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by the author to be as comprehensive as it is possible to make them, in subordination to the paramount necessity of their being "few and short," in order to be of any practical value. A careful study of them, and withal a familiarity (to use the words of our introduction) "with the deportment of those public speakers who possess elegance of manner, which is the most efficacious lesson:" will, he doubts not, put the student into possession of a sufficient knowledge of the art of Gesture for all ordinary purposes.*

GESTURE FOR READING.

Rule 28.-Rest the whole weight of the body on the right leg; the other just touching the ground, at the distance at which it would naturally fall, if lifted up to body does not bear upon it.

show that the

Let the knees be straight and the body straight, yet not perpendicular, but inclining to the right and rather forwards.

Rule 29.-Hold the book in the left hand.

Rule 30.-Look at those who are hearing as often as possible; but do not lose the place or forget the words.

* To those who are desirous of pursuing the study of the Art of Gesture, the author recommends the following works, viz.: Barber on Gesture, Russell's Rudiments of Gesture, and especially Austin's Chironomia. This latter work is expensive, and not easily procurable; but it is deemed the highest authority on the subject, and is the text-book of those who study for the stage.

Rule 31.—Elevate the right hand when any thing sublime, lofty, or heavenly, is expressed.

Rule 32.-Let the right hand (but not any single finger) point downwards, when anything low or grovelling is expressed.

GESTURE FOR SPEAKING.

Let the

Rule 33.-Begin as in reading. whole weight of the body rest on the right leg; the other just touching the ground, at the distance at which it would naturally fall, if lifted up to show that the body does not bear upon it. Let the knees be straight and firm, and the body straight, yet not perpendicular, but inclining to the right and rather forwards. Let both arms hang in their natural place by the side...

Rule 34.-As soon as the sentiment requires a gesture, let the right arm be held out, the palm open, the fingers straight and close, the thumb almost as distant from them as possible, and the flat of the hand neither vertical nor horizontal, but between both.

Rule 35.-During the utterance of the last word in the sentence, the right hand, as if lifeless, must drop down to the side.

Rule 36.-When a change of position becomes necessary, the body, without moving the feet, must poise itself, on the left leg: the left hand must be raised exactly as the right one was before, and continue in this position till the end of the sentence, and then drop as if lifeless.

Rule 37.-Take care to end each sentence completely, before the next is begun.

Rule 38.-In every movement of the arm, keep the elbow at a distance from the body.

Rule 49.-Let the eyes be directed to those who are addressed; excepting when the subject requires them to be raised.

Rule 40.-Endeavour to suit the action to the word, enter into the sense and spirit of every passage, and feel what is expressed. This is the best guide to emphasis, tone and gesture.

PART II.

DISCRIMINATION AND RETENTION.

THE student having acquired habits of correct enunciation and graceful deportment, it is unnecessary to urge that they are to be preserved, during the exercises which are yet to be prescribed.

Hitherto there has been no exertion of the intellect. The practices of reading and recitation, require very little more of mental effort than patience and attention.

To relate accurately any circumstance or reasoning with which we are acquainted, needs all the requisites enumerated for good reading and recitation; but to understand a subject clearly, and recollect it faithfully, there are also necessary, the additional powers of Discrimination and Retention.

The discrimination here required is the faculty of distinguishing the principal features of a narrative, description or argument; so as to collect them in the mind independently of its subordinate parts.

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Retention is the power of holding them in the mind after they have been thus discriminated.

We have no ideas but of persons, objects and actions; and all we can do is to relate, describe, and reason on them. Hence the faculties of discrimination and retention, can be employed only on Narratives, Descriptions, and Arguments.

OF NARRATIVE.

Rule 1.-Narrative is an account of events, and of the persons or objects concerned in them.

Rule 2.-The principal features of a narrative are expressed by nouns and verbs.

Rule 3.-Narrative includes detached events, biography, and history.

Rule 4.-Detached events are single circumstances, generally preserved on account of some particular instruction or amusement which they convey. Such are fables, anecdotes, &c.

Rule 5.-When the principal nouns and verbs of a fable, &c. are collected together, they contain its real substance.

The following are examples:

A dog crossing a little rivulet with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow represented in the water,

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