ing the air with the hand or forming it into a scoop, nervous twitching of the fingers or crossing them, clasping the hands or placing the palm of one on that of the other, are serious faults that should be avoided; every motion of the arm should be made gracefully, every movement should seem to come from the shoulder; the elbow should not originate such movement.

HAMLET'S ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS contains in a nutshell all the golden rules of oratory. It cannot be too often read or too deeply pondered over. Every student should analyze this epitome of instruction and be delighted to notice that the great artist has prepared in a single page a concise summary of invaluable information. It is a good piece for recitation. Hamlet says:

66

many

my

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you; trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spake lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say), whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul, to hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings; who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb shows and noise. I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-Herods Herod. Pray you, avoid Be not too tame, neither, but let your own discretion your tutor. Suit the action to the word; the word to the action; with this special observance: That you o'erstep not the modesty of nature; for anything so over-done is far from the purpose of playing; whose end, both at the first and now, was, and is, to hold, as t'were, the mirror up to

it.

be

nature; to show virtue her own feature; scorn her own image; and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this, overdone or come tardy off, though it make the unskillful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of which one, must, in your allowance, o'erweigh a whole theater of others. O, there be players, that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly (not to speak it profanely), that, neither having the accent of Christian, nor the gift of Christian, pagan, or man, have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well; they imitated humanity so abominably."

EXPLANATIONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fig. 1.-POSITION.-Right foot advanced, the left supporting the body. The principal weight of the body rests upon the foot that is deeply shaded. See Fig. 7.

Fig. 2.-POSITION. The change from the first to the second position is made by-stepping forward with the right foot; throwing the principal weight upon it, only that part of the left, which is shaded, resting upon the floor. This position is assumed in Earnest Appeal, Bold Assertion, and Impassioned Speech.

Fig. 3.-RIGHT HAND SUPINE.-The hand should be well opened; when partly closed the gesture is weakened. Fig. 4. THE INDEX FINGER.-Employed in Indication, Precision, etc.

Fig. 5.-CLENCHED HAND.-Used in Extreme Emphasis, Vehement Declaration, Desperate Resolve.

Fig. 6.--HAND CLASPED.-Appropriate in Supplication and Earnest Entreaty.

Fig. 7.-This gesture is employed in Emphatic, particular assertion.

Fig. 8.-This gesture is used in Concession, Submission and Humility.

Fig. 9.-This gesture is used in Specific Reference, Emphatic Designation; the hand inverted is used in Reproach, Scorn, Contempt, etc.

Fig. 10.-GRIEF.-The right foot slightly advanced; the left arm dropped close to the side; right arm advanced a little to the front, both hands open, the palm of the right hand the palm downward; the head leaning forward; the eye directed downward, with lids drooping.

Fig. 11. DISLIKE. The right foot slightly advanced; the left knee slightly bent; the right arm almost falling straight, but a little advanced to the center of the figure; the left hand extends from the side; the hands open, the palms downward; the head a little drooped forward; the face turned toward the right shoulder.

Fig. 12.-INVOCATION.-Heels well together; form erect; arms fully extended; the right hand to a level with the face; the left arm so that the hand is below the waist; the head turned sideways as though admiring the elevated objects looked at.

Fig. 13.-PATRIOTISM.-The right foot a slight space in advance; the form elevated to full height; the right arm extended, the hand just raised to a level with the eyes; the left arm extended, so that the wrist is on a level with the waist; the hand open, the palm horizontal with the body.

Fig. 14.-CAUTION.-The right foot about an inch in advance; the legs close together; the form at ease; the right arm bent so that the back of the open fingers touches the lips; the left arm at the side, but slightly extended, partly forward, partly sideways; the hand open, the palm downward.

Fig. 15.-COURAGE.--The left foot a little in advance; the figure somewhat thrown back, so that the breast is well advanced; the arms fully extended; hands open; the right hand on a level with forehead; the left on a level with lower part of thigh; the right palm partly turned upward, the left partly down.

Fig. 16.-HATE.-The right foot advanced, so that its heel just precedes the left foot; the body slightly bent back; the face turned to the sky, the gaze directed upward, with a fierce expression; the eyes full of baleful light; the

right arm held straight up; the fingers very little curved; the left arm extended from the person; the hand open, palm up.

Fig. 17.-ADORATION.—The right foot moderately advanced; the attitude gracefully easy; the right arm bent at the elbow, the thumb being on a level with the shoulder; the hand open, the palm outward; the left arm hanging down perpendicular with, and a short distance from, the side; the hand nearly open, the palm down; the head slightly thrown back; the eyes upturned.

Fig. 18.-CURSING.-The feet slightly separated, the right foot very little in advance; the right arm extended straight from the body, in the direction of the thing or person addressed; the hand almost open, fingers slightly contracted; the left arm stiffly at the side, some distance from the person, palm of open hand to the front; shoulders well back; head erect; lips wearing a fierce expression; eyes glancing malignantly.

Fig. 19.-RESOLUTION.-The heels well together; the form straight; the left arm nearly perpendicular with the body, and about nine inches from it; the right arm, as far as the elbow, close to the body, from the elbow rather extended out; the palms of both hands turned down; the head held firmly, but not boastingly erect.

Fig. 20.--ADMIRATION.-The right foot very slightly advanced; the left knee bent a little so as to bring the figure into an easy, agreeable posture; the form quite erect; the shoulders well back; the right arm stretched out on a level with the breast; the hand open, and the index finger pointed at the object spoken of (or to); the left arm close to the hip, but from the hip slightly extended from the body; the hand expanded and palm down.

Fig. 21.-REGRET. The right foot forward; the legs well together; the right arm nearly perpendicular with the body; the hand about one foot from the thigh; nearly open; the left arm close to the body to the elbow; the head turned a little backward, over the right shoulder, and very slightly inclined forward; the eyes gazing on the distance.

Fig. 22.-DISDAIN. The weight of the body resting on the right foot, the left foot merely touching the toe to

the ground; the right arm extended at full length, straight from the shoulder; the hand open, palm down; the left arm a little from the side; the hand extended, the palm down; the body proudly erect; the face turned to the right; the eyes following the pointing of the extended right

hand.

Fig. 23.-APPEAL.-Right foot a little in advance; left knee very slightly bent; shoulders thrown back somewhat; face a little upturned; eyes lifted heavenward; right arm extended; hand open, and a little above the level of the forehead; left arm extended almost horizontally, so as to bring the wrist just below the belt; the hand open, palm upward.