266

_The Vision of Sir Launfal_ James Russell Lowell 271

On the Death of Gladstone Sir Wilfrid Laurier 278

_The Downfall of Wolsey_ William Shakespeare 286

_The Italian in England_ Robert Browning 290

Advantages of Imperial
Federation George Monro Grant 296

_Collect for Dominion Day_ Charles G. D. Roberts 305

* * * * *

APPENDIX A. Exercises in Vocalization and Articulation 306

B. Physical Exercises 312

C. List of Reference Books 314

* * * * *

PRINCIPLES OF READING

=Importance of Oral Reading=

There are several reasons why every boy or girl should strive to
become a good reader. In the first place, good oral reading is an
accomplishment in itself. It affords a great deal of pleasure to
others as well as to ourselves. In the second place, it improves our
everyday speech and is also a preparation for public speaking; for the
one who reads with distinctness and an accent of refinement is likely
to speak in the same way, whether in private conversation or on the
public platform. Moreover, it is only one step from reading aloud
before the class to recitation, and another step from recitation to
public speaking. Lastly, oral reading is the best method of bringing
out and conveying to others and to oneself all that a piece of
literature expresses. For example, the voice is needed to bring out
the musical effects of poetry. The following lines will illustrate
this point:

But the sea-caves rung, and the wild winds sung
The dirge of lovely Rosabelle.

Here the music of the rhythm and the harmony between sound and sense
would be almost entirely lost in silent reading.

The voice, too, is often the surest and most effective means of
conveying differences of meaning and feeling in both prose and poetry.
The following words from _Herve Riel_ (pp. 241-247) may be made to
convey different meanings according to the intonation of the voice:

Burn the fleet and ruin France?

This may be read to express hesitation and deliberation, or, as is
the evident intention, shewn by the context as well as by the
punctuation, to express Herve Riel's surprise and indignation that
such a thought should be