FEINBERG/WHITMAN LITERARY FILE Prose "On Elocution" [1886] A.M.S. draft. Box 34 Folder 9 [*Critic N Y March 20, '86*] HOLMES AND LOWELL AS READERS.— It were superfluous to say that the two gentlemen read well; but this may be said, that a part of the charm consisted in a demonstration that verse may be read without the regulation hitch, gasp, and quaver of voice to which everybody has been so well accustomed in the numerous platform readings of the period. That expression is possible without tremor or gush, or even appealing glances toward the ceiling, may confidently be asserted by all who had the pleasure of listening to these poets in their quotations from themselves. Yet in their methods there was a marked difference. If a vote had been taken as to which was the better method, it quite likely would have turned out to be a tie vote. Dr. Holmes, in his way, which has become familiar through his many contributions of original verse on literary occasions, put considerable of emphasis and a modicum of fire into his reading; as if he would make the words subsidiary as being the vehicles of his utterance. Mr. Lowell chose rather the monotone, with a clear-cut enunciation, as if his feelings were, 'If these words will not of themselves yield my meaning, then "perish the attempt."' He had to depart somewhat from this method, however, when it came to the reading of ' 'The Courtin',' and here his manner was mildly suggestive of that of his brother poet.— The Boston Advertiser. The Results of a Chemist's Experiments with Italian Air. London Letter in Boston Transcript. [*84*] I must now tell you the invention of Dr. Carter Moffat, called an ammoniaphone, which is intended to transmit Italian air into the lungs, and give every one who uses it an Italian voice. For nearly thirty years has Dr. Moffat experimented on all kinds of chemical materials to improve both the speaking and singing voice. Even when a boy he thought that Italian air must be the cause of the beauty of Italian voices, and, as he grew up and became a professor of chemistry, he made the subject his constant study, and never ceased his experiments on himself. Ten years ago he went to Italy, where he grew more than ever persuaded that Italian air made Italian voices. He analyzed this air, and discovered in it certain chemical compounds not previously known. On his return to Scotland he at once set about to produce and artificial air exactly like the natural air of Italy. His first lecture on the subject was more successful than any other ever known in Glasgow, either before or after. He then became so full of his invention that he resigned his professor's chair in Glasgow, and retired to work on a country farm, which be fitted up as a laboratory, and where he worked for nine years, sacrificing money, position, everything to his invention, which , in the opinion of scientific men, is destined to improve the tone, power and range of human voice, whether for speaking or singing. Dr. Moffat himself who use to have a poor, weak voice, has now a rich and powerful tenor voice, ranging nearly three octaves, and of the greatest purity, at the same time, as he lately proved at a public lecture. The medical press, strange to say, does not oppose the ammoniaphone, but wishes all kinds of success to it and to its inventor. According to Dr. Moffat, a weakened voice is restored to youthful freshness after a few weeks' use of the ammoniaphone. Musical instruments may also be improved, he says, by being steeped in the compound used in the ammoniaphone. It likewise, he continues, is as beneficial to weak chests and lungs as is Italian air itself. the money question, we are not responsible to the vagaries uv the party in Mishigan. Democratic Committeeman, Illinois.—Divide yoor campane fund into two ekal parts. Yoose half uv it in the saloons to help them out, and turn over 'tother half to the Prohibishen Committee to strengthen them. A vote for Hobbs in Illinoy is a half vote for Carter Harrison. Harrison hez the likker vote already, but the more money the more votes they kin make. It takes great deel uv money to keep the regler frekenter uv bars full for two months, and we hev to kerr em till the poles close in November. But dont forgit that the Prohibishen vote is jest ez important. Don't forgit that! Our strong pint is, that we hev both the saloons and the Prohibishonis workin for us; and ef we don't get thro with both these elemence it be will queer. Bull-Dozer, Miss—For God's sake hev some sense. Keep yoor shot-guns quiet on the nigger till the mornin of the elecshun. Wat good is shootin uv em now? Yoo ought to know that [t?] nooze will reach the North afore eleckshun, a we a -tryin to ketch the nigger vote! Postpo demonstrashens agin em till they come to t poles the mornin nv the eleckshun, and then, course, you kin do ez you please. Hev som sense, and don't embarrass us in the North. Puzzled.—I don't see how I kin help yoo out yoor dilemma. Yoe say yoo are in a Free-tra deestrick, with lots uv Irish votes in it. course, to urge; Free Trade, to the upbuildin the English manoofacturers, wont pleeze t Irish, and to advocate the exclushun uv British manoofactures, to pleeze the Irish, wood displease the Free-traders. It is a tite place. The on way out uv it is to dodge the question altogether and howl Know-Nothingism agin Blaine, a sale in heavy for civil service reform. Treat t other questions as tho they wuz out uv pollyt and merely lokle issues, as Hancock did when was runnin. I hev a bushel or more ov letters to anser, b ez none uv em contaned the rekisit stamps no tention will be pade to em. I am willin to yoo my time in the coz, but I must hev suthin on wich to sustane life while I am doing uv it. An while I am about it, I may say that there is in human nacher a fathomless depravity, an unboun depth uv meannis, which is discouragin. Tw stamps which cum to me hed bin yoosed, and w consekently wuthlis. To get rid uv em I hed. wait till after nite and pass em off onto Basc wich, by candlelite, he coodent see the ca mark. But the next morning he diskivere forced me to take em back, and It seems a severe thing to say, but there is point of view from which the greatest poet, dramatist or author is merely the supplier of a [dead] framework or fund of dead words, into which the [truly great] perfect elocutionist shall breathe the breath of vitality and [they] make them become living bodies and souls. To this point of view the perfect reciter or actor is at least not inferior to the most perfect composer Nay, there is a tenable point of view from which the, best declamatory, recitative, or dramatic compositions — even Shakespeare’s — [can] are to be considered not on their own merits but as mainly for the exploitation of first rate actors, actresses, and readers — as [the] dead skeletons, [which] until those [are to enter in] enter into and supply written life, voice, action, emotion 1112 1886 On Elocution. A.MS. (2p. 10 1/4 x 12.8, 16 1/2 x 13.2 cm., with 2 clippings) Written in ink in two pieces of stationery cut from a discarded letter (verso blank), 77 and 62 words: It seems a severe thing to say, but there is a point of view from which the greatest poet, dramatist or author is merely the supplier of the [dead] frame-work or fund of dead words, into which the [truly great] perfect elocutionist shall breathe the breath of vitality and [they] make them become living bodies and souls. To this point of view the perfect reciter or actor is at least nor inferior to the most perfect composer. Nay, there is a tenable point of view from which the best declamatory, recitative, or dramatic compositions--even Shakespeare's -- [can] are to be considered, not on their own merits, but as mainly for the exploitation of first-rate actors, actresses, and readers --as [the] dead skeletons, [which] until these [are to enter on] enter into and supply with life, voice, action, emotion (over) 1113 Accompanying are two clippings, one from a newspaper, 'The Result of a Chemist's Experiments with Italian Air ' (London Letter in Boston Transcript), on which WW has written in red ink: '84 The other from a periodical, 'Holmes and Lowell as Readers' (Boston Advertiser) on which WW has written in red ink: Critic N Y March 20 '86 ---------------- These two clippings inspired WW's notes on elocution. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.