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Front matter

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Preface

These fifteen elocutionary exercises are presented in the order which has commended itself through several year's experience in public reading and instruction.

The exercises are named work, as work is the price to be paid to attain excellence in the art, even by those with natural qualifications.

The art finds expression in the selections, which form the closing part of the book.

Sara Lord Bailey.

Lawrence, Mass.

Nov. ioth, 1898.

Lawrence, Mass., November 8, 1898.

Mrs. Sara Lord Bailey has been for several years a public reader, and as such has been favorably known over a large part of the United States and Canada. She has also had considerable experience as an instructor.

She has now more fully embodied the principles of her art in a series of exercises, which seem to me to make an admirable text-book, either for classes or for self instruction.

William E. Wolcott, Pastor of Lawrence Street Congregational Church.

Hampton, N. H.

I have examined these fifteen elocutionary exercises, and am much pleased with them. The order is natural and progressive. The easy exercise leads to the one a little more difficult, and this to one still more difficult. It is as helpful a course of instruction in elocution as I have seen. And I heartily add my commendation of the author as one thoroughly equipped for, as well as naturally adapted to instruction in her chosen department ; and as a wise, diligent, enthusiastic and successful teacher of elocution.

J. A. Ross, Pastor of Congregational Church.

Boston School of Oratory, 7-A Beacon St.

Boston, July 5th, 1888.

Sara Lord Bailey's entertainments are fine art representations of the humor, pathos and passion of our best English and American authors. She has the true art temperament in voice, action and power to hold her audiences. She has few superiors now before the public. Our graduating classes have averaged sixteen in number ; some of whom have made very creditable reputations as public readers, but no one has met with so great popular success as has Mrs. Bailey. I am certain that she will fill with entire success any appointments made for her.

Moses True Brown, Principal of Boston School of Oratory.

Missouri School for the Blind, St. Louis, Mo., June 19, 1889.

To whom it may concern :

I take much pleasure in testifying to the excellent work done by Mrs. Sara Lord Bailey as teacher of elocution in this school. The progress of her pupils, even those with seemingly little talent, was rapid ; and in all cases the work was thorough. To those who desire the services of a faithful and competent teacher, or a reader of remarkable power and ability, I cheerfully recommend her.

Respectfully,

Jno. T. Sibley, A. M., M. D., Supt.

St. Louis, Mo.

Mrs. Sara Lord Bailey, verily, easily affords an expense of vital, vigorous, happy, healthful power in her dramatic recitals which wins an audience every time ! Charming in person, of unimpeachable character, highly educated in every department of her chosen profession, and combining noticeably strong dramatic instinct with exquisite finish of art. Well, she needs only to be seen and heard as a public reader to be enthusiastically endorsed.

Very respectfully,

Ed. L. McDowell, Professor Elocution, St. Louis University.

I. EXERCISE,

POSITIONS. BOWS.

i. Composed i. Polite

2. Advancing 2. Martha Washington

3. Retreating

4. Wavering

POSITION ON THE PLATFORM.

"Graceful position precedes graceful action." — Austin.

The speaker should stand easily erect in a graceful, dignified attitude, with the breast fronting the audience, head natural, hands hanging by the side. There is something in this first Composed Position which may prejudice the audience either in his favor or against him, — then as the speaker warms and glows with enthusiasm, he steps forward with the right-foot, throwing the weight upon it, this Advancing Position places him in sympathy with his listeners. The body retreats to the Backward Position when the sentiment expresses — dread, fright, horror or anything akin to these.

When he is uneasy, constantly changing the weight from one foot to the other, he shows bashfulness, indecision, or anxiety, etc. This is called the Wavering Position — and should ; not be indulged in unless the sentiment requires it.

BOWS.

1. Polite Bow : —

A graceful inclination of the head, bending the body slightly.

2. Martha Washington : —

Draw right-foot back, holding the dress on either side, make small courtesy, merely bending the knees.

BREATHING.

1 . Effusive or Flowiitg.

2. Expulsive or Rushing.

3. Explosive or Bursting.

i. Effusive.

(Inhale slowly and naturally, give out the breath in the sound of the letter " V.")

2. Expulsive.

(Inhale slowly, exhale on the word " Ha")

3. Explosive.

(Take a full inspiration, extend both arms forward, expel breath quickly and with force, on the vowel sound " I." At the same time stepping backward with right-foot, arms falling apart.)

DRILL OF THE SEVEN LONG SOUNDS.

(Practice daily for excellence in reading.) eel, ale, air, farm, fall, fold, ooze.

DRILL TO ATTAIN FLEXIBILITY OF FINGERS, WRISTS, HANDS AND BODY.

FINGERS AND HANDS. BODY.

1 . Shaking fingers i . Rotate left — head right

2. Shaking hands 2. Rotate right — head left

3. Up and down 3. Swing forward — head backward

4. Side to side 4. Swing backward — head forward

5. Inward and outward 5. Bend and rise in rapid succes-

6. Rotate right and left sion

VOICE AND GESTURE DRILL.

THE FAIRIES.

Up the airy mountain,

Down the rushy glen, We daren't go a- hunting

For fear of little men ; Wee folk, good folk,

Trooping all together ; Green jacket, red cap,

And white owl's feather !

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home, They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam ; Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain-lake, With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

High on the hill-top

The old king sits ; He is now so old and gray

He's nigh lost his wits.

With a bridge of white mist

From Slieveleague to Rosses ; Or going up with music

On cold starry nights, To sup with the Queen

Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget

For seven years long ; When she came down again

Her friends were all gone.

They took her lightly back,

Between the night and morrow, They thought that she was fast asleep,

But she was dead with sorrow.

They have kept her ever since

Deep within the lakes, On a bed of flag-leaves,

Watching till she wakes.

By the craggy hill-side,

Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn trees

For pleasure here and there.

Is any man so daring

As dig one up in spite, He shall find the thornies set

In his bed at night. — William Allingham.

II. EXERCISE.

BREATHING. ARM MOVEMENTS.

i. Chest — Active and Passive i. Descending, Front

2. Abrupt 2. Horizontal, Oblique

3. Delsarte 3. Ascending, Lateral

1 . Active and Passive Chest :—

( 1 . Inhale and hold chest strongly braced while repeating, a, e, i, o, u.) (2. Inhale and relax chest, breathing out the word " Ha")

2 . Abrupt : —

(Take a full inspiration, clench hands and draw up to arm-pits. Expel breath suddenly with forcible downward motion of the arms.)

3. Delsarte : —

(Advance with the right foot, rise on toes. Inhale slowly at same time the arms are curved on chest, sustain — Relax the muscles. Exhale slowly on the word " Ha" returning to position.)

ARM MOVEMENTS.

Arm Movements are innumerable and relate to the Vertical and Horizontal plane, or up and down and across the body.

In the Vertical or up and down plane we mark three spheres, 1 st. The Ascending or elevated, emotional sphere. 2nd. The Descending or the domain of the will, the vital power. 3rd. Horizontal or mental sphere.

In the Horizontal Plane we find three movements in Front, three in Oblique, and three in Lateral. Our Front movements are stronger, more direct and personal. The Oblique, general ideas, and used more. Lateral showing remoteness in time or space.

The Supine, Prone and Vertical hand carried through these points will suffice for ordinary expression.

The special movements are to be studied only when these are thoroughly mastered.

DRILL OF THE SEVEN SHORT SOUNDS.

it, et, her, hat, don, tub, book.

II VOCAL CULTURE DRILL.

Practice, Patience, Perseverance.

— — A A A A

Are you, are you. up, up, up, up.

Can you hear? Aye! aye! sir.

Me-ow, me— ow. Kind, king, kneel,

o o o o-o o o o. le, la, law-lo.

Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Charcoal (3 times)

Bells, bells, bells, bells, bells. Blow bugle blow.

A. arm— ate— ask— add.

b. bib— boy-blaze— blue.

c. cease— claw— clam— click.

d. did— drill— dread-dross.

e. eve-end-even-endless.

f. fling-flare-flat-flew.

G. gleam— gloss-glad-glare.

h. hark-high-hail-holy.

1. ice-imps-inch-ink.

j. j ill— jam-jump-joy.

k. kind— keep— kill-king.

l. linger-light-live-lost.

m. mother-mine-most-met.

n. never-none-noble-notion.

o. ooze-on-oak-odd.

q. queer-quaint-quack-quick.

r. run-roam— red-reel.

s. star— sinp— ships-send.

t. three-times-think— taste.

u. urn-under-umbrella.

v. verily— vain— void— value.

w. wild— word— wind-wan.

x. xebec— xenotime— xanthic.

y. yawn-yell-young-yellow.

ARTICULATED WHISPER, i. Effusive.

Heard ye the whisper of the breeze,

As soft it murmured by Amid the shadowy forest trees ?

It tells, with meaning sigh, Of the bowers of bliss on that viewless shore, Where the weary spirit shall sin no more.

2. Expulsive.

[From " Military Command." — Anon.~\ Soldiers ! You are now within a few steps of the enemy's outpost ! Our scouts report them as slumbering in parties around their watch-fires, and utterly unprepared for our approach. A swift and noiseless advance around that projecting rock and we are upon them. We capture them without the possibility of resistance. One disorderly noise or motion may leave us at the mercy of their advanced guard. Let every man keep the strictest silence under pain of instant death.

3. Explosive.

" Up ! up Glentarkin, rouse thee, hoi ! "

(Horror, alarm) Avaunt ! and quit my sight ! Let the earth hide thee ! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold ; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with ! — Shakespeare.

III. EXERCISE.

DRILL OF THE FOUR DOUBLE SOUNDS. isle — voice — ow — u

ALPHABET OF ARTICULATION.

No excellence in reading without distinct articulation.

A. Andrew Airpump asked his aunt her ailment.

Did Andrew Airpump ask his aunt her ailment?

If Andrew Airpump asked his aunt her ailment What was the ailment Andrew Airpump's aunt had ?

B. Billy Buttonbox buttered a butter biscuit.

Did Billy Buttonbox butter a butter biscuit ?

If Billy Buttonbox buttered a butter biscuit

Where is the butter biscuit Billy Buttonbox buttered ?

C. Captain Crackskull cracked a catchpoles coxcomb. Did Captain Crackskull crack a catchpoles coxcomb ? If Captain Crackskull cracked a catchpoles coxcomb

Where is the catchpoles coxcomb Captian Crackskull cracked?

D. David Doldrum dreamt he drove a dreadful dragon. Did David Doldrum dream he drove a dreadful dragon? If David Doldrum dreamt he drove a dreadful dragon Where is the dreadful dragon David Doldrum dreamt he drove?

E. Enoc Elcridge eating an empty eggshell.

Did Enoc Elcridge eat an empty eggshell ?

If Enoc Elcridge ate an empty eggshell Where is the empty eggshell Enoc Elcridge ate ?

F. Frances Frizzleton figured on a frenchman's fiddle. Did Frances Frizzleton figure on a frenchman's fiddle? If Frances Frizzleton figured on a frenchman's fiddle Where is the frenchman's fiddle Frances Frizzleton figured on?

H

Gr. Gaffer Gillpin got a goose and gander.

Did Gaffer Gillpin get a goose and gander?

If Gaffer Gillpin got a goose and gander Where is the goose and gander Gaffer Gillpin got?

H. Humphry Hunchman had a hundred hedgehogs.

Did Humphry Hunchman have a hundred hedgehogs?

If Humphry Hunchman had a hundred hedgehogs

Where are the hundred hedgehogs Humphry Hunchman had?

I. Inigo Impy iched for an indian image.

Did Inigo Impy ich for an indian image?

If Inigo Impy iched for an indian image

Where is the indian image Inigo Impy iched for?

J. Jumping Jockey jeered a jesting juggler.

Did Jumping Jockey jeer a jesting juggler?

If Jumping Jockey jeered a jesting juggler Where is the jesting juggler Jumping Jockey jeered at?

K.. Kimbo Kickset kicked his kinsman's kettle. Did Kimbo Kickset kick his kinsman's kettle?

If Kimbo Kickset kicked his kinsman's kettle Where is the kinsman's kettle Kimbo Kickset kicked ?

Ii. Lanky Lawrence lost his lass and lobster.

Did Lanky Lawrence lose his lass and lobster?

If Lanky Lawrence lost his lass and lobster Where is the lass and lobster Lanky Lawrence lost ?

M. Minnie Moses mused and moaned momentarily.

Did Minnie Moses muse and moan momentarily?

If Minnie Moses mused and moaned momentarily Where is Minnie Moses who momentarily mused and moaned?

N. Nitty Noodle knit his neighbors nutmegs.

Did Nitty Noodle knit his neighbors nutmegs?

If Nitty Noodle knit his neighbors nutmegs Where are his neighbor's nutmegs Nitty Noodle knit?

O. Oliver Oglethorpe ogled an ogling owl.

Did Oliver Oglethorpe ogle an ogling owl ?

If Oliver Oglethorpe ogled an ogling owl Where is the ogling owl Oliver Oglethorpe ogled?

l 5

P. Peter Pepperstone picked and pickled a peck of Piper's

peaches.

Did Peter Pepperstone pick and pickle a peck of Piper's peaches ? If Peter Pepperstone picked and pickled a peck of Piper's

peaches Where is the peck of Piper's peaches Peter Pepperstone picked

and pickled?

Q. Queeny Quarrelsom quarrelled with an old queer quack. Did Queeny Quarrelsom quarrel with an old queer quack? If Queeny Quarrelsom quarrelled with an old queer quack Where is the old queer quack Queeny Quarrelsom quarrelled with ?

R. Rory Rumpus rode a raw-boned racer.

Did Rory Rumpus ride a raw-boned racer?

If Rory Rumpus rode a raw-boned racer

Where is the raw-boned racer Rory Rumpus rode?

S. Sara Selly sells sea shells and she says she shall sell sea shells.

Did Sara Selly sell sea shells and say she should sell sea shells ? If Sara Selly sold sea shells and said she should sell sea shells Where are the sea shells Sara Selly said she should sell ?

T. Tip Toe Tommy turned a top for tenpence.

Did Tip Toe Tommy turn a top for tenpence?

If Tip Toe Tommy turned a top for tenpence Where is the top for tenpence Tip Toe Tommy turned ?

U. Ugly Usinus used Urania's umbrella,

Did Ugly Usinus use Urania's umbrella ?

If Ugly Usinus used Urania's umbrella Where is Urania's umbrella Ugly Usinus used ?

V. Valentine Vox vowed he vanquished a viper.

Did Valentine Vox vow he vanquished a viper ?

If Valentine Vox vowed he vanquished a viper Where is the viper Valentine Vox vowed he vanquished?

W. Willie Wimpleton wept at a wonderful wedding.

Did Willie Wimpleton weep at a wonderful wedding?

If Willie Wimpleton wept at a wonderful wedding

Where was the wonderful wedding Willie Wimpleton wept at ?

i6

X. Xantippe Xanthepinstick found Xenotime.

Did Xantippe Xanthepinstick find Xenotime ?

If Xantippe Xanthepenstick found Xenotime Where is the Xenotime Xantippe Xanthepinstick found ?

Y. Yankee Yawning yesterday yearned for yeast. Did Xankee Yawning yesterday yearn for yeast ? If Yankee Yawning yesterday yearned for yeast Where is the yeast Yankee Yawning yesterday yearned for ?

Z. Zealous Zachariah zealously sought Zeno.

Did Zealous Zachariah zealously seek Zeno?

If Zealous Zachariah zealously sought Zeno Where was Zeno Zealous Zachariah zealously sought?

A LITTLE BOY'S POEM AS RECITED BY HIMSELF.

An humble boy with a shining pail, Went gladly singing adown the dale, To where the cow with the brindle tail On clover her palate did regale.

An humble bee did gayly sail Far over the soft and shadowy vale, To where the boy with the shining pail Was milking the cow with the brindle tail, The bee lit down on the cow's left ear, Her heels flew up through the atmosphere — And through the leaves of a chestnut tree, The boy soared into futurity.

.

VEHEMENCE This attitude expresses force in explosion.

IV. EXERCISE.

DRILL OF THE HALF VOCALS. b—d-g—j—v—th—z—zh

FIRST SET OF OPPOSITIONS.

He a d—Ha n d—A rm .

i. Hands crossed on chest — Head bowed.

2. Hands out in salutation — Head erect.

3. Hands extended prone — Head back.

4. Hands to right ascending — Head left.

5. Hands folded at left shoulder — Head right.

6. Hands right in rejection — Head left.

7. Hands out in salutation — Head raised.

8. Hands clasped at chest — Head bowed.

9. Hands appealing to Heaven — Head back. 10. Hands falling apart — Bowing low.

VOICE AND GESTURE DRILL.

(Musical tones-tenderness.)

THOSE EVENING BELLS.

Those evening bells ! those evening bells !

How many a tale their music tells Of youth, and home, and that sweet time When last I heard their soothing chime !

Those joyous hours are pass'd away ; And many a heart that then was gay Within the tomb now darkly dwells, And hears no more those evening bells.

And so 'twill be when I am gone, — That tuneful peal will still ring on ; While other bards shall walk these dells, And sing your praise, sweet evening bells.

— Thomas Moore.

i8

DIFFICULT SENTENCES FOR PRACTICE.

The following exercises are designed for the cultivation of a distinct articulation : —

i . Thucydides, Herodotus, and Xenophon are the great historians of antiquity.

2. That lasts till night, on that last still night.

3. This act more than all other acts, of the Legislature, laid the axe

at the root of the evil.

4. He accepts the office, and attempts by his acts to conceal his faults.

5. Don't you remember that the magistrates arrested the rogues?

6. The heights, depths, and breadths of the subject.

8. " There on beds of violets blue,

And fresh blown roses washed in dew."

Her monuments shall last, when Egypt's fall.

10. " Because thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself ; wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee."

11. " This was the most unkindest cut of all."

12. " Thou that dost scare the world with tempests set on fire,

The heavens with falling thunderbolts, or fill The swift dark whirlwind that uproots the woods, Where is the mortal that forgets not at the sight Of these tremendous tokens of thy power, His pride, and lays his strifes and follies by."

13. "Take heed, and beware of covetousness : for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

14. Theophilus Thistlethwaite, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb ; now, if Theophilus Thistlethwaite, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb. Success to the successful thistle sifter.

15. TWO BOOT-BLACKS.

A day or two ago, during a lull in business, two little boot-blacks one white and one black, were standing at the corners doing nothing, when the white boot-black agreed to black the black boot-black's boots. The black boot-black was of course willing to have his boots blacked by his fellow boot-black, and the boot-black who had agreed to black the black boot-black's boots went to work.

When the boot-black had blacked one of the black boot-black's boots till it shone in a manner that would make any boot-black proud, this boot-black who had agreed to black the black boot-black's boots refused to black the other boot of the black boot-black, until the black boot-black who had consented to have the white boot-black black his boots, should add five cents to the amount the white boot-black had made blacking other men's boots. This the boot-black whose boot had been blacked refused to do, saying it was good enough for a black boot-black to have one boot blacked, and he didn't care whether the boot that the boot-black hadn't blacked was blacked or not.

This made the boot-black who had blacked the black boot-black's boot as angry as a boot-black often gets, and he vented his black wrath by spitting upon the blacked boot of the black boot-black. This roused the latent passions of the black boot-black, and he proceeded to boot the white boot black with the boot which the white boot-black had blacked. A fight ensued, in which the white boot-black who had refused to black the unblacked boot of the black boot-black, blacked the black boot-black's visionary organ, and in which the black boot-black wore all the blacking off his blacked boot in booting the white boot-black.

15. THE DUEL BETWEEN MR. SHOTT AND MR. NOTT.

A duel was lately fought in Texas by Alexander Shott and John S. Nott. Nott "was shot, and Shott was not. In this case it is better to be Shott than Nott. There was a rumor that Nott was not shot, and Shott avows that he shot Nott, which proves either that the shot Shott shot at Nott was not shot, or that Nott was shot notwithstanding.

Circumstantial evidence is not always good. It may be made to appear on trial that the shot Shott shot shot Nott, or, as accidents with fire arms are frequent, it may be possible that the shot Shott shot shot Shott himself, when the whole affair would resolve itself into its original elements, and Shott would be shot, and Nott would not be shot. We think, however, that the shot Shott shot shot not Shott, but Nott ; anyway, it is hard to tell who was shot. — Harper's Weekly.

V. EXERCISE.

i. Tongue Tones. L-r-far. 2. Nasals, m-n-ng.

ELEMENTARY DRILL OF THE HAND AND FINGERS.

Sheridan says : — " Every one knows that with the hands we can demand or promise, call, dismiss, welcome, threaten, supplicate, show joy, sorrow, fear, admiration, respect, and many other things now in common use."

HAND.

i. Palm or vital part.

2. Side or mental part.

3. Back or emotive.

4<

FINGERS.

1. THUMB-vital.

2. First FiNGER-indicative.

3. Second and TniRD-emotive.

Little FiNGER-sensitive.

listening oE AND GES

THE ARABIC PARABLE.

(First read, then give in Pantomime.)

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase !) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw within the moonlight of his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold.

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold ;

And to the presence in the room he said,

" What writest thou? " The vision raised its head,

And, with a look made all of sweet accord,

Answered, " ' The names of those who love the Lord,'

' And is mine one? ' asked Abou. ' Nay not so,'

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still ; and said, ' I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.'

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night

It came again, with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blest ;

And, lo ! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." — Leigh Hunt.

ELEMENTARY CHART.

Practice ten minutes daily for strength and clearness of tone, as well as for correct, elegant articulation.

(26 letters=44 elementary sounds.) Long Sounds.

Shor-