ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS. IN N this little work I have endeavored to supply to teachers, their pupils, and other persons, a long-felt need of an Elocutionary Text-book, founded on philosophical principles. Principals of schools and others have frequently said to me, "Why do you not publish a book which shall embrace the principles you teach, and various exercises illustrative of those principles ?" I decided. that a brief work, with the natural laws of Time, Tone, and Emphasis explained, and their truth proved, would answer the general purpose better than the sort of book I had at first contemplated writing. The first division in "Reasonable Elocution" explains the necessity for, and the ease with which the speaking and reading voice can be cultivated; the manner of so doing, and exercises for the purpose; the plan being very similar to that used for the singing voice, the difference being that sentences are used for scales instead of "sca' or "do, re, mi," etc., and that they are spoken on regularly ascending and descending scales, designed for increasing the flexibility and compass of the speaking voice. Exercises for distinct utterance are also included in this division. The division on "Time" is explanatory of the mental valuation of thoughts and sentiments by the changes in the "Time" of rendering. The natural management of parentheses, similes, quotations, metaphors, the mar- EMPHASIS. Errors in Its philosophy, and practical execution. The "Emphatic Clause" is a new fact or idea, now Emphatic Word. When the root idea is a word, that Clauses unemphatic through having been mentally Emphasis by transfer when there are repeated words. A repeated word, having a new signification, has all Psychological positives and negatives. Inflections of Lectures, sermons, etc., are rendered obscure and con fused through inattention to this obvious law of nature. Examples from the parables, etc. inflection, mark the episode, the illustration; they indicate a departure from the main track of thought. They are produced through the mind's vacillating be- tween the illustration and the subject illustrated; the return to the main thought is naturally marked by a return to the usual upward and downward tions. Examples. Analysis of Interrogation: 1. The "interrogative form" is antagonistic to the spirit when requiring to be read with the downward in- flection, being assertive in meaning. Examples. Sentences in part declarative, in part interrogative. 2. The "conditional form" is opposed to the "spirit," 3. The "imperative form" is opposed to the "spirit,' when requiring to be read with the upward inflection, the thought being conditional, uncertain. Examples. The symbol of sublimity, the grand, the majestic, etc., The symbol of love, tenderness, affection, the Dimin- uendo, Symbol of anger, wrath, etc., abrupt force. Exer- Symbols of aversion, praise, joy, sarcasm, etc. The |