The orator's touchstone

Front matter

Book . H4-

THE

ORATOR'S TOUCHSTONE;

Preface

The Essays presented in this volume were commenced by the author without any view to pubhcation, during a suspension of professional duties, occasioned by the pressure of ill health. The earher numbers were written under the united influence of two very innocent desires. The one of which was to occupy the thoughts of the writer with some species of employment, and the other to embody in a tangible and specific form, some novel if not profitable views which had been long floating on the surface of the mind, and which had been directly derived from an observation of practical life.

The determination to hold these papers in reserve was changed by the persuasion of a few cultivated and judicious friends who had carefully perused them, and expressed the conviction that some good might probably be accomplished by investing them with a more enduring form than was originally contemplated.

It is highly probable that the ultimate results may vi PKEFACE,

prove tliat the opinions wliicli influenced tlie writer to change Ms early decision on this subject, were the dictate of a partial spirit of kindness, rather than of a severe judgment of wliat was best for tbe writer and the public interests. But the publication of the ensuing chapters has been induced by a sincere desire on the part of the writer to make some contribution, even should it prove to be a mere pittance, to the common treasury of his country's information. K a portion of the exercises presented in these essays sliall be impressed with the stamp of novelty, a lively hope is cherisbed that they will prove jDractically beneficial to those wbo may adopt them. And if they should not ascend so high in the scale of pubhc appreciation as to be commended for their utility, they will at least experience an immunity firom censure for the infliction of any positive injury on the interests of society. And they are accordingly submitted to the world by the writer in a spirit of humble but fearless confidence in regard to the personal results of the adventure to bunself

The words "speaker," '^23uj)i]," and ''student," have been alternately adopted in the following essays, as descriptive terms to indicate the person who may conceive it expedient to apply to his own interests and improvement any of the disciplinary exercises which, are suggested in this Book. ISTeither the term ^'' speaker^ ' ^^pupi^^ nor '-'' studerdj'' as used in tbe ensu-

FEEFACE. vil

ing pages, lias the slightest shade of reference to the age of the person who shall subject himself to the discipline of the exercises which have been advised. Either of the preceding descriptive terms as used in this treatise maj include a person in the maturity of life equally with one who may be buoyant with the spirit and bloom of youth — the octagenarian as well as the minor amongst those classes of persons who shall choose to make an experiment on the vahdity and soundness of the suggestions contained in this book.

It may possibly be objected that the preceding t>v3rms ^^ speaker ^^^ ^^ pupil^^^ '"'' studentll^ have been intro^ duced with a culpable degree of frequency. But, in paying a due share of homage to the interests of perspicuity, it was found impracticable to indulge in a more sparing use of the terms in question. For they have been used as descriptive of character, and that particular character too, which forms the principal subject of the essays contained in this book.

There is another feature which prominently marks the ensuing essays, which, without explanation, may be pronounced a glaring and incurable imperfection. The feature to which reference is now made, is the fact of first devoting a chapter specially to the consideration of a particular exercise, and then recurring to the exercise ah-eady described again, and repeating it in union with some distinct subject presented in a

VIU PEEFACE.

subsequent chapter. The act of bringing up again or repeating an exercise whicb. may have been abeady considered, and of blending it to a brief extent -with. • some subject included in a succeeding chapter, has been adopted for the purpose of calling the attention of the practitioner in a special manner, to the subject which may be thus repeated. The preceding course has been also pursued for the purpose of preserving the unity between two exercises, where the use of one would be utterly useless and unproductive, independent of the other as an adjunct or auxiliary.

In regard to the general arrangement of the chapters contained in this book, it may be affirmed that it was found utterly impossible to reduce them to that precise and symmetrical beauty of form and of system which marks the pages of the stricter and sterner sciences. All which has been attempted by the writer was to preserve a distinct and visible boundary between those exercises which have been suggested for the improvement of the voice, and those other appliances of a more varied and miscellaneous character which conduce to fill up and perfect the entire scope of oratory. The writer is animated by the faint hope that in the last-mentioned attempt he has not entirely failed.

AsTOE House, New York, Nov. 25^A, 1853.

Cffitt^nts,

PAQX

Intkoduction , 1

Chapter I

The Management of the Yoice one of the Principal Elements in Successful Speaking 23

CHAPTER H.

A Happy Faculty of Intonation — Its Advantages 25

CHAPTER HI.

An Effective Style of Delivery a Specific Quality, like that of Tune. The Pupil in Elocution should carefully fix in his mind some Model of Excellence in that Department 28

CHAPTER IV.

By what means an Effective Style of DeHvery may .be Acquired. . 31

CHAPTER V.

Deep and Musical Tones of Voice — The Mode by which they are Produced. ..,,., ..o ,,..,,... , , , 83

CHAPTER VI.

The Deep and Musical Tones— Both acquired by and perpetuated by tlie Persevering Culture of the Voice 3 7

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE

The Deep and Musical Tones which are occasionally blended with the Voice of a Pupil in the Exercises of Music and Declamation — Is it possible to transfer them to the Practical Business of Speaking ? 43

CHAPTER VIII.

Exercises in Vocal Music beneficial to the Voice 46

CHAPTER IX.

The Mode by which Vocal Music is rendered beneficial to the Voice 48

CHAPTER X.

The Mode by which Vocal Music is rendered tributary to the AccompHshment of Speaking , 51

CHAPTER XL

The Quantity of Time that should be devoted to Vocal Music by a Pupil in Elocution 53

CHAPTER XII.

The Exercise of Vocal Music conducted on the Natural Key of the Voice — Its Effect 6b

CHAPTER XHI.

Vocal Music on the Natural Key of the Voice — continued 56

CHAPTER XrV^.

The Alto, or Highest Key, to be adopted in Musical Exercises only when the Pupil in Elocution gives Full Sound to the Sharpest and Highest Notes , 58

CONTENTS. Xi

CHAPTER XV.

PAGE

Vocal Music, conducted on the Natural Key of the Voice, to be succeeded immediately by an Exercise in Reading or in Declamation on the same Key 60

CHAPTER XVI.

The Particular Tunes by which the Voice of a Speaker should be exercised in Vocal Music , 62

CHAPTER XVH.

Exercising the Voice immediately previous to retiring to rest —Its Effect considered 65

CHAPTER XVIH.

Miscellaneous Reflections on the Tones of the Voice 6*1

CHAPTER XIX.

The Essential Importance of Confining the Voice, in the Act of Speaking, to the Natural Key — and in what the Advantage of this Course consists 68

CHAPTER XX.

Does it ever happen, in the Exercise of Speaking and Singing, that the Human Voice is pitched on a Key too low to admit of Easy and Effective Speaking ? 74

CHAPTER XXI.

The Preliminary Exercises which may prevent the Embarrassments which result from pitching the Voice on an Incorrect Key in Speaking 1&

XU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXII.

PAGE

The Mode by which a Pupil who possesses no Ear for Music, or Sense of Tune, is to correct the Imperfections of his Voice ... 18

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Mode by which a Pupil who possesses no Recognition of Tune is to ascertain when his Voice is pitched on a "Wrong Key in the Process of Speaking 81

CHAPTER XXIV.

When a Speaker discovers, in the Process of Speaking, that his Voice is pitched on an Erroneous or Difficult Key, the Remedy . . 84

CHAPTER XXV.

Are all the Disciplinary Exercises uselessly expended on the Voice of a Pupil in Elocution, who speaks on one Key only ?. . 86

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Practice of Declaiming, when alone, on Questions which may be selected by the Pupil Himself 88

CHAPTER XXVH.

The Power of 'giving Marked Effect to Particular Words in a Speech... .. , , 93

CHAPTER XXVHI,

How the Faculty of yielding Peculiar Effect to Certain Words may be acquired 99

CHAPTER XXIX.

The Effect of giving a Round, Full, and Deep Sound to the Voice by the Repeated Vociferation of Certain Words 100

CONTENTS. xiii

CHAPTER XXX.

PAGE

Loud Speaking Considered 102

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Frequent Repetition of Interrogatories in Speaking, a Beneficial Exercise for the Voice 106

CHAPTER XXXH.

Keeping the Voice on a Continuous Strain of Vehement Deck* mation during the Delivery of an Entire Speech, considered. , 112

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Reading with the Utmost Strength of the Voice, considered. , 113

^ CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Daily Exercise of Reading in an Audible Tone of Voice. , . 115

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Practice of Reading in a Tone of Voice scarcely Audible -.. 120

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The Subject of Gesticulation. 123

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Act of Pronouncing Accurately — Its Graces and Advantages 129

CHAPTER XXXVHI.

The Advantages which result from a Clear Articulation of Words by a Speaker. . ^^ .... w = = = ...... = » = .. = = ..:. = c . = ... = . = = .. . 133

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

PAGE

The Property of Cadence in Speaking , ... 138

CHAPTER XL.

The Ability to yield a Proper Emphasis to Words 141

CHAPTER XLI.

The Conversational Style in Public Speaking 143

CHAPTER XLII.

The Conversational Style in Public Speaking — continued 147

CHAPTER XLHI.

The Acquisition of Different Modes of Delivery — Its Advantages 150

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Regulation of the Voice in Reference to the Volume of its Sound from the Beginning to the Close of an Entire Argument 152

CHAPTER XLV.

Is it possible to Imitate the Delivery of an Accomplished Speaker with such a Degree of Success, as to ensure the Transfer of his Particular Style and Manner to the Person of the Copyist ? 155

CHAPTER XLVI.

Deliberation and Self-possession Necessary, both in the Opening and in the Progress of an Argument 161

CONTENTS. XV

CHAPTER XLVn.

PAGE

Speaking Considered with Regard to the Length of a Speech. ... 163

CHAPTER XLVni.

How a Speech or Address should be Considered 168

CHAPTER XLIX.

"What Particular Speeches a Pupil should select for the Exercise of Declamation 17S

CHAPTER L.

The Habit of noting down the Points assumed by a Speaker in Delivering an Argument where the Observer may not be concerned himself 181

CHAPTER LI.

The Importance of securing one Correct View, Idea, or Argument in Relation to a Subject on which a Speaker is about to Reason 183

CHAPTER LIL

(Vhen a Speaker shall have once indicated by the Course of his Remarks that he is about bringing an Argument to a Close, He should never take a Fresh Start in Speaking on the Occurrence of a New Idea or Fact to his mind 185

CHAPTER LIIL

The Practice of noting down in Succession the Prominent . Points which may be involved in a Case at Law, or on a Subject which has been set for Debate 181

XVI CONTENTS,

CHAPTER LIV.

Writing out Copious Notes on a Subject which is to be Discussed 190

CHAPTER LV.

A Speaker should not Reply to every Position assumed by an Opponent in Debate 194

CHAPTER LVI.

The Order in which a Speaker should Discuss the Points or Propositions which must naturally arise in a Trial at Law, or in a Question which may be in the Progress of being Debated.. 196

CHAPTER LVn.

The Preparatory Process to be Adopted when a Student is about to prepare a "Written Production of any Description 200

CHAPTER LVni.

The Practice of noting Passages of Peculiar Excellence which occur in Various Authors 204

CHAPTER LIX.

A Speaker should always maintain the most perfect Good Humor in addressing an Audience of any Description 209

CHAPTER LX.

A Speaker should never be Discouraged by an Early Failure in an Oratorical Attempt 212

CHAPTER LXI.

1 in arranging the ( ion a Debater should prefer .. c = = .......= = ............ c = . = 214

Which Place or Position in arranging the Order of a Discuss

CONTENTS, Xvii

CHAPTER LXII.

PAGB

The Introduction of Anecdotes into a Discourse or Argument 220

CHAPTER LXHI.

A Speaker should never be Restrained from the Performance of Duty by the Influence of Diffidence 225

CHAPTER LXIV.

Reasoning by the Abduction of a single Fact or Principle in Debate 227

CHAPTER LXV.

The Policy of reserving Particular Pacts by a Speaker, to be Disclosed by him in the Delivery of an Argument 231

CHAPTER LXVI.

The Propriety of Abusive Language being applied to Parties and Witnesses by Advocates, considered 233

CHAPTER LXVII.

A Debater should never, whilst engaged in Speaking, single out any Member of a Jury or Person in any other Assembly, and address his Remarks directly to that Person 236

CHAPTER LXVni.

No Speech of any Description should abound in Allusions to the Speaker Himself 241

CHAPTER LXIX.

A Debater should give Courteous Replies to Questions propounded to him when Speaking 243

SVUl CONTENTS-.

CHAPTER LXX.

PAGE

A Speaker should never conduct an Argument in sucli a way as necessarily to communicate Pain to the Feelings of any Class of Persons 245

CHAPTER LXXI.

The Elements of Euclid and the Intellectual System of Arithmetic, considered as Prehminary Aids to the Reasoning Faculties , 248

CHAPTER LXXn.

The Practice of observing the most Brilliant Passages of Wit which occur in Authors, and also those which enliven Debate and Conversation. 251

CHAPTER LXXni.

The Expediency of Questions being occasionally propounded by a Speaker, in the course of an Argument or Address, to Opposing Debaters, or to Persons sympathizing with such Debaters in Opinion 254

CHAPTER LXXIV.

It will prove an Injudicious Course, in any Member of a Deliberative Assembly, to participate in Debate with undue frequency 259

CHAPTER LXXV.

The Importance of maldng Ample Preparation for the Discussion of any Question long previous to the Period at which it is to be disposed of. 262

CHAPTER LXXVI.

A Legislator should never participate in Debate exclusively for the Applause of the Gallery 264

CONTENTS. XIX

CHAPTER LXXVn.

PAGE

The Great Advantage to a Speaker of Preserving a Perfect Degree of Serenity and Coolness, when the Assembly of wliich he is a Member may be thro-^n into a state of Excitement, Tumult, and Confusion 266

CHAPTER LXXVHI.

The Authors which a Speaker should habitually read with the view of Improving his Diction in Speaking ^ 269

CHAPTER LXXIX.

The Introduction of Bibhcal Quotations into Secular Speeches .... 2^9

CHAPTER LXXX.

A Speaker should abstain from Latin and Greek Quotations, and from habitual allusions to Greece and Rome 282

CHAPTER LXXXI.

The Advantage which a Speaker derives from possessing a Fine Person, considered 284

CHAPTER LXXXn.

The Benefit which may be derived from practising Declamation before a Mirror , 294

CHAPTER LXXXni.

The Daily Practice of Writing an Essay on some Subject, considered , 298

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

The Influence exerted by Competition on the Energies of a Speaker > 301

XX CONTENTS.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

The Introduction of Poetical Quotations into a Speech 306

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

The Influence exerted by Locality in the Formation of Speakers.. 809

CHAPTER LXXXVII.

The Mania for Speaking 315

CHAPTER LXXXVIH.

The Influence of Luxurious Living 319

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

A Public Speaker should abstain entirely from the use of Tobacco 323

CHAPTER XC.

A Speaker should never resort to Stimulating Liqiiors as auxiliaries to successful Speaking 326

Introduction

The commentaries presented in this book are based upon two very sincere convictions, which, if fortified by the deductions of an enlightened experience, are assuredly deserving of the most munificent and profound attention from every intelligent mind.

The first of these convictions is, that every human being who has been endowed by nature with reasoning powers of an ordinary grade of respectability, may be rendered an efficient and useful debater, by a persevering application of the appropriate disciplinary appliances, and that accomplished orators, by the influence of well-applied culture, may be drawn forth from the rough materials of intellectual nature, just as statues of exquisite mould and finish are extracted from the rugged marble by an application of the artist's chisel.

The second conviction is, that the accomplishment of public speaking, instead of waving as a proud and attractive plume in the coronet of any peculiar class or profession, will soon become an universal attribute of the American people.

Our faith in the justness of the first conviction, is founded on the fact that the mstance is exceeding rare in which history, with her impartial pen, has recorded, or tradition, with its authentic voice, has reported, an example of any person failing to grasp the palm of eloquence, who aspired to it with a perseverance which never faltered, and who was endowed by nature with powers of a respectable gi-ade.

The reason why the second conviction is believed to be

I justj is because speakers are bursting in rapid succession upon the world, who were utterly unknown to themselves or their acquaintances in that character, until their powers received an impulse from some casual train of circumstances, which started them into life as public speakers. Tongues are growing nimble under the spreading influence of the spirit of liberty, which had formerly been as torpid as that of the toad or the serpent. The farmer who scatters grain upon the broad surface of the earth for our physical nutriment, during the day, raises his voice in our public naeetings at night, to encourage his countrymen to sow broad-cast the seeds of education. The mechanic, who yielded his devotions with unrelenting patience to his tools by day, pleads in fervid strains for the cause of religion, science, literature, and temperance at night. Every village and neighborhood in the country plumes itself on its orators. And there is not an aspirant to the post of constable, or to an inferior clerkship throughout the land, but who has the confidence to ascend the hustmgs, and address liis coimtrymen not only in intelligible, but frequently in very intelligent terms.

And why should it not be so 1 Tlie plain and mipretending farmer converses as sensibly at the fireside, as the politician who is seeking his vote ; and he frequently furnishes him with bullion, in the shape of ideas, which is coined up into arguments, and expended with prodigious power upon the hustings. The mechanic can state his case more intelligently and lucidly, perhaps, whilst sitting on his work-bench, than the attorney whose boot he mends. Why is it that these men, who abound in the most precious stores of wisdom and information for private conversation, should not be able to ascend the hustings, or take a position -^dthin the bar, and speak at large to the assembled multitude on topics of public interest 1 They are restrained from doing so by the same circumstance which deters children from making their first attempts to walk, by a distrust of their powers to execute mTRODUCTION. 3

•with intelligence and propriety. When a child shall have perfected one step in walking, mthoiit tumblmg down, he will venture to make another, and another, and others, in endless progression, until he shall acquire the pervasive but useful and graceful accomplishment of walking. It is thus with the sensible speaker in ordinary conversation, who may never have ventured to participate in public speaking. If he once stands erect upon the public stage, and utters one sensible idea intelligibly, he can proceed farther m the business, and state two appropriate views of a subject ; and he can afterwards so perfect himself by practice, as to speak as long as he pleases. The accomplishment of speaking, like that of dancing, lies dormant in the system of a large number of persons, who may be charmed by the brilliant and attractive powers of others ; and, similar to dancing, this faculty or power only requires the application of one vigorous and determined attempt to secure its permanent possession. For, when once acquired, the faculty of public speaking is never lost, unless an individual shall wantonly and capriciously throw it aside. Men of limited education, almost universally, and frequently men of the most enlightened understanding, who have not acquired any experience in regard to the process of speaking, by sharing in the labors it imposes, lie under a gross misapprehension respecting the difficulties which are connected with this engaging exercise. Persons destitute of a practical acquaintance with the matter, are almost inclined to believe that a superior degree of fluency of speech flows directly from divine inspiration, and that where a person may not be endowed with supernatural gifts in this department of human exertion, that it is aiming at an impracticable height, to reach after the palm of eloquence. And those who excel in the business of speaking, have encountered no Herculean labor to expel the delusion which has fastened itself on the minds of their silent brethren, relative to the difficulties coimected with the acquisition of speaking talents.

Persons at the porch of human existence often express their astonishment at witnessing the capability which exists in some men of speaking several hours in succession without even a brief resignation of the floor, and they marvel how the thing can be effected. And yet, after the lapse of a few years from the period at which the admiration was expressed at the observation of this almost celestial accomplishment, the very same men will be often found speaking during the space of four or five hours in succession themselves. So great a revolution does a nearer approach to the maturity of intellect, and the application of appropriate exertion, produce in the sum of human accomplishments.

A broader illustration of the deep and impenetrable darkness in which persons are often steeped in regard to their own accomplishments, camiot be exhibited than that which is sometimes afforded by men who suddenly burst upon the world in a strain of fervid and impetuous eloquence, without having pre\dously dreamed of possessing the faculty themselves, or having yielded any symptom of its existence to others. The breath of life is infused into thjir latent powers by some exciting and unexpected circumstance, and the magic powers which are thus started into life are seldom quenched except by the icy finger of death.

For every human bemg who possesses the power of reflection, is competent to fix m his memory the leading views or arguments which will be reasonably suggested by any subject which may deserve his attention or excite his interest in the business of life. And if he may be able to fix these views in his mind and memory, he will certainly be as competent to repeat them to the public in an intelligible discourse as ever a pupil in a country academy was to repeat a lesson to his preceptor, m the presence of his class, which he had learned by the study and reflection of the previous night. !For the faculty of acquisition brings into action a power of much more elevated reach, than that of recitation. The first operation demands thought, which is the attribute of philosophers ; the last calls for impudence, which is the property of fools. In relation to the possession of the gift of eloquence by a large number of our race, unknown to themselves, a beautiful and touching fragment, from one of the sweetest poets in the English tongue, is eminently applicable :

" Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood."

If, then, every person who is capable of reasoning mentally can be qualified, by persevering practice, for the business of intelligibly conveying his reasoning through a medium of words to others, it is a matter of crowning importance in this noble enterprise, that he should prepare himself by the adoption of the essential preliminary measures, for performing this duty agreeably, gracefully, and efficiently. And Lord Chesterfield, in those letters to his son, which have acquired a celebrity commensurate with the diffiision of letters, has somewhere submitted some remarks on the blandishments of manner and the melodies of intonation, which might be appropriately recorded on a tablet of marble in characters of gold. He says to his son, in substance, "that there was a member of the popular branch of Parliament, who never arose to address the house without at once commianding the most breathless attention, and yet that this member never submitted any views of a question more instructive than those which were spoken by a large proportion of the members." And he asks his son, in continuation of his remarks, " What particular quality it was in this member that constituted the source of his fascination 1" and he answers -the question himself, by observing that, "it was his pleasing address." He then proceeds by stating to his son that " there was another who never opened his lips in addressing the house without shedding light on every question he touched, and yet that the homage of a very slender share

6 ' INTEODTJCTION.

of attention was paid to him whilst speaking." And he asks his son in continuation, "Why this was so?" He answers this interrogatory also, by remarking, " that it was owing to an imperfect delivery and a graceless manner." And we might explore the speaking world from one of its extremities to the other, and we would behold the proposition written in characters as bright and as intelligible as sunbeams, that music and grace impart to the business of speaking a charm equal in fascmation, and infinitely more enduring in its influence, than these qualities ever lend to halls resounding with the sweetest and most cultivated music.

Whilst recurring to the charm exerted by a musical delivery and an engaging manner, it may not be considered a culpable degree of minuteness, on a subject of such vital concern to the best interests of humanity, to present a few illustrations of the matter, both from historical and traditional reports. It has been said of Burke, that with all his strength and solidity of reasoning and magnificence of phrase, that it was his custom, from the effect of an ungainly delivery, to send the members of the English House of Commons to their dinner Vv'henever he addressed the house ; whilst Lord Chatham, (however gi^eat liis far-reaching and intuitive wisdom may have been,) who was greatly the inferior of Burke in solid argument and varied attainment, almost universally chained the members to their seats by his rich, sweet, and varied tones.

One of the most distinguished divines in this country, for the saintly sanctity of his life, as well as for the classic purity and elegance of his diction in speaking, once followed in preachmg an exceedingly illiterate clergyman, who was yet favored in possessing a most melodious intonation of voice, in the process of delivery; and the cultivated preacher cleared the church, in a very brief interval, of a congregation which had been previously held in a state of deathlike silence for an hour or two by his illiterate predecessor on the stage. What was the occasion of this graceless and unbecoming desertion of their spiritual counsellor, on the part of the congregation 1 It was the cold and lifeless enunciation of the one speaker, following immediately in the train of the musical and fervid tones of another.

The voice may be legitimately regarded, then, as far as physical agencies are estimated in the business of speaking, as the exuberant spring of a speaker's fascination ; for a voice of music not only insinuates its own incidental charm, into the heart of an assembly, but it almost universally bears with it the blended charm of an engaging and graceful manner. For whilst it will prove utterly impracticable for a speaker, who possesses a voice deficient in fulness and flexibility, to execute graceful gestures, the occurrence will prove equally rare, of finding a speaker blessed with a full and melodious voice, who can indulge in any other than flexible gestures, unless he shall perversely, choose to do so, contrary to the organic structure of the human system, for in this particular the voice and the hands move in sympathetic unison together, as has been demonstrated in the sixteenth chapter of this book.

If the voice may be justly regarded as the principal source of that power which is wielded by a speaker over human, opinion and action, no rational or innocent measure should be omitted which may promise to bring an accession of improvement to that important instrument of power. And the principle is here assumed, that the voice is equally as susceptible to improvement from the influence of sterner disciplinary exercises, as those which are imposed upon the organs of speech by ordinary conversation ; as the mind is accessible to an augmentation of its vigor from the effect of severer exercises than those imposed upon it by the reading of any plain and simple author, or as the body is to be improved in its measure of energy and elasticity by the circumstance of being frequently brought in contact with more trying