Page:Hill's manual of social and business forms.djvu/98

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Composition and Declamation.

IMPORTANCE OF ORIGINALITY.

HAVING acquired ideas and education, it is of the utmost importance that the facility of imparting knowledge to others be cultivated. The man or woman in any community who can express ideas correctly, plainly and readily, with good voice and self-possession, in the presence of provided this accomplishment is guided by good judgment, which teaches when to speak, where to speak, what to speak, and how to speak.

The correct and fluent expression of thought is largely a matter of practice, Our youth should be early taught to write their thoughts, and to declaim in public.

The writing of compositions in school is one of the most important of the studies pursued, and, with every student, in some form, should be among the daily exercises of the schoolroom; as in the writing of the composition are learned spelling, penmanship, punctuation, use of capital letters, grammar, and correct expression. Frequently, also, during the week, the student should declaim; the declamation being generally the student's own composition. Thus youths become accustomed to the speaking of their own thoughts correctly, and often times eloquently.

This art, acquired under the guidance of an experienced teacher, will be of infinite service to the man in after life; and, with the rapidly widening sphere of woman's work, the ability to speak well in public is equally desirable for her.

True, many people who have an ambition for public speaking do not awake to the necessity and importance of this subject until the period of their school days has long passed, when the conviction is likely to force itself upon their minds that they are too late. Such, however, need not be discouraged in their efforts towards the acquisition of a pleasing style of oratory. Let a debating club be established, of half a dozen or more persons, to meet regularly during the week, at stated times, for the discussion of current topics of the day, either at a private residence, some hall chosen for the purpose, or at a schoolroom; the exercises of the occasion being interspersed with essays by members of the club, the whole to be criticised by critics appointed. A few weeks thus spent will often times develop in the club several fluent essayists and speakers.

If desirous of distinction, it is not enough that the speakers utter their own thoughts. There should be especial effort made to present the idea in an original, attractive and efficient form. To be effective, the speaker must exhibit variety in gesture, tone of voice, and method of illustration. Gestures and sentences should be gracefully rounded; the illustrations, in strong and telling words, should be so proportioned, and the arguments so arranged, as to grow stronger from the beginning to the end; while the thoughts should be so presented as to be appropriate, and in harmony with the occasion.

The speakers and essayists whom we know as wielding the greatest influence in the world's history, added to these graces of oratory depth of investigation, liberty of thought, and freedom of expression. They scorned to traverse the beaten paths, simply because of custom and popularity. They chose to be independent. Rather than follow, Ea preferred to lead the thoughts of others.

THE READING OF THE ESSAY.

It is a public occasion. Coming to the front, upon the stage, confident. easy and natural, with manuscript held in the left hand, that the right may be free for gesture if required, the lady reads her essay; the exercise being effective by originality of composition, fitting words, new and important thoughts, appropriateness, ease, and clearness of enunciation.