Chapter VI: Articulation Exercises (1)

_The pronunciations and definitions throughout these pages are those given in “Webster’s New International Dictionary,” published by G. & C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass., 1918 Edition._

Without a graceful and pleasing enunciation, all your elegancy of
style in speaking is not worth a farthing.

—CHESTERFIELD.

In the utterance of words we are concerned with the following terms: Pronunciation, Enunciation and Articulation. In a general way their meanings are identical, but yet there is a mark of difference characterizing each.

_Pronunciation_ has to do with the act of uttering a single letter, syllable, word, sentence, or whole address. This concerns _correctness_.

_Enunciation_ has to do with careful, distinct utterance so that any word or any part of a word is completely audible. This concerns _distinctness_.

_Articulation_ has to do with the act of gracefully and skillfully manipulating those organs of speech necessary for the correct pronunciation and distinct enunciation of words. This concerns _skillfulness_.

At least a part of the following exercises should be practiced daily, preferably in the morning. A few minutes’ practice is a splendid tonic for the tasks of the day.

I. FOR THE LIPS AND JAW

1. Repeat e a aw ah o oo. In doing this extend the lips and use a relaxed jaw.

2. Repeat again, giving a rising inflection to each. Then give each sound the falling inflection, and then the circumflex inflection.

3. Intone them on successive pitches. Be sure you have pure vowel quality.

4. Whisper the sounds e aw permitting the jaw, in the latter sound, to drop completely relaxed each time.

II. FOR LIPS, TONGUE AND SOFT PALATE

1. Repeat eb ab awb ahb ob oob.

2. Repeat ed ad awd ahd od ood.

3. Repeat eg ag awg ahg og oog.

4. Repeat ek ak awk ahk ok ook.

III. THE ASPIRATES, OR BREATH SOUNDS

1. Repeat the breath sound of p wh f th s t sh h k.

2. Repeat wh (when) whe wha whaw whah who whoo.

3. Repeat fe fa faw fah fo foo.

4. Repeat th (thin) the tha thaw thah tho thoo.

5. Repeat se sa saw sah so soo.

6. Repeat te ta taw tah to too.

7. Repeat she sha shaw shah sho shoo.

8. Repeat he ha haw hah ho hoo.

9. Repeat ke ka kaw kah ko koo.

10. Repeat pe pa paw pah po poo.

IV. THE SUB-VOCAL SOUNDS

1. Repeat the vocal sound of b w th v z d r zh y g.

2. Repeat be ba baw bah bo boo.

3. Repeat w (wise) we wa waw wah wo woo.

4. Repeat ve va vaw vah vo voo.

5. Repeat ze za zaw zah zo zoo.

6. Repeat de da daw dah do doo.

7. Repeat re ra raw rah ro roo.

8. Repeat zhe zha zhaw zhah zho zhoo.

9. Repeat ye ya yaw yah yo yoo.

10. Repeat ge ga gaw gah go goo.

11. Repeat th (thine) the tha thaw thah tho thoo.

V. THE LIQUID SOUNDS

1. Repeat l m n.

2. Repeat le la law lah lo loo.

3. Repeat me ma maw mah mo moo.

4. Repeat ne na naw nah no noo.

VI. THE NASAL SOUNDS

1. Repeat m-m-m-e m-m-m-a m-m-m-aw m-m-m-ah m-m-m-o m-m-m-oo.

2. Repeat n-n-n-e n-n-n-a n-n-n-aw n-n-n-ah n-n-n-o n-n-n-oo.

3. Repeat ng-ng-ng-e ng-ng-ng-a ng-ng-ng-aw ng-ng-ng-ah ng-ng-ng-o ng-ng-ng-oo.

VII. COMBINATION SOUNDS

1. 2. 3. 4.
_Breath_ _Voice_ _Breath_ _Voice_ _Breath_ _Voice_ _Breath_ _Voice_
fe ve whe we se ze she zhe
fa va wha wa sa za sha zha
faw vaw whaw waw saw zaw shaw zhaw
fah vah whah wah sah zah shah zhah
fo vo who we so zo sho zho
foo voo whoo woo soo zoo shoo zhoo

Here follow a number of difficult combinations especially good for the pupil who mumbles or is habitually careless and indolent. Their use is effective in producing flexibility of lips, tongue and palate. It is not advisable to spend too intensive or too long practice, however, upon these so-called tongue-twisters lest verbal utterance becomes a laborious, mechanical process. But there are some who need just such exercises, and those who desire rapid and distinct articulation cannot practice them too much, provided their exercise is interesting or amusing.

Betty Botter bought some butter.
“But,” she said, “this butter’s bitter;
If I put it in my batter,
It will make my batter bitter;
But a bit of better butter
Will but make my batter better.”
So she bought a bit o’ butter
Better than the bitter butter,
And made her bitter batter better.
So ’twas better Betty Botter
Bought a bit of better butter.

—_Sheffield Telegraph._

* * * * *

“Thunder,” thought Theresa.

“Thieves!” throbbed Theodore.

Theresa thumped, threatened, thwarted those three thieves, throwing the thick thesaurus—that thrilled them! Theodore thanked Theresa.

* * * * *

I like to write about Marie,
For _glee_ and _she_ and _be_ and _see_
And _we_ and _plea_ and _free_ and _me_
All go nicely with Marie.

—_Chicago Herald._

* * * * *

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck
If a wood chuck could and would chuck wood?
He’d chuck as much wood as a wood chuck would
If a wood chuck could and would chuck wood.

* * * * *

A thatcher of Thatchwood went to Thatchet a-thatching.

Five flippy Frenchmen foolishly fanning fainting flies.

Eight eager, earnest, eccentric Englishmen eating eleven elusive eagles.

High up the hill he heaved a huge hoe.

A cheap, changeable, child-like chimpanzee champion playing checkers with Charles.

Black bugs’ blood. (Repeat quickly.)

* * * * *

When a twiner a-twisting will twist him a twist,
For the twining his twist he three twines doth entwist.
But if one of the twines of the twist doth untwist
The twine that untwisted, untwisteth the twist.

* * * * *

As much of the dew that the dew drops drop, if dew drops do drop dew.

* * * * *

A tutor, who tooted a flute, tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to the tutor: “Is it harder to toot, or tutor two tooters to toot?”

* * * * *

A shy little she said shoo
To a fly and a flea in a flue.
Said the flea, “Let us fly.”
Said the fly, “Let us flee.”
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

* * * * *

Amidst the mists and coldest frosts,
With barest wrists and stoutest boasts,
He thrusts his fists against the posts,
And still insists he sees the ghosts.

* * * * *

Bring a bit of buttered bran bread.
Lucy likes light literature.
Around the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.
A lovely lily lying all alone along the lane.
Can a stammerer flatter a flatterer?
The bald lawyer saw all in the hall.
Ask at last the flask for the task.

* * * * *

To the Windmills said the Millwheel:
“As the wind wills do you still wheel?”
“Yes, we still wheel when the wind wills!”
To the Millwheel said the Windmills.

* * * * *

She stood at the door of Mrs. Smith’s fish-sauce shop in the Strand welcoming him in.

Sisyphus sold six pairs of shining steel, slippery scissors.

What noise annoys a noisy oyster most? A noisy noise annoys noisy oyster most.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Not _whole hump_.)

A sad dangler. (Not _angler_.)

A languid dame. (Not _aim_.)

His crime moved me. (Not _cry_.)

He will prate to anybody. (Not _pray_.)

Chaste stars. (Not _tars_.)

Irish yews. (Not _shoes_.)

“Give the cat stale bread!” “The cat’s tail, mamma?”

“Silence, child!”

Fill the sieve with thistles, then sift the thistles in the sieve.

A glowing gleam glowing green.

The bleak breeze blighted the bright broom blossoms.

Flesh of freshly dried flying fish.

Six thick thistle sticks.

Two toads tried to trot to Tedbury.

Give Grimes Jim’s great gilt gig whip.

Strong Stephen Stringer snared slickly six sickly silky snakes.

Much water makes the meal-mill wheel work well.

Eye her highness, how high she holds her old haughty head.

The soup must be heated before he eat it.

* * * * *

Hugh Go goes for the girls that he sees;
Pa Go goes ’cause it limbers his knees;
Ma Go goes for the ease ’neath the trees;
Nanny Go goes for the coasters that please;
Letta Go goes for Galligher’s squeeze.
So, go where the Goes go.

* * * * *

Max with a wax match.

The sea ceaseth—it sufficeth sufficiently that the sea ceaseth.

Six slick slim slippery slimy sleek slender sickly saplings.

* * * * *

Owen Moore went away
Owing more than he could pay;
Owen Moore came back one day
Owing more.

* * * * *

There was a young fellow named Tait
Who dined with his girl at 8:08.
As Tate did not state,
I cannot relate
What Tate and his _tête-à-tête_ ate at 8:08.

* * * * *

A farmer had a seeder for the seeding of the seed. It was a cedar seeder, and said he: “I never seed a seeder that could exceed this yere cedar seeder for the seedin’ of the seed.”

* * * * *

SIMON SHORT’S SON SAMUEL

Shrewd Simon Short sewed shoes. Seventeen summers’ speeding storms, spreading sunshine, successively saw Simon’s small shabby shop still stanch; saw Samuel’s self-same squeaking sign still swinging, silently speechifying: “Simon Short, Smithfield’s sole surviving shoemaker, shoes sewed, soled superfinely.”

Simon’s spry, sedulous spouse, Sally Short, sewed shirts, stitched sheets, stuffed sofas. Simon’s six stout, sturdy sons, Seth, Samuel, Stephen, Saul, Shadrach, Silas—sold sundries. Sober Seth sold sugar, starch, spice; Simple Samuel sold saddles, stirrups, screws; sagacious Stephen sold silks, satins, shawls; skeptical Saul sold silver salvers; selfish Shadrach sold salves, shoestrings, soap, skates, saws, sausages, sawdust; slack Silas sold Sally Short’s stuffed sofas.

Some seven summers since, Simon’s second son, Samuel, saw Sophia Sophronia Spriggs, sweet, sensible, smart Sophronia Spriggs. Sam showed strange symptoms. Sam seldom stayed storing, selling saddles. Sam sighed sorrowfully, sought Sophia Sophronia Spriggs’ society; sung several serenades slyly. Simon stormed, scolded severely, said Sam seemed so silly singing such shameful, senseless songs. “Strange, Sam should slight such splendid summer sales! Strutting Spendthrift! Shatter-brained simpleton!”

“Softly, softly, sire!” said Sally. “Sam’s smitten; Sam’s spied some sweetheart.”

“Sentimental schoolboy!” snarled Simon. “Smitten! stop such stuff!” Simon sent Sally’s snuffbox spinning, seized Sally’s scissors, smashed Sally’s spectacles, scattered several spools. “Sneaking scoundrel! Sam’s shocking silliness shall surcease!” Scowling Simon stopped speaking, starting swiftly shopward. Sally sighed sadly. Summoning Sam, she spoke sweet sympathy.

“Sam,” said she, “Sire seems singularly snappy; so, sonny, stop strutting streets, stop smoking segars, spending specie superfluously, stop sprucing so, stop singing serenades, stop short! Sell saddles sensibly. See Sophia Sophronia Spriggs soon; she’s sprightly; she’s stable. So, solicit, sue, secure Sophia speedily, Sam.”

“So soon? So soon?” said Sam, standing stock-still.

“So soon, surely,” said Sally, smiling, “’specially since Sire shows such spirits.”

So Sam, somewhat scared, sauntered slowly, shaking stupendously. Sam soliloquizes: “Sophia Sophronia Spriggs—Spriggs—Samuel Short’s spouse—sounds splendid. Suppose she should say—shoo? She shan’t! She shan’t!”

Soon Sam spied Sophia starching shirts, singing softly. Seeing Sam, she stopped starching, saluted Sam smilingly. Sam stammered shockingly: “Spl-spl-splendid summer season, Sophia.”

“Somewhat sultry,” suggested Sophia.

“Sar-sartin, Sophia,” said Sam! (Silence seventeen seconds.)

“Selling saddles, still, Sam?”

“Sartin,” said Sam, starting suddenly. “Season’s somewhat sudorific,” said Sam, stealthily staunching sweat, shaking sensibly.

“Sartin,” said Sophia, significantly. “Sip some sherbert, Sam?” (Silence sixty seconds.)

“Sire shot sixty sheldrakes, Saturday,” said Sophia.

“Sixty? sho!” said Sam. (Silence seventy seconds.)

“See Sister Susan’s sunflowers,” said Sophia, sociably scattering such stiff silence.

Sophia’s sprightly sauciness stimulated Sam strangely; so Sam suddenly spoke sentimentally, “Sophia, Susan’s sunflowers seem saying, ‘Samuel Short, Sophia Sophronia Spriggs, stroll serenely, sequestered spot, some sylvan shade. Sparkling springs shall sing soul-soothing strains; sweet songsters shall silence secret sighings; super-angelic sylphs shall—’”

Sophia snickered, so Sam stopped.

“Sophia,” said Sam solemnly.

“Sam,” said Sophia.

“Sophia, stop smiling. Sam Short’s sincere. Sam’s seeking some spouse, Sophia!”

Sophia stood silent.

“Speak! Sophia, speak! Such suspense stimulates sorrow.”

“Seek Sire, Sam, seek Sire!”

Sam sought Sire Spriggs. Sire Spriggs said, “Sartin.”

So Sophia Sophronia Spriggs serenely signs Sam’s screeds “Sophia Sophronia Spriggs Short.”

* * * * *

Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb. Now if Theophilus Thistle, the _successful_ thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of _his_ thumb, see that _thou_, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of _thy_ thumb.

* * * * *

There was a man named Bill. The said Bill owned a bill-board and he also owed a board-bill. Bill’s board-bill fell due, but owing to the fact that Bill’s bill-board held all his money, the said Bill was unable to settle the board-bill. Bill’s landlady was much bored with Bill, with Bill’s board-bill and with Bill’s bill-board. Bill also became bored with himself, bored with his landlady, bored with his board-bill, and bored with his bill-board. So Bill, bored and bored and bored by her who was also bored and bored and bored, sold his bill-board and paid his board-bill; and thus Bill who was often bored and the board that was often billed and the bill that often bored—Bill, bill-board and board-bill, together with the thrice-bored board-bill lady served to make history, the reading of which continues to bore all owners of bill-boards and owners of board-bills to this day.

* * * * *

Though doubtless written with some immediate political purpose, with which we have no concern, the student of a perfect enunciation will find the following a most helpful exercise.

AIN’T IT THE TRUTH?

BY THREL FALL

Woodrow Wilson works wonders while
Windy worldlings weary welkins with
What were whilom winful warcries.
While wayward Washingtonians without
Wit whimper wearisomely, while witless
Wretches whine weasel words with will,
While woebegone weaklings wobble,
Waver, wizen; while weasened warlocks
Who want weapons wickedly weave webs,
Woodrow who would wither weltering
World war works wholesouledly. Woodrow
Warps world-peace woof with western
Wisdom, whipsaws wayfaring wastrels
Who would wantonly wreck. Woodrow
Whangs werewolves, watches whisperers,
Whales welchers. Woodrow warily
Wheedles world-hardened wiseacres
Who wrangle. Woodrow without
Weakening whacks wooden-headed
Whippersnappers who warble. Woodrow’s
Welcome World Weal wins war-weary
Womankind, wan widows whose warriors
Were wasted, wink warmly, winsome
Wenches whoop wildly, waltzing
Walkyrie-like, worthy wives warble
Whimsically. Woodrow withal wakes
World wants which were withered.
Whangdoodles with warlike ways
Would well ’ware Wilson.

—_Los Angeles Times_, March 20, 1919.

* * * * *

FAR-FAMED FAIRY TALE OF FENELLA[1]

(1) A Famous Fish Factor Found himself Father of Five Fine Flirting Females—Fanny, Florence, Fernanda, Francesca, and Fenella. (2) The First Four were Flat-Featured, ill-Favored, Forbidding-Faced, Freckled Frumps; Fretful, Flippant, Foolish, and Flaunting. (3) Fenella was a Fine-Featured, Fresh, Fleet-Footed Fairy; Frank, Free and Full of Fun. (4) The Fisher Failed and was Forced by Fickle Fortune to Forego his Footman, Forfeit his Forefather’s Fine Fields, and Find a Forlorn Farmhouse in a Forsaken Forest. (5) The Four Fretful Females, Fond of Figuring at Feasts in Feathers and Fashionable Finery, Fumed at their Fugitive Father. (6) Forsaken by Fulsome, Flattering Fortune-hunters, who Followed them when Fish Flourished, Fenella Fondled her Father, Flavored their Food, Forgot her Flattering Followers, and Frolicked in Frieze without Flounces. (7) The Father, Finding himself Forced to Forage in Foreign parts for a Fortune, Found he could afford a Fairing For his Five Fondlings. (8) The First Four were Fain to Foster their Frivolity with Fine Frills and Fans, Fit to Finish their Father’s Finances; Fenella, Fearful of Flooring him, Formed a Fancy For a Full, Fresh Flower. (9) Fate Favored the Fish-Factor For a Few days, when he Fell in with a Fog; his Faithful _Filly’s_ Footsteps Faltered, and Food Failed. (10) He Found himself in Front of a Fortified Fortress. Finding it Forsaken, and Feeling himself Feeble and Forlorn with Fasting, he Fed upon the Fish, Flesh and Fowl he Found, Fricasseed and Fried; and when Full, Fell Flat on the Floor. (11) Fresh in the Forenoon he Forthwith Flew to the Fruitful Fields, and, not Forgetting Fenella, he Filched a Fair Flower; when a Foul, Frightful, Fiendish Figure Flashed Forth, “Felonious Fellow!—Fingering my Flower—I’ll Finish you! Go, say Farewell to your Fine, Felicitous Family, and Face me in a Fortnight.” (12) The Faint-hearted Fisher Fumed and Faltered, and Fast was Far in his Flight. (13) His Five daughters Flew to Fall at his Feet, and Fervently Felicitate him. (14) Frantically and Fluently he unfolded his Fate. (15) Fenella, Forthwith, Fortified by Filial Fondness, Followed her Father’s Footsteps, and Flung her Faultless Form at the Foot of the Frightful Figure, who Forgave the Father, and Fell Flat on his Face; For he had Fervently Fallen in a Fiery Fit of love For the Fair Fenella. (16) He Feasted and Fostered her, till, Fascinated by his Faithfulness, she Forgot the Ferocity of his Face, Form and Feature; and Frankly and Fondly Fixed Friday Fifth of February, For the affair to come off. (17) There were present at the wedding, Fanny, Florence, Fernanda, Francesca, and the Fisher. (18) There were Festivity, Fragrance, Finery, Fireworks, Fricasseed Frogs, Fritters, Fish, Flesh, Fowl and Furmenty; Frontignac, Flip, and Fare Fit For the Fastidious; Fruit, Fuss, Flambeaux, Four Fat Fiddlers, and Fifers; and the Frightful Form of the Fortunate and Frumpish Fiend Fell From him, and he Fell at Fenella’s Feet, a Fair-Favored, Fine, Frank Freeman of the Forest! (19) Behold the Fruits of Filial affection!—_Comic Times._

MY M-MADE MEMORY MEDLEY

MENTIONING MEMORY’S MARVELOUS MANIFESTATIONS[2]

(1) Memory Means Mind—Mind Means Memory. (2) Memory Most Mysteriously Makes Mental Memoranda. (3) Matured Metaphysical Meditation Manifests Memory Man’s Mighty Maker’s Manifoldly Marvelous, Magnificent Masterpiece. (4) Memory Makes, Molds, Modifies, Moves, Maintains Mind; Memory Moves Man’s Mouth; Memory Manages Man’s Manipulations. (5) Multitudinous Misfortunes Mark Meager Memory, Municipal Mismanagement, Maritime Mishaps, Mercantile Miscalculations. (6) Meager Memory Means Mystification, Misconception, Misunderstanding, Mournful Mental Malady. (7) Many Men Meditating Merge ’Mid Mystification, Mostly Meaning Mismanaged Memory. (8) Meager Memory Makes Many Men Mere Mute Mummies. (9) Mold Memory, Manage Memory; Make Memory-Meditations Mind-Making Material. Mere Mechanical, Muttering Memory Makes Many Men Mere Meaning-Minus Magpies. (10) Memory Managed Methodically, Manifests Marvelous Might. (11) Many Maddened Masters Murmuringly Mistrust Meritedly Mistrusted Menials’ Muddly Memories. (12) Menials’ Message Mangling Misconduct, Magical Modern Memory Methods Most Materially Mitigate. (13) Memory Methods Master Most Marvelous Medleys. (14) Miss Market-Much Might Memorize Meat, Mustard, Mushrooms, Melons, Marmalade, Milk, Mullets, Mops, Matches, Medicine, Myrrh, Musk, Muslin, Music; Moreover Many Miscellaneous Momentous Messages. (15) Many Men Much Misunderstand Memory Methods, Making Mental Mazes Much More Mysterious; Making Mere Mole-Mounds Mule Maddening-Mountains; Making Minutest Mites Mighty Mammalia. (16) Many Men Mentally Merely Move Mobward, Mingling Mimicked, Meaningless Murmurings ’Midst Misty-Minded Men’s Maniacal Mutterings, Menacing Memory Method’s Mutilation. Mildly, Manfully, Mockingly, Memory Men March, Maintaining Majesty. (17) Mercenary Motives, Mistaken Monetary Management May Make Many Meanly Miss Mentally Masticating Memory Methods. Moral Men Manifesting Manly Motives May Mention Memory’s Marvelous Malleability, Making Memory’s Maximum Man’s Mental Meridian! (18) Murky-Minded, Misanthropic, Monopolizing Men May Malevolently Mutter Many Mischievous, Malice-Molded Maledictions, Mockingly Mistrusting Memory Methods. (19) Memory Methods Master Minutely Many Manuals, Mosaic Maxims, Mediæval Memorables, Masonic Mysteries, Mechanical Movements, Mineral Mixtures, Medicinal Metamorphoses, Musical Measures, Mathematical Materials, Mercantile Managements, Momentary Mementos. (20) Memory Methods Might Make Monarchs, Ministers, Members, Mayors, Magistrates, Mouth Most Mightily, Minus Manuscripts. (21) Memory Methodically Manifested Makes Man Muscularly, Mentally, Morally, Mercantilely, Much More Manly. (22) Memory May Make Metropolitan Manufacturers Manufacture Many Most Magnificent Materials, Merely Marking Mentally Modistes’ Modified Matchless Models. (23) Memory Makes Money-Moving Merchants Mass Many More Money-Mounds. (24) Memory Makes Morose Men Much More Mannerly. Memory Makes Men’s Motto “Mutely Miss Mischievous Meddling.” (25) Memory, Marking Man’s Misguided Mind, Makes Man Merciful. Mingled Mortifications, Minus Merciful Memory, Make Minor Mistakes Miscreant Misdemeanors. (26) Memory, Methodized, Makes More Magnetic, Meltingly Melodious, Meekminded, Modest, Marriageable Maidens. (27) Memory Makes Mothers Manage Minutest, Multitudinously Miscellaneous Matters Meritoriously Maternally. (28) Memory Makes Model Men Matchlessly Master Mimicry. Memory Makes Mimics Mimic Minutely. (29) Mind—Memory! Mockingly, Maddeningly, Manages, Masters, Manacles Men’s Mere Muscular Might. (30) Memory Molds Men’s Musings; Millionaires’ Musings May Mark Moldering Marble Monuments, Mutely Mentioning Magnificent Munificences. (31) Military Men, Musing, May Mark Muskets, Matchless Marksmen, Mortars, Majors, Men, Movements, Maneuvers. (32) Milkmaid’s Musings May Mark Mist-Moistened Meadows, Mirthful Milkmen Merrily Milking, Millers, Mills, Men Mowing, Moving Mud-Mounds, Minding Mares, Managing Managers, Malting; Master’s Mansion, Master Making Market Memos.; Mistress Making Mincemeat; Miss Millie “_Musicking_”; Master Mathew Meeting Miss May Marry-Me. (33) Man’s Misconduct Makes Meditation—_Memory_—Mental Misery. (34) Murderers’ Morbid Minds Meek Morpheus Molests, Making Midnight’s Mysterious Musings Merciless Mental Martyrdoms. (35) Methodical Memorizing Means Mating Mentally—_Mark!_ Minister Manuscript—Manuscript Mission—Mission Money—Money Missionary—Missionary Mohammedan—Mohammedan Meditate—Meditate Misconduct—Misconduct Mediator—Mediator Messiah! Mark, Moreover, Memory Methods Make Mixed Mental Masses Most Marvelously Manageable. Meager Memory, Moderate Memory, Mighty Memory, Method May Magnify Much. (36) Mentioning My M-Made Memory Medley, May Make Many Melancholy Moping Men Manifest Much Merriment. (37) Many Merely Muttering My M-Made Memory Medley May Make Multitudinous Mistakes. (38) My Memory Men May Memorize My Matchlessly Mouth Martyrdomizing M-Made Memory Medley!!!

—WILLIAM STOKES.

* * * * *

If one has a little spare time, he can use it to good advantage in making alliterative exercises for himself. It will enlarge his vocabulary, discipline him in the use of unfamiliar words, and, at the same time, afford him opportunity for linguistic practice for the improvement of his pronunciation, enunciation and articulation. For instance, here are a few crude attempts made by one of the authors when he was lying on a sick-bed and desired a change of mental occupation.

MIGHTY MAJESTIC MIND

MAN’S MUSCULAR, MENTAL, MORAL MASTER

Mind magnificently masters man. Mind majestically manages man’s muscular, mental, moral movements. Man moves materially. Material movements mean motions made muscularly, mechanically. Man’s mechanics move as man’s mind mandates. Mere mechanical-man, muscular-man, means microcosmic majesty, but man’s moral mentality, mysteriously manifests man’s Mighty Maker’s magnificent, matchless majesty. Mind manifestations mean mentation, mystery, method, municipal management, music, melody, multifarious manufactures, market manipulations, Marconi messages, macadamization, motor movements, mechanical mastery, metallic mixtures, muscular motions mentally mandated, maritime maneuvers, magnetic mastery. Men’s mental missteps mean misery, morbidity, moroseness, many moon’s mournful meditations. Man’s mind mismanaged means mental mirages, miserable miserliness, mean marriages. Many men marry mistakenly, merely marking mean mentality, moral mismanagement. Miserable marriages mean morbid mouthings, misleading marital mirages, moral missteps, monotonous months, mean moments, miserable meetings. Mean, malicious, morally morbid, meddling marplots make many marriage mates miserable, mouthing mendacious misstatements, manufacturing mean messages, making matrons mutely meditate mauling mysterious maidens who merrily manipulate meager-minded men. Methodistical, Mennonite maidens, meditating many men’s malodorous matrimonial mishaps, mercilessly meditate maidenhood, mocking marriage misfits. Maidens morally, mentally, muscularly married, majestically move matronward, meeting motherhood merrily. Mighty Majestic Mind made Maiden Mary’s motherhood mysteriously materialize. Moral man’s meditations magnify Maiden Mary’s marvelous motherhood. Mans’, matrons’, maidens’ managed mentations mean mentally-manipulated meritorious monogamous marriages, making mates materially merry, managing maternity modernly. Moreover, man’s managed mentations mean mercantile might, maritime majesty, masterly mechanics, monkish manuscripts, marble mansions, moon maps, martial maneuvers, military marchings, magnificent masquerades, mail movements, mystic materializations, mathematical mazes, Maypole maidens, molded medals, modern medicine, megalithic monuments, musical megaphones, melodramatic monologues, man’s melioration, mellow memories, Mennonite missionaries, merciful mandatories, Messianic masses, metaphysical messages, mighty metaphors, metaphrastic metamorphoses, metallic mercuries, marvelous metropolises, Methodistic morals, monks’ meditations, Mohammedan mosques, miniature minarets, masterful ministers, miraculous mirrors, martial mobilizations, multiplied musicians, marble mosaics, meaningful mottoes. Mendelssohn made manifold music, monkish masses, modulated madrigals, mincing minuets, military marches. Moor mountebanks make money monkey-shining. Melancthon’s managed mentality materialized moral mottoes, manuscripts, mandates, mental manna for mighty monarchs, manifold multitudes. Macbeth’s moral missteps materialized manichean morbidity, malignant moroseness, murderous manifestations, maniacal madness. Merry Maryland’s melody moves men’s, matrons’, maidens’ muscular movements mightily. More meditation might materialize many more m-made mental meanderings.

SOUL SUBLIME

Spirit sees spirit surely. Spirit shuns sensuous symbols, shibboleths, signs, sins. Spirit seeks serenity, sociability, salvation, supreme spiritual standards, splendid sympathy, starlike success. Sin, sensuality, sear, singe, scorch, send suffering, sorrow, sadness. Spirit, soul, soaring supremely, senses slumber soundly. Senses sleep, spirit solves. Soul subjects senses securely—sight, sound, smell, space—storing spirit secrets, sweet sounds, soulful sympathy. Spirit sends soul starward seeking spirit’s shoreless, shining seas sublimely serene. Soul survives sense’s subjugation. Soul seeks successful solutions such staggerers as syncopation, syncretism, syndicalism, symbiosis, symmetricalism, synesthesia, synovitis, syringomyelia, strumæ, stronglyidæ, strobilation, stock swindling, solfatara, solaria, Sivaism, Shintoism, sisymbriums, siphonophora, shunning shilly-shallying, sloppy sentimentality, slippery sneakiness, sulky slovenliness, secret sinfulness, shekel stealing, saucy slandering.

* * * * *

One might write a “Wordy Wabble on Women,” telling how “women wheedle wary woodmen woefully in western, wild Wyoming and Washington. Warring, waspish women wear war-paint wielding willow wands whackingly when weary Willies wantonly waste wages,” and so on. Or he could picture Dauntless Daniel daringly defying Desperate Desmond. A war correspondent might have gained fame a few years ago had he headed his German letter: “Blatant Billy Blusteringly, Belligerently, Bellows Braggingly,” and later he might have told how “British bulldogs beat Billy’s bragging, brutal, bullying battalions; beneficently, benignly, beautifully backing beleaguered Belgium’s bruised, but brave batteries. Billy bemoaned beaten battalions, but Bulldog Britain beamed benignly, bantering Billy’s Brunswick backers, bagging Billy’s belongings, bogging Billy’s boasted bootsteps. Britain’s bulldogs made bragging, boasting Billy bow bendingly before bully belligerents.”

Let not the intellectual student deem this kind of exercise too frivolous. It will be of far greater benefit to him than he is aware, especially if he will read and reread his alliterations, with clear understanding, in accordance with the principles laid down in the earlier part of Chapter I.

Of a different type, but equally useful as exercises in composition, and intelligent and carefully articulated reading, are such compositions as the following. Let the student try to make up something of the kind descriptive of a battle, a rainstorm, an earthquake, etc.

* * * * *

A man whose vocabulary seems to be unlimited when he desires to describe conditions, and whose nights were made sleepless by a switch engine, recently wrote as follows to the railroad company:

Is it absolutely necessary, in discharge of his duty day and
night, that the engineer of your yard at the upper terminal
bridge should make his engine ding and dong and fizz and spit and
clang and bang and buzz and hiss and bell and wail and pant and
rant and yowl and grate and grind and puff and bump and click and
clank and chug and moan and hoot and toot and crash and grunt and
gasp and groan and whistle and wheeze and squawk and blow and
jar and perk and rasp and jingle and twang and clack and rumble
and jangle and ring and clatter and yelp and croak and howl and
hum and snarl and puff and growl and thump and boom and clash
and jolt and jostle and shake and screech and snort and snarl
and slam and shake and throb and crink and quiver and rumble and
roar and rattle and yell and smoke and smell and shriek like
hell?—_Labor Clarion_, 1916.

THE HABIT OF SWALLOWING THE “G”

_The Problem_

It is strange why so many people fail to sound the “ing” ending clearly when in reality to do so requires less effort than not to. There is no better way of describing it than the swallowing of the “g.”

Let us take the word “running” and determine the action of the tongue in the proper and improper enunciation of the “ing.”

1. Repeat it as “runnin’” and note the position of the tongue tip at the end of the word. You will find it pressed against the roof of the mouth just back of the upper front teeth. You will also note that the vowel sound “i” is changed to “u.”

2. Now repeat “running.” You will discover the mouth is more open, and the tongue tip just back of the _lower_ front teeth, and the pure vowel quality of “i” is retained.

_Evil Effects_

There are three serious effects upon the person who persists in swallowing his “g’s”:

1. It causes a restricted throat, and consequently a tired one.

2. It causes a stoppage of pure tone, and consequently develops nasality.

3. It shows a lack of care and culture.

_Practice Exercises_

Repeat the following exercises with distinctness and precision:

1. Beng, bang, bawng, bahng, bong, boong.

2. Deng, dang, dawng, dahng, dong, doong.

3. Feng, fang, fawng, fahng, fong, foong.

4. Geng, gang, gawng, gahng, gong, goong, (Hard “g” sound.)

5. Heng, hang, hawng, hahng, hong, hoong.

6. Jeng, jang, jawng, jahng, jong, joong.

7. Keng, kang, kawng, kahng, kong, koong.

8. Leng, lang, lawng, lahng, long, loong.

9. Meng, mang, mawng, mahng, mong, moong.

10. Peng, pang, pawng, pahng, pong, poong.

11. Qeng, qang, qawng, qahng, qong, qoong.

12. Reng, rang, rawng, rahng, rong, roong.

13. Seng, sang, sawng, sahng, song, soong.

14. Teng, tang, tawng, tahng, tong, toong.

15. Veng, vang, vawng, vahng, vong, voong.

16. Weng, wang, wawng, wahng, wong, woong.

17. Yeng, yang, yawng, yahng, yong, yoong.

HOW THE WATER COMES DOWN AT LODORE

BY ROBERT SOUTHEY

Receding and speeding, and shocking and rocking,
And darting and parting, and threading and spreading,
And whizzing and hissing, and dripping and skipping,
And brightening and whitening, and quivering and shivering,
And hitting and splitting, and shining and twining,
And rattling and battling, and shaking and quaking,
And pouring and roaring, and waving and raving,
And tossing and crossing, and flowing and growing,
And running and stunning, and hurrying and scurrying,
And glittering and flittering, and gathering and feathering,
And dinning and spinning, and foaming and roaming,
And dropping and hopping, and working and jerking,
And gurgling and struggling, and heaving and cleaving,
And thundering and floundering:
And falling and crawling, and sprawling,
And driving and riving and striving,
And sprinkling and twinkling and wrinkling,
And sounding and bounding and rounding,
And bubbling and troubling and doubling,
Dividing and gliding and sliding,
And grumbling and rumbling and tumbling,
And clattering and battering and shattering,
And gleaming and streaming and steaming and beaming,
And rushing and flushing and brushing and gushing,
And flapping and rapping and clapping and slapping,
And curling and whirling and purling and twirling,
Retreating and meeting and beating and sheeting,
Delaying and straying and playing and spraying,
Advancing and prancing and glancing and dancing,
Recoiling, turmoiling, and toiling and boiling,
And thumping and plumping and bumping and jumping,
And dashing and flashing and splashing and clashing,
And so never ending but always descending,
Sounds and motions forever and ever are blending;
All at once, and all o’er, with a mighty uproar,
And in this way the water comes down at Lodore.

—_Abridged._

OVERCOMING THE RISING INFLECTION

One of the most effective elements of convincing speech is the _inflection_.

By _inflection_ is meant the glide of the voice to a higher or lower pitch. This glide may be quick and short, or long and slow. It may be a rising or falling glide, or both.

Complaints are constantly being made against the improper use of the “rising inflection.” This misuse of one of the most invaluable agencies for forceful utterance is persistently indulged in by the majority of students. It is a common fault.

Its disastrous effect does not lie merely in ineffectiveness of speech, yet that in itself ought to be sufficient cause for its cure, but rather in its destructibility of the pupil’s will-power and self-confidence. The pupil who has persisted in answering with a question mark in his voice is indelibly marked. He is likely to be dependent instead of independent and dependable; he is groping in the dark for a crutch in order to keep his mental balance.

The most flagrant causes for such improper and inexcusable speech may be enumerated under two heads:

_On the Part of the Pupil_

The pupil is not sure of the answer.

The pupil wishes to please the teacher.

The pupil is not sure he has answered enough.

The pupil fears he will make a mistake.

The pupil waits for the teacher to verify his answer.

The pupil is not sure of what he intends to say.

The pupil does not believe what he says. He is in doubt.

The pupil does not concentrate.

The pupil is careless and lazy.

_On the Part of the Teacher_

The teacher throws out suggestive hints of the answer and the pupil answers in guesses.

The teacher’s question has not been clearly put.

The teacher has not definitely planned the lesson and consequently uses the rising inflection too often.

The teacher does not demand definite and clear thought from pupils.

The teacher accepts slovenly work.

The teacher grows calloused to the sound of the inflection because of its never ceasing recurrence.

Is it not a lamentable fact that our schools have not given the proper attention to eradicating this common and inexcusable fault? Even in business and society the cultured ear is continually annoyed by the common use of this abomination.

It is almost unbelievable that, out of twenty-five teachers recently examined, but two were able to distinguish the good and bad qualities of their own voices. Few teachers have ever given serious thought to their own voices as invaluable instruments in the carrying out of their duties.

At one time one of the authors made a careful study of the effect of the teacher’s voice upon pupils. He visited the same grade at the same hour on the same day in two different weeks and in two different school-rooms. This is what he found.

In the first room the children were extremely nervous, restless, unhappy and irritable. In the other room they were quiet, restful, obedient and happy. In the first room the teacher used a hard metallic tone, and usually spoke in quick, short “jabs” of speech. There was little modulation of voice and she seemed to be talking continuously, for when she was silent her harsh tones seemed to continue reverberating in his ears.

In the second room the teacher had splendid poise and a pleasing, well-modulated and natural tone. Her voice as well as her general manner had a soothing effect upon the children, for, at the end of the day, they, as well as herself, were not tired.

How often we hear people around us say of a public speaker: Why doesn’t he speak so that people can hear him? or more clearly and distinctly? etc.

During the training of would-be officers for our speedily required army quite a number were passed as incompetent because their voices were inadequate to give command. Only recently one of the authors was present at a high school military drill. The boy in command had a high, piping voice, of which he had little control, and he was openly laughed at by his fellows to his intense mortification and disgust. A good voice, properly trained and obedient to the will of the personality behind it is an invaluable asset in life to every one.

If one does not possess it, he must gain it, and to accomplish this theory is of little or no avail. The student must practice diligently and persistently. The following exercises are carefully selected for the purpose of giving power and voice control.

_Exercises in Inflectional Agility_

The Rising, Quick, Short Glide

Note: The italicized words are to be given quick, short, rising inflection.

_Attention._

Get on your mark! get set! _go!_

Company, _halt_!

Get ready, aim, _fire_!

Hands _up_!

_Halt!_ who goes there?

Strike _one_, strike _two_; _out_!

All _aboard_!

Good _night_!

Sail _on_! Sail _on_! and _on_!

O _James_! come _here_! come _here_!

_Charge_, Chester, _charge_!

_On_, Stanley, _on_!

Hats _off_! hats _off_! I say.

Now’s _the day_ and now’s _the hour_!

* * * * *

“Yo, _ho_, lads! yo _ho_, yo _ho_!
Joy, joy _to all_, for we must _go_,
Yo _ho_, lads! yo _ho_, yo _ho_!”

* * * * *

“I love, _ah!_ how I love to ride
On the fierce, foaming, bursting tide.”

* * * * *

“To _arms_! they _come_! the _Greek_! the _Greek_!”

“Remember _March_, the ides of March _remember_.”

“_Give_ us, O _give_ us, the man who _sings_ at his work!”

* * * * *

The Counting Exercise

_1_, 2, _3_, 4, _5_, 6, _7_, 8, _9_, 10.

1, _2_, 3, _4_, 5, _6_, 7, _8_, 9, _10_.

1, 2, _3_, 4, 5, _6_, 7, 8, _9_, 10.

(This exercise can be carried on indefinitely.)

Indicate the Inflected Words in the Following Excerpts

We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.

* * * * *

Reading maketh a full man; conference, a ready man; and writing an exact man.

—FRANCIS BACON: “Of Studies.”

* * * * *

He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man, and bird, and beast.

—S. T. COLERIDGE: “Ancient Mariner.”

* * * * *

So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When Duty whispers low, “Thou must,”
The youth replies, “I can.”

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

The Falling, Quick, Short Glide

Note: Italicized words are given quick and short falling inflections.

Hold that _line_, hold that _line_, hold that _line hard_.

Good _night_ (a provincialism, meaning disgust or hopelessness).

“Hence! _home_, you idle creature; get you _home_!”

“I am a _Jew_.”

“Laughed at my _losses_, mocked at my _gains_, scorned my _nation_, thwarted my _bargains_, cooled my _friends_, heated mine _enemies_.”

Indicate the Inflected Words in the Following Excerpts

Quoth the raven, “Never more.”

O death, where is thy sting!

No stir in the air, no stir in the sea.

Leave me to my fate.

My heart is awed within me.

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll!

Full fathom five thy father lies.

* * * * *

Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.

—TENNYSON.

* * * * *

“The noise that twenty or thirty lions can make, deliberately bent on making it and roaring all at once, is unbelievable. They throw their heads up and glory in strength of lungs until thunder takes second place, and the listener knows why not the bravest, not the most dangerous of beasts has managed to impose the fable of his grandeur on men’s imagination.”

—TALBOT MUNDY, in “The Ivory Trail.”

* * * * *

We’re foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin’ over Africa!
Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin’ over Africa—
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an’-twenty mile to-day—
Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before—
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

Don’t—don’t—don’t—don’t—look at what’s in front of you
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again!)
Men—men—men—men—men go mad with watchin’ ’em,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!

—KIPLING.

The Rising Long and Slow Glide

Note: The italicized words are given a long, slow, upward glide.

“_Now, then_,” cried Squeers, from the bottom of the stairway, “are you going to sleep _all day, up there_?”

* * * * *

_Breathes there a man_, with soul so dead,
Who never to _himself hath said_,
“_This is my own_, my native land!”
Whose heart hath ne’er _within him burned_,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering _on a foreign strand_?
_If such there breathe_, go, mark him well.

—SCOTT.

* * * * *

_Higher still and higher_
From the earth thou springest
Like a _cloud of fire_;
The blue deep thou wingest
And singing still _dost soar, and soaring_ ever singest.

—SHELLEY.

* * * * *

_Sweet_ are the uses of _adversity_,
Which, _like the toad_, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a _precious jewel_ in his head;
And this our life, _exempt from public haunt_,
Finds _tongues_ in trees, _books_ in the running brooks,
_Sermons_ in stones, and _good_ in every thing.

—SHAKESPEARE.

Indicate the Inflected Words in the Following Excerpts

There were seen, side by side, the greatest painter and the greatest scholar of the age.

They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth.

He has this day surprised the thousands who hung with rapture on his accents, by such an array of talents, such an exhibition of capacity, such a display of powers, as are unparalleled in the annals of oratory; a display that reflects the highest honor on himself—luster upon letters—renown upon parliament—glory upon the country.

—BURKE, on “Sheridan.”

* * * * *

Better to smell the violet cool
Than sip the glowing wine;
Better to hark a hidden brook
Than watch a diamond shine.

Better to sit at a master’s feet
Than thrill a listening state;
Better suspect that thou art proud
Than be sure that thou art great.

The Falling Long and Slow Inflection

Note: The italicized words are given a long, slow, downward glide:

Whoever would _have thought of that_!

Yes, it is gone _forever and ever_.

Well, _did you ever_!

* * * * *

Under the one, _the Blue_;
Under the other, _the Gray_.

* * * * *

No, sir! these walls, these columns
Shall fly
From their firm base _as soon as I_.

* * * * *

These are the sins I fain
Would have thee _take away_:
_Malice_, and _cold disdain_,
_Hot anger_, _sullen hate_,
Scorn of _the lowly_, envy of _the great_,
And discontent that casts _a shadow gray_
On all the brightness of _the common day_.

Indicate the Inflected Words in the Following Excerpts

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the monarch’s silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: “O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!”

Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.

Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.

* * * * *

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,
My very noble, and approved good masters,
That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her.

* * * * *

He loved his country as no other man has loved her; but no man deserved less at her hands.

Tell me not in mournful numbers.

I told you so. And you will, will you?

* * * * *

The Hills,
Rock-ribbed, and ancient as the sun; the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The venerable woods; rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks,
That make the meadows green; and, poured round all,
Old ocean’s gray and melancholy waste,—
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man!
...
It is ten o’clock:
Thus may we see how the world wags:
’Tis but an hour ago, since it was nine;
And after an hour more ’twill be eleven;
And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe,
And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot,
And thereby hangs a tale.
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o’er our fears,
Are all with thee,—are all with thee!

—LONGFELLOW.

_Exercises Containing a Variety of Inflections_

Let each pupil decide for himself what he believes to be the most effective and proper inflections in the following. In doing this it is well to have him state his reason. This act of reasoning will aid him in concentrating upon the thought matter.

* * * * *

The cold feeble dawn of a January morning was stealing in at the windows of the common sleeping room, when Nicholas, raising himself on his arm, looked among the prostrate forms in search of the boy Smike.

“Now, then,” cried Squeer, from the bottom of the stairway, “are you going to sleep all day, up there?”

“We shall be down directly, sir.”

“Down directly! You had better be down directly, or I’ll be down on some of you in less time than directly. Where’s that Smike?”

Nicholas looked round again.

“He is not here, sir.”

“Don’t tell me a lie. He is.”

“He is not. Don’t tell me.”

Squeers bounced into the dormitory, and, swinging his cane in the air ready for a blow, darted into the corner where Smike usually lay at night. The cane descended harmlessly. There was nobody there.

“What does this mean? Where have you hid him?”

“I have seen nothing of him since last night.”

“Come, you won’t save him this way. Where is he?”

“At the bottom of the nearest pond for anything I know.”

—CHARLES DICKENS.

* * * * *

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

* * * * *

Breathes there a man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
“This is my own, my native land!”
Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel-raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch concenter’d all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonor’d, and unsung.

—SCOTT.

* * * * *

What constitutes a state?
Not high-raised battlement or labored mound,
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned;
Not bays and broad-armed ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride;
Not starred and spangled courts,
Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride.
No: _men_—high-minded _men_,
With powers as far above dull brutes endued
In forest, brake, or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude;
Men, who their duties know,
But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain.

—SIR WILLIAM JONES.

* * * * *

What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how express and admirable! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a god!

—SHAKESPEARE.

* * * * *

Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all,—to thine own self be true;
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

—SHAKESPEARE.

* * * * *

There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows, and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

—SHAKESPEARE.

* * * * *

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’s eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacle on nose, and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness, and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

—SHAKESPEARE.

* * * * *

Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down.

* * * * *

These are the gifts I ask
Of thee, Spirit serene:
Strength for the daily task,
Courage to face the road,
Good cheer to help bear the traveler’s load,
And, for the hours of rest that come between,
An inward joy in all things heard and seen.

—VAN DYKE.

* * * * *

These are the things I prize
And hold of dearest worth:
Light of sapphire skies,
Peace of the silent hills,
Shelter of forests, comfort of the grass,
Music of birds, murmur of little rills,
Shadows of cloud that swiftly pass,
And, after showers,
The smell of flowers
And of the good brown earth,—
And best of all, along the way, friendship and mirth.

—VAN DYKE.

* * * * *

The year’s at the spring
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hillside’s dew-pearled;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn:
God’s in his heaven—
All’s right with the world!

—BROWNING.

* * * * *

Oh, to be in England
Now that April’s there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unawares,
That the lowest boughs and the brush-wood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!

—BROWNING.

* * * * *

Day!
Faster and more fast,
O’er night’s brim, day boils at last:
Boils, pure gold, o’er the cloud-cup’s brim
Where spurting and suppressed it lay,
For not a froth-flake touched the rim
Of yonder gap in the solid gray
Of the eastern cloud, an hour away;
But forth one wavelet, then another, curled,
Till the whole sunrise, not to be suppressed,
Rose, reddened, and its seething breast
Flickered in bounds, grew gold, then overflowed the world.

—BROWNING.

* * * * *

Oh, such a commotion under the ground
When March called, “Ho, there! ho!”
Such spreading of rootlets far and wide,
Such whispering to and fro.
And “Are you ready?” the Snowdrop asked;
“’Tis time to start, you know.”
“Almost, my dear,” the Scilla replied;
“I’ll follow as soon as you go.”
Then, “Ha! Ha! Ha!” a chorus came
Of laughter soft and low
From the millions of flowers under the ground—
Yes—millions—beginning to grow.

—From “_Nature in Verse_.” By kind permission of
_Silver, Burdett and Company_, Publishers.

* * * * *

My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.
The shattering trumpet shrilleth high,
The hard brands shiver on the steel,
The splinter’d spear-shafts crack and fly,
The horse and rider reel:
They reel, they roll in clanging lists,
And when the tide of combat stands,
Perfume and flowers fall in showers,
That lightly rain from ladies’ hands.

—TENNYSON.

* * * * *

Such a starved bank of moss till, that May-morn,
Blue ran the flash across: violets were born!
Sky—what a scowl of cloud till, near and far,
Ray on ray split the shroud: splendid, a star!
World—how it walled about life with disgrace
Till God’s own smile came out: that was thy face!

—BROWNING.

* * * * *

The brooklet came from the mountain,
As sang the bard of old,
Running with feet of silver
Over the sands of gold!

Far away in the briny ocean
There rolled a turbulent wave,
Now singing along the sea-beach,
Now howling along the cave.

And the brooklet has found the billow,
Though they flowed so far apart,
And has filled with its freshness and sweetness
That turbulent, bitter heart.

—LONGFELLOW.

* * * * *

A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!

* * * * *

_Marcellus._ Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again!

_Bernardo._ In the same figure, like the king that’s dead.

_Marcellus._ Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

_Bernardo._ Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.

_Horatio._ Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.

_Bernardo._ It would be spoke to.

_Marcellus._ Question it, Horatio.

_Horatio._ What art thou that usurp’st this time of night,
Together with that fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak!

_Marcellus._ It is offended.

_Bernardo._ See, it stalks away!

_Horatio._ Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! [_Exit Ghost._]

_Marcellus._ ’Tis gone, and will not answer.

_Bernardo._ How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale:
Is not this something more than phantasy?
What think you on’t?

—SHAKESPEARE.

* * * * *

_Gloucester._ Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down.

_Anne._ What black magician conjures up this fiend
To stop devoted charitable deeds?