f oratory than
[Page 181] to that of dramatic or stage expression, by which is meant
expression fitted for the purposes of the halau.

[Illustration: PHYLLODIA AND TRUE LEAVES OF THE KOA (ACACIA KOA)
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
BULLETIN 38 PLATE XX]

To begin with a general proposition, the attitude of the feet
and legs must be sympathetic with that of the other parts of
the body. When standing squarely on both feet and looking
directly forward, the action may be called noncommittal,
general; but if the address is specialized and directed to a
part of the audience, or if attention is called to some
particular region, the face will naturally turn in that
direction. To attain this end, while the leg and arm of the
corresponding side will be drawn back, the leg and arm of the
opposite side will be advanced, thus causing the speaker to
face the point of address. If the speaker or the actor
addresses himself, then, to persons, or to an object, on his
right, the left leg will be the one more in advance and the
left arm will be the one on which the burden of gesture will
fall, and vice versa.

It would be a mistake to suppose that every motion or gesture
displayed by the actors on the stage of the halau was
significant of a purpose. To do that would be to ascribe to
them a flawless perfection and strength that no body of
artists have ever attained. Many of their gestures, like the
rhetoric of a popular orator, were mere flourishes and
ornaments. With a language so full of seemingly superfluous
parts, it could not well be otherwise than that their
rhetoric of gesture should be overloaded with flourishes.

The whole subject of gesture, including facial expression, is
worthy of profound study, for it is linked to the basic
elements of psychology. The illustrations adduced touch only
the skirts of the subject; but they must suffice. An
exhaustive analysis, the author believes, would show an
intimate and causal relation between these facial expressions
and the muscular movements that are the necessary
accompaniments or resultants of actual speech. To illustrate,