Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer!
Descend with broad-winged flight,

The welcome, the thrice-prayed for, the most fair,
The best-beloved Night!

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

THE BARDS

When the sweet day in silence hath departed,
And twilight comes with dewy, downcast eyes,
The glowing spirits of the mighty-hearted
Like stars around me rise.

Spirits whose voices pour an endless measure,
Exhaustless as the choral founts of night,
Until my trembling soul, oppressed with pleasure,
Throbs in a flood of light.

Old Homer's song in mighty undulations

Comes surging ceaseless up the oblivious main:I hear the rivers from succeeding nations

Go answering down again.

Hear Virgil's strain through pleasant pastures strolling,
And Tasso's sweeping round through Palestine
And Dante's deep and solemn river rolling
Through groves of midnight pine.

I hear the iron Norseman's numbers ringing
Through frozen Norway like a herald's horn;
And like a lark, hear glorious Chaucer singing
Away in England's morn.

In Rhenish halls, still hear the pilgrim lover
Chant his wild story to the wailing strings,
Till the young maiden's eyes are brimming over
Like the full cup she brings.

And hear from Scottish hills the souls unquiet
Pouring in torrents their perpetual lays,
As their impetuous mountain runnels riot
In the long rainy days;

The world-wide Shakespeare- the imperial Spenser:
Whose shafts of song o'ertop the angels' seats,-
While, delicate as from a silver censer,

Float the sweet dreams of Keats!

Nor these alone-for through the growing present,
Westward the starry path of Poesy lies-
Her glorious spirit, like the evening crescent,
Comes rounding up the skies.

Thomas Buchanan Read.

RECESSIONAL

God of our fathers, known of old -
Lord of our far-flung battle-line-
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine —
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies-
The captains and the kings depart-
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away

On dune and headland sinks the fire-
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe-

Such boasting as the Gentiles use,

Or lesser breeds without the Law-
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard-
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard-
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord!

Amen.

-Rudyard Kipling.

ORATORICAL STYLES

EXPULSIVE OROTUND

This form of the Orotund is used in the expression of all oratorical styles. The air instead of flowing from the mouth in a continuous stream as in the Effusive Orotund, is gathered up in a tense, compact volume and thrown into the glottis, whence it issues in the form of a short shout.

The key to the effective and easy expression of all oratorical styles requires a separate impulsion of air for each tone or word that is uttered. The tones of the orator thus formed resemble the firm resonant strokes of a bell, or the compact and solid blows of a hammer on an anvil. Flabbiness of tone, which destroys all vigor of expression, and imperfect vocalization, producing huskiness, would be speedily overcome if the tones were made firm by energetic expulsion of the air in the pronunciation of each word. Daily practice on the vowels and numerals, securing a sturdy and resonant tone in the enunciation of each word, is the most direct and simple way to acquire this form of expression.

Two essential points of advantage are gained by the adoption of these suggestions: First, economy of breath; second, distinctness of utterance. The tones being made in such a firm and compact manner, it is apparent that the liability of air escaping unvocalized is diminished, and what is used is put in such form as to secure the greatest amount of sound with the least possible expenditure of breath. In short, the speaker is working at his best with the least possible outlay of physical exertion.

Indistinctness is practically impossible, as each word is made by a separate impulsion of breath, and hence the speaker must be distinct in his utterance, if he pronounces individual words distinctly.

ORATORICAL SELECTIONS

SOUTH CAROLINA

If there be one State in the Union, Mr. President,- and I say it not in a boastful spirit,- that may challenge comparison with any other for a uniform, zealous, ardent, uncalculating devotion to the Union, that State is South Carolina.

Sir, from the very commencement of the Revolution, up to this hour, there is no sacrifice, however great, she has not cheerfully made; no service she has hesitated to perform. She has adhered to you in your prosperity; but in your adversity, she has clung to you with more than filial affection.

No matter what was the condition of her domestic affairs; though deprived of her resources, divided by parties, or surrounded with difficulties, the call of the country has been to her as the voice of God. Domestic discord ceased at the sound; - every man became at once reconciled to his brethren; and the sons of Carolina were all seen crowding together to the temple, bringing their gift to the altar of their common country.

What, sir, was the conduct of the South during the Revolution? Sir, I honor New England for her conduct in that glorious struggle. But great as is the praise which belongs to her, I think at least equal honor is due to the South. They espoused the quarrel of their brethren with a generous zeal, which did not suffer them to stop to calculate their interests in the dispute.

Favorites of the mother country, possessed of neither ships nor seamen to create a commercial relationship, they might have found in their situation a guarantee that their trade would be forever fostered and protected by Great Britain. But, trampling on all consideration, either of interest or of safety, they rushed into the conflict; and fighting for principle, periled all in the sacred cause of freedom.

Never were there exhibited in the history of the world, higher examples of noble daring, dreadful suffering, and heroic endurance