145. ACCIDENTAL ELEMENTS.

1. The Accidents are those elements of vocal expression which, though occurring at intervals, are not found in all sentences.

2. Every thought must be expressed in some Quality, with some degree of Force, a prevailing Stress, a general Pitch and with appropriate Movement; while the same thought as a whole, may or may not require the elements termed accidents, to render it correctly.

3. The Essential Elements modify the general thought as expressed in the words composing the sentence taken as a whole; while the Accidental Elements turn the minds of the hearers for the time to the individual idea contained in a word or phrase.

1. Quantity is the time occupied in the utterance of single syllables or words.

2. Quantity should not be confounded with Volume. A syllable may be long in quantity without being great in volume. Long Quantity signifies a prolongation of

an elementary sound, which must necessarily be a continuant. Full Volume signifies fullness or rotundity of sound, and may or may not accompany Long Quantity.

3. Words singly and collectively stand for ideas, and often a single word, appropriately uttered, conveys a meaning that an entire sentence otherwise spoken would fail to express; accordingly, words are uttered in LONG, SHORT or MEDIUM QUANTITY, according to the significance or intensity of the ideas they are employed to express.

4. It is the application of this principle― coupled with the proper movement and pauses that gives such majesty and power to the rendition of Shakespeare's great compositions, when such a master artist as a Macready, Kean or Booth throws his conceptions into the delivery.

147. LONG QUANTITY.

Long Quantity is an indefinite prolongation of single syllables and words.

148. LAW OF USE.

Long Quantity is applied to words of dignity and strength, according to the intensity of sentiment and attendant circumstances, in the expression of tenderness, reverence, adoration, solemnity, sublimity, shouting, calling and commanding.

149. Examples: TENDERNESS

REVERENCE.

71.

[From "Claribel's Prayer." — Linde Palmer.]

The day, with cold, gray feet, clung shivering to the hills,
While o'er the valley still night's rain-fringed curtains fell;
But waking Blue Eyes smiled, "'Tis ever as God wills;
He knoweth best; and be it rain or shine, 'tis well.
Praise God!" cried always little Claribel.

Then sank she on her knees, with eager, lifted hands;
Her rosy lips made haste some dear request to tell:
"Oh Father, smile, and save this fairest of all lands,
And make her free, whatever hearts rebel.
Amen! Praise God!" cried little Claribel.

66 And, Father,"

- still arose another pleading prayer, "O, save my brother, in the rain of shot and shell; Let not the death-bolt, with its horrid, streaming hair, Dash light from those sweet eyes I love so well.

"But, Father, grant that when the glorious fight is done, And up the crimsom sky the shouts of Freedom swell, Grant that there be no nobler victor 'neath the sun

Than he whose golden hair I love so well.

Amen! Praise God!" cried little Claribel.

When the gray and dreary day shook hands with grayer night,

The heavy air was filled with clangor of a bell.

"O, shout!" the herald cried, his worn eyes brimmed with

light;

""Tis victory! O, what glorious news to tell!"

"Praise God! He heard my prayer," cried Claribel.

66

'But, pray you, soldier, was my brother in the fight? And in the fiery rain? O, fought he brave and well?” "Dear child," the herald cried, "there was no braver sight Than his young form, so grand 'mid shot and shell.” "Praise God!" cried trembling little Claribel.

"And rides he now with victor's plumes of red,

While trumpet's golden throats his coming steps foretell?" The herald dropped a tear. "Dear child," he softly said, "Thy brother evermore with conquerors shall dwell.” "Praise God! He heard my prayer," cried Claribel.

"With victors wearing crowns and bearing palms,” he said, A snow of sudden fear upon the rose lips fell;

"O, sweetest herald, say my brother lives," she plead. "Dear child, he walks with angels, who in strength excel, Praise God, who gave this glory, Claribel."

The cold, gray day died sobbing on the weary hills,

While bitter mourning on the night wind rose and fell. “O, child,” the herald wept, "'tis as the dear Lord

wills:

He knoweth best, and, be it life or death, 'tis well." "Amen! Praise God!" sobbed little Claribel.

SUBLIMITY - GRANDEUR.

72.

["Bugle Song." Tennyson.]

The splendor falls on castle walls,
And snowy summits old in story;

The long light shakes across the lakes,

And the wild cataract leaps in glory.

Blow, bugle, blow; set the wild echoes flying;

Blow, bugle; answer, `echoes, dying, dying, dying.

O hark, O hear! how thin and clear,
And thinner, clearer, farther going;
O sweet and far, from cliff and scar,

The horns of Elf-land faintly blowing!
Blow; let us hear the purple glens replying;
Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.

O love, they die, in yon rich sky,

They faint on field, on hill, on river;
Our echoes roll from soul to soul,

And grow forever and forever.

Blow, bugle, blow; set the wild echoes flying,
And answer, echoes, answer, dying, dying, dying.

Warriors! The flower of heaven! once yours, now lost, If such astonishment as this can seize eternal spirits, Awake, arise, or be forever fallen!

150. SHORT QUANTITY.

Short Quantity is the sharp, quick utterance of syllables and words.

151. LAW OF USE.

Short Quantity is characteristic of excitement and impatience, and is used in the expression of great joy, mirth, command, sudden anger, revenge and violent hate.