SYNOPTICAL TABLE

OF THE

PRINCIPAL POSITIONS AND ACTIONS IN SIGNIFICANT GESTURE.

THE FEET AND LOWER LIMBS.

Their firm position signifies courage, determination, or obstinacy. Bended knees-timidity or weakness. Frequent change-disturbed thought. In desire or courage-advance. In aversion or fear-retire. In terror-start. In authority or anger-stamp. In submission and prayer— kneel.

THE BODY.

The body held erect, indicates steadiness and courage. Thrown backpride or self-importance. Stooping forward-condescension, compassion, or courtesy. Bending-reverence or respect. Prostration-the utmost humility or abasement.

THE ARMS.

The arm is projected forward in authority. Both arms are extended in admiration. Elevated, in supplication or imprecation. Held forwardimploring help. Fall suddenly-disappointment.

THE HANDS.

The hand on the head, indicates pain or distress. On the eyes-shame or confusion. On the lips-injunction of silence. On the breast-appeals to conscience, or intimates desire, hope, affection. The hand waves or flourishes, in joy. Is shaken, in disdain. Is projected forward, in contempt. Both hands are held supine, applied, or clasped, in prayer. Both descend prone, in blessing. They are clasped or wrung, in affliction. They are held forward and received, in friendship.

THE EYES.

They are raised, in prayer. They weep, in sorrow. vacancy, in thought. They look downwards, in shame. in different directions, in doubt and anxiety. They turned away, in disappointment or displeasure.

THE HEAD AND FACE.

They are cast on They are turned are downcast or

The hanging down of the head denotes shame or grief. The holding it up, pride, courage, or valour. To nod forward implies assent. To toss the head back, dissent. The inclination of the head implies bashfulness or languor. The head is averted, in dislike, antipathy, or horror. It leans forward, in attention.

SYNOPTICAL TABLE

FOR THE

NOTATION OF GESTURE AND MOTION.

Three kinds of Gesture.-REPRESENTATIVE, SYMPATHETIC, and COLLOQUIAL.

THE FEET AND TRUNK.

R. 1 c., R. 2c., R. 3 c., L. 1 c., L. 2 c., L. 3 c. The same, intermediate (i) and extended (x). Advancing (a), retiring (r), starting (st), stamping (stp.) kneeling (kn), traversing (tr.) The notation of the Feet always marked

below the line.

DIRECTION AND ELEVATION OF THE ARM.

The right arm generally understood. The left arm expressed by a dash before the notation.

The arms generally to describe diagonal returning curves (page 61).
The NINETEEN special motions as illustrated by the Diagrams. (Pages

64-68.)

PARTS OF THE BODY ON WHICH THE HAND MAY BE PLACED.

Breast, B. | Eyes, E. Lips, L. | Forehead, F. | Chin, C.

POSTURES AND MOTIONS OF THE HEAD.

JUNIOR SELECTIONS IN POETRY.

I. THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.-H. W. Longfellow.

UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree the village smithy stands; The Smith, a mighty man is he, with large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long, his face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, he earns whate'er he can; And looks the whole world in the face, for he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night you can hear his bellows blow;

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, with measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village-bell, when the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school look in at the oper

door;

They love to see the flaming forge, and hear the bellows roar, And catch the burning sparks that fly like chaff from a threshing floor.

He

goes on Sunday to the church, and sits among his boys; He hears the Parson pray and preach-he hears his daugh

ter's voice

Singing in the village choir, and it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her Mother's voice, singing in Paradise! He needs must think of her once more, how in the grave she

lies;

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes a tear out of his

eyes.

Toiling-rejoicing-sorrowing, onward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begun, each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done, has earned a night's

repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, for the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped each burning deed and thought!

II.-EXCELSIOR. -H. W. Longfellow.

THE shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device-"EXCELSIOR!"

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath;
And like a silver clarion rung

The accents of that unknown tongue-"EXCELSIOR!"

In happy homes he saw the light

Of household fires gleam warm and bright;

Above, the spectral glaciers shone;

And from his lips escaped a groan-" EXCELSIOR!"

"Try not the pass," the old man said:
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!"

And loud that clarion voice replied-" EXCELSIOR !"

"Oh, stay," the Maiden said, "and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!"

A tear stood in his bright blue eye;

But still he answered with a sigh-" EXCELSIOR !"

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!"

This was the peasant's last good-night;

A voice replied far up the height-EXCELSIOR!"

At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,

A voice cried through the startled air-"EXCELSIOR!"
A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half-buried in the snow was found;

Still grasping in his hand of ice,

The banner with the strange device-"EXCELSIOR!"

There, in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay ;

And from the sky, serene and far,

A voice fell, like a falling star-"EXCELSIOR!"

III.-A PSALM OF LIFE.-H. W. Longfellow.

TELL me not, in mournful numbers, "Life is but an empty dream!"

For the soul is dead that slumbers, and things are not what they seem.

Life is real life is earnest! and the grave is not its goal: "Dust thou art, to dust returnest," was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, is our destined end or way; But to act, that each To-morrow finds us farther than To-day. Art is long, and time is fleeting; and our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle, in the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! let the dead Past bury its dead!

Act-act in the living Present! heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime;

And, departing, leave behind is footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints that perhaps another, sailing 'er Life's solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then be up and doing, with a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing,-learn to labour and to wait.