blunt the moral sensibilities, or lessen the learner's reliance, in oratory, as in every thing else, upon the force of high moral character.

Such have been the governing principles in the preparation of this new School Speaker. Its design and spirit are in perfect unison with all the rest of the author's well-known Series ; and, should it ever be accorded the same rank and favor — the same praise of utility in the schools, his highest anticipations will be realized.

New Yoek, March, 185T.

Part Third-exercises In Declamation

exercise

1. Exhortation to the Study of Eloquence John Quincy Adams, 55

2. True Eloquence Daniel Webster, 56

3. Hamlet' s Instruction to the Players Shakspeare, 57

4. Suggestions to Young Speakers Lloyd, 58

5. On the Prospect of an Invasion Robert Hall, 60

6. An Appeal to Patriotism Thomas Campbell, 62

7. Duty of America to Greece Henry Clay, 63

8. Arrival of Kossuth Henry B. Blackwell, 64

9. The Cause of Hungary a just one Kossuth, 65

10. DIALOGUE— A Deceiver Deceived Hall, 66

11. The Ghost 71

12. The Federal Union Daniel Webster, 73

13. Our Union J. L. Linford, 74

14. Go Feel what I have Felt 75

15. Men of Action, Clear the Way Charles Mackay, 11

16. Vindication from Treason Thomas F. Meagher, 78

17. Hamlet' s Soliloquy on Death Shakspeare, 80

18. The Bachelor's Soliloquy 81

19. Mastery of Man over Nature Horace Greeley, 81

20. Character of "Washington Phillips. 82

21. DIALOGUE— Scene in a Court of Justice. 84

22. To John Bull Missouri Gazette, 86

23. To a Katydid O. W. Holmes, 87

24. The World around us Horace Mann, 89

25. Puhlic Dishonesty '. Henry Ward Beecher, 90

26. Art Charles Sprague, 91

27. The Dream of Daedalus 93

2S. DIALOGUE— Pedants Seeking Patronage 94

29. Grandfather's Watch 99

30. Burial of Sir John Moore Charles Wolfe, 100

31. Not a Sous had he got R. H. Barham, 101

32. An Address to the Echo 102

33. DIALOGUE— Opposite Natures J. K. Paulding, 103

34. Adherbal against Jugurtha ^ Sallust, 108

35. Boarding Round Missouri Journal of Education, 111

36. Flogging an Editor 113

VI CONTENTS

EXERCISE PAGE

37. Bernardo del Carpio Mrs. Hemans, 114

38. Passage of the Rubicon Knowles, 117

39. Change is not Reform John Randolph, 118

40. The Soldier's Dream. Thomas Campbell, 119

41. Good-by, proud World R. W. Emerson, 120

42. Jfchn Littlejohn Charles Mackay, 121

45. The Fame of Galileo Edward Everett, 15

46. The World for Sale Ralph Royt, 12

47. Ezekiel's Visit to Deacon Stokes 126

48. I Don't Care 130

49. Thanksgiving Day Henry Ware, Jr., 130

50. The Collegian and the Janitor .Horace Smith, 131

51. DIALOGUE — Scene from Julius Csesar Shakspeare, 134

52. The Outlaws George Adams, 139

53. Glory of Arms Charles Sumner, 141

54. War Thomas Chalmers, 142

55. Death of John Quincy Adams William H. Seivard, 143

56. That 's my Thunder Canning, 144

57. A Black Job Thomas Hood, 145

58. American Aristocracy J. G. Saxe, 149

59. Village Greatness , . W. Ray, 150

60. Yesterday M. F. Tupper, 151

61. Now Household Words, 153

62. DIALOGUE— There ' s nothing in it Charles Mathews, 154

63. The Ruins of Time Milford Bard, 156

64. An Appeal to Arms Patrick Henry, 157

65. Death of Washington John M. Mason, 159

66. Tribute to the Patriots of the Revolution Daniel Webster, 161

67. The Dying Christian to his Soul , .Pope, 163

68. Two Hundred Years Ago Grenville Mellen, 163

69. The Foot's Complaint 165

70. DIALOGUE— Scene in a Mourning Store Thomas Hood, 166

71. Sam Smith's Soliloquy Fanny Fern, 170

72. Liberty in Order Charles James Fox, 171

73. David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan Bible, 172

74. Daniel versus Dishcloth Stevens, 172

75. The Thriving Family Mrs. Sigourney, 175

76. The Cheap Supper Oldham's Humorous Speaker, 176

77. Strictures on the Manner of William Pitt Sir Robert Walpole, 178

78. Pitt's Reply to Walpole William Pitt, 179

79. Supposed Speech of James Otis Mrs. L. M, Child, 180

80. DIALOGUE— Lovegold and James Fielding, 182

81. Freedom James G. Brooks, 183

82. Rienzi to the Romans \ Mary Russell Mitford, 185

83. The Philosopher's Scales Jane Taylor, 187

84. Phaethon, or the Amateur Coachman J. G. Saxe, 188

85. Specimen of a Shrew Jerrold, 191

86. Whittling J. Pierpont, 193

87. The Woman of Three Cows From the Irish, by Clarence Mangan, 194

88. Death-Song of the Red Man Miss Mary Gardiner, 196

89. DIALOGUE— The Miller of Mansfield 197

90. The Man of Expedients S. Gilman, 200

91. Cicero against Verras Marcus Tullius Cicero, 201

92. Meeting of Satan aft Death Milton, 202

93. The Pilot Alexander Cochran, 203

CONTENTS. VU

EXEECISE PAGE

94. Skating ; A Winter Scene Knickerbocker Magazine, 204

95. Orator Puff Thomas Moore, 205

96. Death of the Prince of Conde Bossuet, 206

9T. The Soul of Man Saurin, 207

98. The Life-Boat 208

99. DIALOGUE— Cardinal Wolsey and Cromwell Shakspeare, 209

100. The March of Intellect Blackwood' s Magazine, 212

101. The Miss Nomers 214

102. Pulpit Propriety Coivper, 215

103. How has America repaid Benefits from other Nations?.. .Oulian C. Verplanck, 111

104. National Character Maxcy, 219

105. A Visit from St. Nicholas Clement C Moore, 220

106. Tell's Apostrophe to Liberty Knowles, 221

101. Baneful Influence of Skepticism Thomas Campbell, 223

108. DIALOGUE— Money makes the Mare go Berquin, 224

109. The Proud Miss Mac Bride J. G. Saxe, 227

110. Speech of Buzfuz in the Case of Bardell versus Pickwick Charles Dickens, 231

111. Circumstances alter Cases Allingham, 234

112. The Paddy's Metamorphosis Thomas Moore, 237

113. Look at the Clock R. H. Barham, 238

114. Speech against Paine' s "'Age of Reason" Lord Erskine, 243

115. Pleading Extraordinary Lafayette Bigelow Partington, Esq., 24A

116. Brother Jonathan' s Ships George Grenville, 246

117. Nora's Vow Sir Waller Scott, 247

118. Cleon and I Charles Mackay, 248

119. Unfortunate Courtship Royal Tyler. 248

120. The Maniac Lewis, 249

121. Emmet's Vindication Robert Emmet, 251

122. Removal of the British Troops from Boston Earl of Chatham, 252

123. The Conquest of America Impossible Earl of Chatham, 254

124. Light for All From tlie German, 255

125. Wishes and Realities 256

126. DIALOGUE— The Will 258

127. The Hills 260

128. An Apologue T. Gaspey, 262

129. The Confession Blackivood" 1 s Magazine, 263

130. Is it Anybody' s Business ? Arthur' s Magazine, 264

131. Speech on Parliamentary Reform Lord Brougham, 265

132. The Boston Massacre John Hancock, 266

133. Science and Revelation W. R. Williams, 267

134. Degeneracy of Modern Greece Byron, 269

135. Warren's Address J. Pierpont, 270

136. Living up Five Pair of Stairs 271

137. DIALOGUE— A Casual Interview * 272

138. Dame Fredegonde William Aytoun, 273

139. Cassius instigating Brutus against Caesar Shakspeare, 275

140. DIALOGUE— Irish Courtesy Sedley, 277

141. Invective against Mr. Corry Henry Grattan, 279

142. The Irish Disturbance Bill Daniel CConnell, 280

143. The Old Oaken Bucket. Samuel Woodworth, 281

144. Parody on the Old Oaken Bucket Knickerbocker Magazine, 282

145. Battle of Flodden Field Sir Walter Scott, 283

147. Labor, Man's great Function Orville Dewey, 287

148. Value of Popularity Lord Mansfield, 288

149. The Frenchman and the Rats 289

150. DIALOGUE— How to Tell Bad News 291

VU1 CONTENTS.

E5EECI8E PAGE

151. Moral Desolation 292

152. Character of Bonaparte Phillips, 292

153. Tubal Cain Charles Mackay, 293-

154. The Indian' s Revenge John Loffland, 295

155. The Flight of Xerxes Miss Je.wsuv.ry, 296

156. Cato's Soliloquy on the Immortality of the Soul Addison, 297

157. Exhortation to Youth E. H. Chapin, 298

158. DIALOGUE— Metaphysics „ . . « Francis Hopkinson, 299

159. Pompeii 301

160. Hans and the Dandy 301

161. Mountains William Hoivitt, 303

162. The Seminole's Reply G. W. Patten, 304

163. The Young Soldier J. G. Adams, 305

164. Universal Freedom Henry Ware, Jr., 306

165. DIALOGUE— Imaginary Evils Goldsmith, 307

166. The Vocation of the Merchant Edxoard Everett, 310

167. The Contest Unequal Sydney Smith, 312

168. The Dilatory Scholar Mrs. Gilman, 313

169. The Razor-Seller Wolcott, 314

170. Will Waddle Colman, 315

171. Bullum versus Boatum Stevens, 317

172. Integrity the Basis of a Decided Character William Wirt, 319

173. The Orphan Boy's Tale 320

174. The Village Parson Goldsmith, 321

175. Hohenlinden Thomas Campbell, 323

177. Speech of Colonel Cobb 327

178. DIALOGUE— A Count Cornered J. K. Paulding, 328

179. Republican Principles best Supported by Moral Force Judge McLean, 332

180. Casabianca Mrs. Remans, 333

181. A Dirge for the Beautiful D. Ellen Goodman, 334

182. Death of Napoleon Isaac McLellan, 335

185. La Fayette Charles Sprague, 338

186. Bingen on the Rhine Mrs. Norton, 340

187. Young Jessica Thomas Moore, 342

188. Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog Goldsmith, 343

189. DIALOGUE— Modest Worth Rewarded Home, 344

190. The Right to Tax America Edmund Burke, 346

191. Speech of Red Jacket 347

192. Complaint against Scribblers Pope, 349

193. Song of the Shirt Thomas Hood, 351

194. Father Abbey's Will John Seccomb, 353

195. Progress of the Soul toward the Perfection of its Nature Logan, 355

196. The Sword of Washington and the Staff of Franklin John Quincy Adams, 356

197. Address to the American Troops before the Battle of Long Island. . . Washington, S58

198. Speech of Moloch Milton, 359

199. Speech of Belial Milton, 360

200. DIALOGUE— Querities of Quackery William Dunlap, 362

201. Earnest Exhortation Bible, 365

202. Sempronius's Speech for War Addison, 366

203. Epistle to a Young Friend Robert Burns, 367

204. Marco Bozzaris Fitz-Green Hallcck, 369

205. " Live them Down" Cincinnati Expositor, 370

206. The Upas in Marybone-Lane James Smith, 371

207. The Sniveler. E. P. Whipple, 372

CONTENTS. IX

ESEECISB PAGE

208. The Age of Washington Fisher Ames, 373

209. Adams and Jefferson Edward Everett, 373

210. The Silver Fetters Mrs. N. T. Munroe, 374

211. DIALOGUE— High Notions of a Humble Art 376

212. Regulns Dale, 378

213. The Crown of the Hat Sydney Dyer, 380

214. Queer Sermon on a Queer Text Dodd, 381

215. The Bachelor Sale Miss Davidson, 382

216. The Spirit of Patriotism Sir Walter Scott, 333

217. Honorable Ambition Henry Clay, 383

218. Power of the Creator seen in His "Works Addison, 385

219. My Mother's Bible George P. Morris, 385

220. Press on Park Benjamin, 386

221. DIALOGUE— Jones at the Barber's Shop 387

222. Education Phillips, 389

223. The-Last Appendix to "Yankee Doodle" 390

224. Death-Song of Outaiissi Thomas Campbell, 392

225. Seven Ages of Man Shakspeare, 393

226. The Destruction of Sennacherib Byron, 394

227. The Chameleon Merrick, 395

228. Ultimate Triumph of Peace Charles Simmer, 396

229. Emptiness of Earthly Glory Wayland, 397

230. The American Revolution Josiah Quincy, 399

231. DIALOGUE— Banishment of Catiline Croly, 400

232. Schools of the Olden Time 403

233. Speech of a Creek Indian against the Use of Intoxicating Liquors 404

234. The Countryman' s Reply to a Recruiting Sergeant 406

235 Earnest Appeal to the People of South Carolina Andrew Jackson, 408

236. DIALOGUE— Scene from William Tell Knowles, 409

237. Cupid' s Stratagem Anacreon, 414

238. Freedom of the Ancient Israelites Croly, 415

239. Bunker-Hill Monument Daniel Webster, 416

240. The Soul's Errand Sir Walter Raleigh, 417

241. The Cheat's Apology Ellis, 420

. 242. The Modern Belle. Stark, 421

243. My own Place M. F. Tupper, 422

244. Our Revolutionary Struggle not in vain Cassius M. Clay, 424

245. Humorous Account of English Taxes Sydney Smith, 425

246. A Pic-nic Party Thomas Rood, 425

247. DIALOGUE— Quarrel of Brutus and Cassius Shakspeare, 427

24S. The Rainbow Amelia B. Welby, 430

249. Soliloquy of Christopher North John Wilson, 432

250. Military Despotism Maclcintosh, 433

251. The Nimmers Byrom, 434

152. The Newcastle Apothecary 435

253. The Fourth of July J. Pierpont, 4PS

254. Bonaparte to the Army of Italy 438

255. DIALOGUE— The Petulant Man Osborne, 440

256. Fame Byron, 443

257. Labor Miss C. F. Orne, MA

258. Paul' s Defense before King Agrippa Bible, 445

259. Aunt Hetty's Reflections on Matrimony Fanny Fern, 447

260. Tell's Address to the Mountains Knowles, 448

261. Spirit of Freedom -. J. G. Percival, 449

262. The Ocean Cornivall, 451

263. Patriotic Feeling Orville Dewey, 452

264. The Perpetuity of the Church John M. Mason. 453

1*

X CONTENTS.

EXERCISE PAGE

265. Force of Talent Timothy Dwight, 454

266. Love and Murder 456

26T. DIALOGUE— Triumph of Brotherly Affection 457

268. Truth in Parentheses Thomas Hood, 462

269. Our National Anniversary Daniel Webster, 463

270. Hiawatha and Minnehaha H. W. Longfellow, 464

271. Change in Society Necessitates Change in Government Macaulay, 467

272. The Brewer's Coachman Taylor, 468

273. Not in Alice Carey, 469

274. Mac Briar's Speech to the Scotch Insurgents Sir Walter Scott, 470

275. Speech of Onias, dissuading the Jews from Bevolt Croly, 471

276. Ehyme of the Bail J. G. Saxe, 472

277. Number One Thomas Hood, 474

278. DIALOGUE— A Lesson in Politeness Oulton, 476

279. Besponsibilities of our Bepublic Joseph Story, 479

280. The Inquiry Charles Mackay, 480

281. Battle of Waterloo Byron, 482

282. Scorn to be Slaves Warren, 483

283. Extract from Madame Eoland's Defense before the French Tribunal ^ 484

284. Address to the Greeks 485

285. Look Aloft : J. Lawrence, 486

286. The Wonder-Working Wire 487

287. Liberty the Reward of Mental and Moral Development John C. Calhoun, 4S8

288. DIALOGUE— Revolutionary Enthusiasm 489

289. Graves of the Patriots Horatio Hale, 492

290. The Chieftain' s Daughter George P. Morris, 492

291. The Husband's Complaint 493

292. The Power of the People the only Source of Public Safety Lamartine, 494

293. Song of the Stars Bryant, 495

294. The Battle of Life E. C. Jones, 497

, 295. The Death of Leonidas Croly, 497

296. What Mr. Robinson thinks Biglow Papers, 498

297. The Embryo Lawyer Allingham, 500

298. The Permanency of the Union Daniel Webster, 503

299. The Ship of State H. W. Longfellow, 504

300. Thermopylae George W. Doane, 505

301. The Dying Poet's Farewell Horace Smith, 505

302. The American Sailor R. F. Stockton, 507

303. A National Monument to Washington R. C. Winthrop, 508

304. The Farmer and the Counselor Horace Smith, 509

305. Be Firm Sarah C. Edgarton Mayo, 511

307. Othello's Defense Shakspeare, 512

308. Supposed Speech of John Quincy Adams in Favor of the Declaration of Independence .Daniel Webster, 516

309. Our Country William Jewett Pabodie, 518

311. Duty of Literary Men to their Country Grimke, 520

312. Signs of Age Crabbe, 522

313. The Choice John Pomfret, 522

314. Morality, the Foundation of National Greatness W. E. Chanrdng, 524

315. The Tread of Time Thomas Cole, 525

316. The Young American Alexander H. Everett, 526

317. Speak to the Earth and it will Teach thee Henry Giles, 527

$ A I D E R S ?

SCHOOL SPEAKER.

Part First. Elocution

Elocution is the art of delivering written or extemporaneous composition with force, propriety, and ease.

It deals, therefore, with words, not only as individuals, but as members of a sentence, and parts of a connected discourse : including every thing necessary to the just expression of the sense. Accordingly, it demands, in a special manner, attention to the following particulars ; viz., Articulation, Accent, Emphasis, Inflection, Modulation, and Pauses.