Translated from Cloquet 156

PREFACE.

The following work is designed, in accordance with its title, to precede the American Common-School Reader, - a previous publication by the authors of the present volume, and designed for the use of advanced classes.

The pieces now offered as reading lessons, being adapted to younger pupils, are selected from more familiar subjects, and embrace a larger amount of narrative and descriptive, than of didactic and oratorical composition.

Regard was paid, in compiling the Reader, to such elevation in the sentiments and style of the extracts, as the highest and concluding stage of popular education seemed to require. The preliminary Rules of Elocution, contained in that volume, were also designed for the use of classes whose maturity of mind, and whose progress in education, rendered it desirable that they should make the rules and principles of good reading a subject of systematic study; since it is a result so important to the community, that all young persons should leave our Common Schools not only duly prepared to read well, but competent to give thorough instruction in reading.

The principles of elocution presented in this Introduction, are such as belong to an elementary course. They are designed for practical training on the rudiments of orthoëpy, the department of elocution which was reserved for the present volume, so as to present in the Reader and the Introduction, a brief but complete course of instruction on all the essential points of the subject. Our endeavor has been to select such principles only, as are of immediate use and practical application, without excluding any portion of systematic information which is important to thorough teaching and intelligent practice.

The authors hope that the two books now prepared, will be found to furnish, in the rules and exercises which they contain, the means of an

adequate course of elocution, adapted to the proper extent of education in Common Schools.

Teachers who have, under their care, pupils still younger than those who are prepared to make advantageous use of this Introduction, will find the requisite aids to a thorough and systematic course of elementary instruction, in the 'Primer,' 'Spelling-book,' 'Primary Reader,' and ' Sequel,' prepared by one of the authors of the present volume.* Instructors who wish to extend their own study and practice in elocution, are referred to the American Common-School Reader and Speaker,' 'Russell's American Elocutionist,' and the manual entitled 'Orthophony, or Vocal Culture in Elocution.'†

MODE OF USING THIS INTRODUCTION.

The routine of instruction, in the use of this volume, may be advantageously pursued as follows: —

1st. Before commencing the practice of a reading exercise, a portion of the orthoëpy should be repeated, as a daily exercise, even in circumstances which do not allow more time than may be requisite for a single rule or principle.

2d. A certain quantity of each reading exercise, should be practised for the proper pronunciation of the words; and all common errors should be carefully pointed out by the teacher.

3d. Every exercise should be preceded by an explanation of every word in it which is comparatively rare, or difficult to be understood. The pupils may be asked to give the sense of sentences, in their own words.

4th. The whole style of the reading should be kept perfectly distinct, by due attention to sufficient loudness, slowness, and appropriate pauses and emphasis. To these points should be added the natural changes of voice, required in the expression of feeling.

* Russell's Elementary Series and Sequel. The Sequel is graduated so as immedi ately to precede the present volume.

+ Compiled by J. E. Murdoch and William Russell.