"MR CHARLES R. READ, from Vermont, called upon us, and read as fluently as any one. Eight weeks since we conversed with the same gentleman, and he could not articulate a sentence without stammering badly. He had been afflicted from his infancy. His mother stammered, and he has a sister who is also subject to the same infirmity. Mr. Read tells us he intends to send her to the care of Dr. Comstock, who has been so successful in his own case. We look upon it as doing stammerers a kindness, by constantly keeping them advised of such important facts."-Saturday Courier. From the Philadelphia Gazette, October 5, 1839. VOCAL GYMNASTICS. We attended an exhibition of DR. COMSTOCK's class of stammerers last evening, at the Temperance Hall, N. L., and were much pleased with the exercises. We believe that Dr. C.'s system is well calculated to accomplish the very desirable relief so much needed by those afflicted with a hesitancy of speech. One individual, who had been under tuition but nine days, gave ample testimony of the efficiency of the system. From the Pennsylvania Inquirer, Philadelphia, Nov. 22, 1839. A STAMMERER CURED. We were called upon yesterday by a gentleman of Bradford county, Pa., thirty-seven years of age, who, until within a month, had been an inveterate stammerer from childhood. A few weeks since, however, he was induced to place himself under the care of Doctor Comstock, of this city, who speedily effected a perfect cure. The gentleman called upon us to illustrate the excellence of the system, in his own case; and, also, with the object of making some public acknowledgment of the great and important benefit that had been conferred. He spoke with ease and fluency, and recited one or two passages of poetry, with taste and discrimination. Those of our citizens, however, who desire the most satisfactory evidence of the effects of this sys tem, are invited to visit the Musical Fund Hall, on Monday evening next, when Dr. Comstock and his class of stammerers will give a variety of exer. cises and recitations. From the Public Ledger, November 25, 1839. Dr. Comstock's exhibition of Vocal Gymnastics takes place at the Musical Fund Hall, this evening, November 25, at half-past seven o'clock.-It gives us pleasure to recommend the Doctor's system of instruction, which, after cool examination, we believe to be excellent and unrivalled. The performances of his pupils, who were formerly stammerers, are truly astonishing.— Let every one judge for himself. We were pleased to see his former exhibition, at Temperance Hall, attended by a crowd of ladies and gentlemen. From the North American, Philadelphia, March 19, 1840. Dr COMSTOCK left with us yesterday for exhibition, one of his charts representing the mouth in every form and position which it seems to be enabled to assume in the enunciation of sounds. Attached to it are scales for the modulation of the voice, which are of great service to the student. The success which has attended Dr. Comstock's instructions, has been of the most striking character. From the Philadelphia Gazette, March 21, 1840. Dr. COMSTOCK, elocutionist of this city, has published a large chart, mounted on rollers and varnished, entitled A Table of the Elements of the English Language." This table condenses, as it were, the instruction of a half years' study, in the useful and requisite art of elocution. It should be hung up in the library of every orator, or every one who would be an orator, whether of the Pulpit or the Bar. If one is naturally an orator, it will assist in developing those powers; if he is not, an assiduous study of the chart will make him one. Pebbles helped DEMOSTHENES, until the wide round world was vocal with his name; and why should not a map of mounted eloquence do the same, to some one in the nineteenth century? From the Pennsylvanian, March 24, 1840. ELOCUTION. Dr. Comstock, of this city, has published a large chart mounted upon rollers, entitled "A Table of the Elements of the English Language." This Table gives, in a condensed form, and as it were, at a single view, the principles upon which Dr. Comstock's system of instruction in elocution is founded, and as he is eminently successful in making good speakers, and in curing defects in articulation, the chart will doubtless be found very serviceable both to his pupils and to others. From the Inquirer, Philadelphia, March 30, 1840. Dr. COMSTOCK'S TABLE.-Dr. Andrew Comstock, of this city, has published a Table of the Elements of the English Language, which appears to us admirably suited to facilitate boys in their exercises of reading and improvement of gesticulation. For stammerers, and those affected with impediments of speech, it possesses great merit. Indeed, the chart is particularly calcu lated for schools, and embodies, in a single sheet, an entire system, very sim. ple in its operation, and the result of years of labour. Dr. Comstock has de. servedly acquired much reputation, in Philadelphia, as a successful teacher in the particular branch to which he devotes his attention. From the United States Gazette, Philadelphia, April 15, 1840. Dr. COMSTOCK has issued a large sheet, containing the Elements of the English Language, with illustrations of the mode of uttering simple and compound sounds, figures exemplifying the gestures for certain recitations, and mots or notes for the pitch and government of the voice in reading; the lat ter in accordance with Dr. Rush's system of the human voice. Dr. Comstock has been eminently successful as a teacher of elocution, be cause he teaches radically; and, as a curer of stuttering, we believe Dr. C nas never been excelled. From the World, Philadelphia, March 20, 1839. DR COMSTOCK.-We have received from the author a small pamphlet, containing a Lecture on Elocution, with remarks on stammering, delivered before the American Lyceum in this city, on the 6th of May, 1837, by Dr. Comstock. He is well known in this city, as remarkably successful in the cure of all defects in speech, and also for teaching elocution upon philosophical principles. His school contains pupils from various and distant parts of the country, resorting to him for the cure of stammering and other vocal defects. He has published a work on Practical Elocution, the perusal of which will show that his lessons are important to others besides those afflicted with stammering; for all public speakers, whether lawyers, preachers or politicians, will derive advantages from observing his rules. The voice, like any other part of the system connected with voluntary muscular action, is susceptible of cultivation. It is regulated by a very complicated system of muscles, and must therefore be more or less under command, in proportion to the control of the individual over these muscles. Why are the muscles of a blacksmith's striking arm larger than those of his holding arm? Because they are more exercised. Why have porters, stage drivers, and those whose legs are most exercised, larger femoral and crural muscles, than people of sedentary.habits? For the same reason. Then if one set of muscles is improved by cultiva tion, so may be another; and therefore, as the voice is regulated by muscular action, it must necessarily be improved by proper exercise. This theory, which, as every anatomist knows, is founded on fact, explains the whole system of stammering and other vocal defects. They proceed from paralysis, weakness, or other causes, producing want of control over the vocal muscles. Such defects in the leg or arm, produce lameness in these limbs. Similar defects or infirmities in the vocal muscles, must produce lameness of the voice. This point established, the indication of cure is obvious. It consists in restoring activity to the vocal muscles by exercise, by cultivation Singers never stammer, and stammering is often cured by singing. Why? Because singing gives active exercise to the vocal muscles. But it will not always cure stammering, because the defect may be in certain muscles which singing cannot reach, or reach with sufficient force. To supply the deficiency, we need the professor of elocution, who understands the voice anatomically, physiologically, and pathologically, or in other words, who understands the structure, actions, and diseases of the parts of the human system subservient to the voice. Dr. Comstock has particularly studied this subject, and his success as a practitioner proves that he has studied it faithfully. I most cheerfully endorse the preceding certificates relative to Dr. Comstock's success in removing impediments of speech. Having spent several weeks in his Gymnasium, for the purpose of improving my voice, and of removing an impediment to which I had always been more or less subject, I am able to speak both from observation and experience. I consider his system of vocal gymnastics eminently fitted to accomplish the end designed: viz. to bring the organs of speech, by a thorough course of drilling, entirely under the control of volition. True it is, that much energy and perseverance, as well as time and patience, are necessary on the part of the afflicted in order to be entirely relieved. But I am confident that where there is no mal-formation of the vocal organs, an entire cure may be effected. F. W. FISK. Philadelphia, Avril 27th, 1840. DR. COMSTOCK'S VOCAL GYMNASIUM, No. 102 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. THIS INSTITUTION, which has been in successful operation since 1828. is designed for the PROMOTION OF HEALTH, the CURE OF STAMMERING and DEFECTIVE ARTICULATION, for INSTRUCTION IN ELOCUTION AND PHONETICS, and for the ACQUISITION OF ANCIENT AND MODERN LANGUAGES. . In this Institution, Elocution is treated as a science. as well as an art. The various movements of the voice, both in speech and song. are illustrated by original diagrams and by oral instruction. The exercises give the pupil complete command of the muscles of articulation. extend the compass of the voice, and render it smooth, powerful, and melodious. They not only call forth all the energies of the vocal organs, correct stammering. lisping, and other impediments of speech, but they invigorate the lungs, and, consequently, fortify them against the invasion of disease. The vocal exercises are not unfrequently accompanied by gesticulation, or the use of the dumb-bells. Hence, to a certain extent, general gymnastics are associated with those of the voice; and awkwardness of manner and posture is removed by the substitution of rhetorical grace. In other words, all the voluntary muscles of the trunk and limbs are so trained as to move in the order required by the will, synchronously and harmoniously with those of the voice. 15 15 Instruction in Elocution, in the evening class.. 30 lessons, each 1 h. 30 min.... The ticket, in each case, to be paid for in advance. Board, in the Institution, from $5 to $10 per week, in advance. No one can become a pupil in the Vocal Gymnasium, who spits on the floor, or is not otherwise cleanly in his habit-no member of the Institution is allowed to use tobacco in any form. ANDREW COMSTOCK, M.D, PRINCIPAL, No. 102 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa. PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, No. 102 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. Comstock's System of Elocution, with special reference to Gesture, to the Treatment of Stammering, and Defective Articulation; comprising nearly 300 Diagrams and Engraved Figures illustrative of the subject. Price, $1; postage, 17 cents. Comstock's Phonetic Speaker, a reprint of the System of Elocution, in the Author's Perfect Alphabet. Price, $1; postage, 17 cents. Comstock's Phonetic Reader; consisting of a Selection of Pieces, Classical and Moral, in Prose and Verse, in both the Old and the New Alphabet. Designed for Schools, as well as for individuals, whether natives or foreigners, who wish to acquire the true pronunciation of the English Language. Price, $1; postage, 17 cts. Comstock's Phoneticon, a large Chart, comprising-first, the Elementary Sounds of the English Language-second, numerous Engravings, showing the best posture of the mouth, in the energetic utterance of the elements-third, a Perfect Alphabet, graphic and typic-fourth, Exercises in Pitch, Force, and Melody-fifth, Exercises in Gesture. Mounted on rollers. Price, $3. Comstock's System of Vocal Gymnastics-a Key to the Phoneticoncomprising Exercises in Articulation, Pitch, Force, Melody, Modulation, and Gesture; arranged as they are practised in the Author's Vocal Gymnasium. Price, 25 cents; postage, 3 cents. Comstock's Phonetic Minstrel; consisting of Original Songs, in the New, as well as in the Old Alphabet, set to Music. Price 12 cents; postage, 1 cent. My Little Geography, in Comstock's Perfect Alphabet, comprising more than 50 Engravings. Edited by Mrs. Tuthill. Price, 25 cents; postage, 5 cents. Epitome Historiæ Sacræ, on an improved plan, with an Interlinear Translation. Designed as a Primary Book in the study of the Latin Language. Edited by A. Comstock, M. D. Price, $1; postage, 25 cents. Pope's Homer's Iliad, Book I., with an Essay on Homer, and copious Foot-notes-126 octavo pages. Price, 50 cents; postage, 7 cents. The New Testament, in Comstock's Perfect Alphabet-397 octavo pagessubstantially bound. Price, $1.25; postage, 28 cents. Comstock's Phonetic Magazine, in two volumes, neatly bound in muslin. Comstock's Phonetic Telegraph. Price, 50 cents; postage, 10 cents. Price, 12 cents; postage, 4 vents. [Dr. C. is preparing, for publication, An Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language-the pronunciation to be given in phonetic characters. As the pronunciation will be in the New Alphabet, this Dictionary will answer all the purposes of a Phonetic Dictionary, as well as those of a common Dictionary.] All orders for the above works must be accompanied with the cash, and di- rected to |