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PART II.

CHAPTER I.

SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY.

SECTION I.

SELECT PARAGRAPHS.

Beautiful Metaphor.—IRVING.

1. It is interesting to notice how some minds seem almost to create themselves', springing up under every disadvantage', and working their solitary', but irresistible', way through a thousand obstacles'. Nature seems to delight in disappointing the assiduities of art', with which it would rear legitimate dulness to maturity', and to glory in the vigour and luxuriance of her chance productions. She scatters the seeds of genius to the winds, and', though some may perish among the stony places of the world', and some be choked by the thorns and brambles of early adversity', yet', others will now and then strike root even in the clefts of the rock, struggle bravely up into sunshine', and spread over their sterile birth-place all the beauties of vegetation'.

REMARKS ON SECTION I.

Articulation.—In reading these selections, the first thing to be attended to, is a clear and distinct articulation of every word, and every syllable, and every letter of each syllable, silent letters only excepted.

Modulation. The second important requisite is, to vary the intonation with all the different modulations of the voice which a just and a happy elocution requires. This direction refers to all the varied movements of the voice, considered in regard to pitch, tone, inflection, stress, and cadence, and especially to the prolongation of the tonick and subtonick elements.

Inflection.-In reading the 1st paragraph, the rising inflection takes place at the words "disadvantage," "maturity," and "sunshine," in accordance with Rule 7, page 89; and the falling, is made at "themselves" and "winds," agreeably to Exception 1, to Rule 7. The rising inflection occurs at "world" and "adversity," according to Exception

Beautiful Simile.—IB.

2. As the vine', which has long twined its graceful foliage about the oak', and been lifted by it into sunshine', will', when the hardy plant is rifted by the thunderbolt', cling round it with its caressing tendrils', and bind up its shattered boughs'; so is it beautifully ordered by Providence', that woman', who is the mere dependant and ornament of man in his happier hours', should be his stay and solace when smitten with sudden calamity'; winding herself into the rugged recesses of his nature', tenderly supporting the drooping head', and binding up the broken heart'.

Volcanoes.-FLINT.

3. Nature has reserved mountains as the machinery for putting forth her sublimest spectacles'. Her most imposing mysteries are accomplished among the snows and storms that envelop their summits', while the central fires that burn beneath their roots', have been contemplated in all time', as the most terrifick manifestations of his power'. As we mount these ancient piles', majestick solitudes', a purer air', fresher vegetation', flowers of more brilliant hues', the enlargement of the horizon', the expansion of mind', and thoughts more serene and meditative', seem to whisper us that', in climbing the domes of the temple of nature', we are approaching the throne of the Eternal Being who fills nature with his presence'.

2, to the same rule: and this same Exception applies to the inflection at "vine," "oak,” “sunshine," "will," "thunderbolt," "boughs," "Providence," "woman," and "hours," in the 2nd paragraph. The word "head,” in paragraph 2nd, takes the rising inflection, according to Rule 7.

In paragraph 3d, the words "solitudes," "air,” and “vegetation,” "hues," "horizon," and "mind," are inflected according to a licensed use of the rules for inflecting a commencing, compound series.

In the 4th paragraph, the words "come," "totter," "fire," "world," and "dim," "nation," "despotism," "glory," and "freemen," take the rising inflection, agreeably to Exception 2, to Rule 7.

Emphasis. In paragraph 1st, the idea of some minds' creating themselves, is contrasted with the implied idea of other minds which are supposed not to create themselves. See page 122. Though some might expect nature to grieve, yet she "seems to delight, in disappointing the assiduities of art."

In the 2nd paragraph, the words "vine," and "woman," are set in obvious contrast to each other.

Bunker-Hill Monument.

4. How different is the scene which we this day behold', from that which was displayed on this spot fifty years ago. The traces of havock have been erased by the hand of time'. The farmer's boy now sips his beverage beside the blue stream once crimsoned with human gore'.-Where banners and plumes went down amid the shock of battle', now the golden harvest waves its yellow sheaves'. Where rolled the purple stream of blood', is now beheld the gambols of childhood and the frolick of youth'. The angel of peace now hovers over her domestick altars with outspread wings'.-If the time ever come', when this mighty fabrick shall totter'; when the beacon of joy that now rises in a pillar of fire', a sign and a wonder of the world', shall wax dim', the cause will be found in the ignorance of the people'. If our Union is still to continue to cheer the hopes and animate the oppressed of every nation'; if our fields are to be untrodden by the hirelings of despotism'; if long days of blessedness are to attend our country in her career of glory'; if you would have the sun continue to shed unclouded rays upon the face of freemen', then', educate all the children in the land. This alone', startles the tyrant in his dreams of power', and rouses the slumbering energies of an oppressed people', It is INTELLIGENCE that reared up the majestick columns of our national glory'; and this alone can prevent them from crumbling into ashes'.

The name of the particular subject of remark or discourse, as it is antithetically employed when considered in reference to any and every other subject that might be discoursed of, always becomes emphatick. Hence, the word "mountains," in paragraph 3d, requires a moderate degree of the median stress. In these remarks, Mr. Flint does not wish to call our attention to valleys, rivers, lakes, or oceans, but particularly to mountains. Here we have revealed the true philosophy of that percussive force called emphasis: and the inquiring mind that follows out this principle, as it pervades, more or less, every sentence uttered, and regulates every species of emphatick force, will be no less delighted with its simplicity, than astonished at its extent.

Many of the emphatick words in these paragraphs, are not marked; and many that are marked, it would be too tedious to comment upon. Rhetorical Pause.-In section 1st, the rhetorical pauses are not marked, or indicated by dots. A just elocution requires them to be observed, however, in many places in these examples. In reading paragraph 1st, a slight pause of this sort should occur after the words

SECTION II.

SELECT PARAGRAPHS.

Alexander Hamilton.- -WEBSTER.

1. The reports of his speeches', imperfect as they probably are', yet remain as lasting monuments of his genius and patriotism'. He saw', at last', his hopes fulfilled': he saw the Constitution adopted', and the government under it', established and organized. The discerning eye of Washington immediately called him to a post', infinitely the most important in the administration of the new system'. He was made Secretary of the Treasury'; and how he fulfilled the duties of such a place', at such a time', the whole country perceived with delight', and the whole world', with admiration'. He smote the rock of the national resources', and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth'. He touched the dead corpse of the publick credit', and it sprang upon its feet'. The fabled birth of Minerva', from the brain of Jove', was hardly more sudden or more perfect than the financial system of the United States which burst forth from the conceptions of ALEXANDER HAMILTON'.

"way," "nature," the second "some," "others," "root," and "birthplace."

In reading the third paragraph, a slight rhetorical pause should be made after the words "nature," "mountains," "mysteries," and the phrase "whisper us."

In enunciating the 4th paragraph, this pause is proper after the words "havock" "peace," "will be found," "educate," and "INTELLIGENCE."

REMARKS ON SECTION II.

The leading remarks applicable to the various paragraphs of Section 2, amount to nothing more than a repetition of those already applied to Section 1. Very few will, therefore, be presented. The young reader cannot be too particular, however, in his attention to a distinct articulation and a correct orthoepy, in addition to the attention required in appropriately applying the rules for inflection, emphasis, pause, and so forth-not only in enunciating the examples in this section, but, also, in reading every piece he may be called on to pronounce.

Inflection. In the 1st paragraph, the word "Treasury" being emphatick, takes the falling inflection in accordance with Exception 1, to Rule 7, page 89. This sentence is brought under the rule, or Exception, by considering that portion of it which follows the word Treasury, one compound member, answering to the simple member which closes with Treasury.

Eloquence of Daniel Webster.

2. It was in the Senate that I first became enamoured with the wonderful eloquence of this great man'. Every word that issued from his lips', seemed like the battle-axe of a warriour', falling upon the helmet of his foe', and striking him to the earth'. It was not the mere rippling of words'—the bubbling of rhetorick-the gingling and gurgling of empty declamation'-frothy', flashy', and inane'; but the mighty rushing of a thinking, logical', and ratiocinative' mind-deep', original', and intellectual'-where every word was a thought', sometimes flashing with brilliancy; at others', stunning with force', or startling with sublimity-where every sentence was an argument, and every argument excited a feeling corresponding to the thought-holding the heart and the mind captive at the same time'. Sometimes it resembled the tramp of a trooper', crushing a young forest beneath his courser's feet'; at others', the boiling torrent, tumbling mountains of errour into the abyss of sophistry': and then', again', it resembled a dignified chieftain in his battle career', leading on his legions to sweep an enemy to destruction'. Such was the effect of his eloquence upon me', that it seemed as if I actually heard the battle-axe'one argument backing another in rapid and restless succession', until', like the piling of Pelion upon Ossa', they crushed and overwhelmed his antagonists'. It is not surprising that a mind of this exalted order and finished character', should excite the admiration of an empire'.

In paragraph 2nd, the rising inflection takes place at the "words," "rhetorick," "declamation,” and “inane," in accordance with Rule 2, page 82. At the words "frothy" and "deep," in the 2nd paragraph, and "primer," "name," and "moral," in the 3d, the falling inflection should be but slight, not more than the downward concrete of a second: see Observation, page 94.

Emphasis. In the 1st paragraph-Mr. Hamilton's hopes had previously rested on expectation; but he now saw them fulfilled. Again, "he was made Secretary of the Treasury," and not, Ambassador to France, Vice President of the United States, or some other publick officer.

In paragraph 2nd-"It was in the Senate," and not at the Bar, "that I first became enamoured," and so forth. It seemed as if 1, not merely imagined, but "actually heard, the battle-axe."

A little reflection, will show the reader the propriety and the reason for emphasising, not only the words marked in these examples, but, also, many others.

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