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THE

ORATOR'S MANUAL

A PRACTICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL TREATISE ON

VOCAL CULTURE, EMPHASIS AND GESTURE,

TOGETHER WITH

SELECTIONS FOR DECLAMATION AND READING.

DESIGNED AS A TEXT-BOOK FOR SCHOOLS and CollegeS, AND FOR PUBLIC
SPEAKERS AND READERS WHO ARE OBLIGED TO STUDY

WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR.

BY GEORGE L. RAYMOND M.A.,
PROFESSOR OF ORATORY IN WILLIAMS COLLEGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

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Z#997

774-37

Educ 2222.10.2

1880, Oct. 11,

Minol Fund

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PREFACE.

1. This book has been prepared to supply a want felt by the author while giving instruction in his own classes, and felt, as he believes, by many overworked teachers who often, without making a specialty of elocution, desire to give efficient instruction in it, yet have no manual at hand enabling them to do this, without a great expenditure of time and trouble. It is intended to present, in concise and comprehensive form, some new material, the results of the author's own experience in teaching; but over and beyond this to be a compend, amply illustrated, of the best that has been published or taught on the subject of which it treats with each department of the art so described that its methods shall be distinctly apprehended, so explained that the principles underlying their use shall be easily understood, and so few that they can be readily applied.

2. In many of its features, Oratory resembles music. A man can no more declaim well who has not passed the point where he is obliged to exhaust his mental energy in calculating how to modulate his voice in his inflections, or to move his hands in his gestures, than he can sing or play well while his attention is constantly turning from his theme in order to think how he shall form his notes in his throat, or use his fingers upon his instrument. Such things as these, before his performance can be easy, natural, expressive and effective, must be done automatically, as a result of persistent practice. So in Oratory. Certain things must be done automatically; and that they may be done thus, and at the same time correctly, the student must begin by practicing according to methods very accurately described to him. This fact is a sufficient excuse for the minute and full directions contained in this book,-those, for instance, referring to the methods of using the lungs and throat, of starting and ending inflections, of moving and holding the arms and hands in the gestures, etc. It is thought that they will be found to be of exceptional value, not only to students of elocution, but also to teachers; and though it is not supposed that they can take the place of competent oral instruction, especially with those just entering

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