4. O it is terrible, that in this beautiful world which the good God has given us, and in which there is plenty for us all, men should die of starvation! When a man dies of disease he alone endures the pain. Around his pillow are gathered sympathizing friends, who, if they cannot keep back the deadly messenger, cover his face and conceal the horrors of his visage as he delivers his stern mandate. In battle, in the fullness of his pride and strength, little recks the soldier whether the hissing bullet sings his sudden requiem, or the cords of life are severed by the sharp steel. 5. But he who dies of hunger wrestles alone, day by day, with his grim and relentless enemy. He has no friends to cheer him in the terrible conflict; for if he had friends, how could he die of hunger? He has not the hot blood of the soldier to maintain him; for his foe, vampire-like, has exhausted his veins. Famine comes not up, like a brave enemy, storming, by a sudden onset, the fortress that resists. Famine besieges. He draws his lines round the doomed garrison. He cuts off all supplies. He never summons to surrender, for he gives no quarter. 6. Alas, for poor human nature! how can it sustain this fearful warfare? Day by day the blood recedes, the flesh deserts, the muscles relax, and the sinews grow powerless. At last the mind, which at first had bravely nerved itself against the contest, gives way under the mysterious influences which govern its union with the body. Then the victim begins to doubt the existence of an overruling Providence. He hates his fellow-men, and glares upon them with the longing of a cannibal; and, it may be, dies blaspheming. 7. This is one of those cases in which we may without impiety assume, as it were, the function of Providence. Who knows but that one of the very objects of this calamity is to test the benevolence and worthiness of us upon whom unlimited abundance is showered? In the name, then, of common humanity, I invoke your aid in behalf of starving Ireland. He who is able, and will not aid such a cause, is not a man, and has no right to wear the form. He should be sent back to Nature's mint, and re-issued as a counterfeit on humanity of Nature's baser metal. EXAMPLE: REVERENCE AND D ́VOTION. God the True Source of Consolation. THOMAS MOORE. 1. O Thou who driest the mourner's tear, If, when deceived and wounded here, 2. The friends who in our sunshine live 3. But thou wilt heal the broken heart, 4. When joy no longer soothes or cheers, A moment's sparkle o'er our tears, 5. O who could bear life's stormy doom, Come brightly wafting through the gloom, 6. Then sorrow, touched by thee, grows bright As darkness shows us worlds of light QUESTIONS. 1. What is the topic of this lesson? 2. Define Moderate Force. 3. Illustrate it. 4. Illustrate the difference between Subdued and Moderate Force. 5. Should the exercises in Force be practiced always on the same pitch? 6. Explain and illustrate how the pitch should be varied. 7. When is Moderate Force combined with Pure Tone, Expulsive Form, appropriately employed? 8. When with Effusive Form, Orotund? 9. When with Expulsive Form, Orotund? 5. Selections. "Modulation." "Appeal in Behalf of Ireland." "Gcd the True Source of Consolation." 1. The measure of man is mind. 2. Your pleasure shall be the law. Energetic Force. Energetic is that degree of Force heard in bold, earnest, excited conversation. Practice the following exercises, repeating each sound, word, and sentence nine times, increasing the force with each repetition, but retaining the same pitch with which each is begun. DIAGRAM OF SUBDUED, MODERATE, AND ENERGETIC FORCE. EXERCISES For Cultivating Subdued, Moderate, and Energetic Force. Combining Form, Quality, Subdued, Moderate, and Energetic Force. Repeat each of the above sentences with 1. Effusive Form, Pure Tone, Subdued Force. 6. Expulsive Form, Aspirate, Moderate Force. 7. Expulsive Form, Orotund, Moderate Force. 8. Effusive Form, Orotund, Energetic Force. 9. Expulsive Form, Pure Tone, Energetic Force. 10. Expulsive Form, Aspirate, Energetic Force. 11. Expulsive Form, Orotund, Energetic Force. 12. Explosive Form, Pure Tone, Energetic Force. ENERGETIC FORCE-WHEN USED. The Energetic is the appropriate degree of Force, combined with Orotund, Effusive Form, for the expression of profound sublimity, grandeur, reverence, adoration, and devotion; with Pure Tone, Expulsive and Explosive Forms, for the expression of joy, gladness, and mirth; with Orotund, Expulsive Form, for the delivery of strong, forcible, argumentative, senatorial, political, and judicial speeches, orations, and sermons. In the following selection the passages expressing sublimity, grandeur, and awe require a blending of the Orotund and Aspirate. EXAMPLE: DEEP SOLEMNITY, SUBLIMITY, AND AWE. Energetic Force, Orotund and Aspirate, Effusive Form. The Closing Year. PRENTICE. 1. 'Tis midnight's holy hour, and silence now Is brooding, like a gentle spirit, o'er The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds Is sweeping past; yet, on the stream and wood, |