faults in delivery, such as drawling, whining, and a monotonous singing sound, result from a wrong formation of the slide, and may be anticipated or corrected by a proper course of practice on this element of speech.

A slide consists of two parts, viz.: the opening sound, and the vanish, or gradual diminution of force, until the sound is lost in silence. Three things are necessary to the perfect formation of a slide.

1st. The opening sound must be struck with a full and lively impulse of voice.

2d. The diminution of force must be regular and equable-not more rapid in one part than another, but naturally and gracefully declining to the last.

3d. The final vanish must be delicately formed, without being abrupt on the one hand, or too much prolonged on the other. Thus, a full opening, a gradual decrease, and a delicate termination are requisite to the perfect formation of a slide.

Let the pupils pronounce the following words with contrasted inflections, using great pains to form the slides in the manner just indicated:

1. Call', call; far', far'; fame', fame'; shame', shame'; air' air; scene', scene'; mile', mile'; pile', pile'.

2. Roam', roam'; tool', tool`; school', school'; pure', pure'; mule', mule'; join', join'; our', our'.

3. Land', land; barb', barb'; made', made'; tribe', tribe'; road', road; mood', mood'; tube', tube'; loud', loud.

4. Will', will; right', right'; hope', hope'; love', love'; prosper', prosper; higher', higher'; safety', safety'; power', power'; talents', talents'; wisdom', wisdom'; virtue', virtue'.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

1. Direct questions, or those that can be answered by yes, or no, usually require the rising inflection; but their answers, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Do you love that laughing child'? I do'.

2. Are those purple plums and red-cheeked peaches ripe'? Yes'.

3 May I eat some of the sweet grapes that hang in clusters by the wall'? Yes'.

4. Has any one sailed around the earth'? Yes', Captain Cook' 5. Will you forsake us'? and will you favor us no more'?

6. Is not this the carpenter's son'? and is not his mother called Mary'? and his brethren, James', and Joses', and Simon', and Judas'? and his sisters, are they not all with us'?

EXCEPTIONS. The falling inflection is required when the direct question becomes an earnest appeal, and the answer is anticipated; and when a direct question, not at first understood, is repeated with marked emphasis.

EXAMPLES.

1. Are you, my dear sir, willing to forgive'?

2. James, can you ever forget the kindness of your mother'? 3. Was the lady that first visited us as beautiful as the one that just left the house'?

4. Will her love survive your neglect and may` not you expect the sneers, both of your wife', and of her parents'?

5. Do you reside in the city'? What did you say, sir'? Do you reside in the city`?

6. Do you think peace and honor sweet words'? I beg your pardon, sir. Do you think peace and honor sweet words`?

2. Indirect questions, or those that can not be an swered by yes, or no, usually require the falling inflection, and their answers the same.

EXAMPLES.

1. Who can reward you for your kindness'?

2. Who will pay for those beautiful flowers'? My mother'. 3. Where can you see such rivers and lakes'? In America'. 4. Whose watch is this? and what do you suppose it might be bought for?

5. Whither have you led me'? and to whom do these beauti ful creatures belong?

6. Who said, "A wise man is never less alone than when he is alone?" Swift'.

EXCEPTIONS. The rising inflection is required when an indirect question is used to ask a repetition of what was not at first understood; and when the answers to questions, whether direct or indirect, are given in an indifferent or careless manner.

EXAMPLES.

1. What bird did you say that is'?

2. Whither did you say you would lead me'?

3. Where did you find those young birds'? In the meadow`. Where did you say'?

4. Shall I send James and Henry to visit you'? As you please'. 5. Will you be displeased if your friends desert you'? Not much'.

6. How many scholars did you see in the yard? Some fifteen or twenty'

3. Questions, words, and clauses, connected by the disjunctive or, usually require the rising inflection before, and the falling after it; though, when or is used conjunctively, it takes the rising inflection after, as well as before it.

EXAMPLES.

1. Did you do that kind act on the Sabbath day', or on Monday?

2. Does that beautiful lady deserve praise', or blame`?

3. It was large' or small', ripe' or unripe', sweet' or sour'. 4. You saw an old' man or a young man, a tall' man or a short' man.

5. Can youth', or health', or strength', or honor', or pleasure' satisfy the soul' ?

6. Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea'? or hast thou walked in search of the depths'? Hast thou an arm like God' or canst thou thunder like him'?

4. When words or clauses are contrasted or compared, the first part usually has the rising, and the last the falling inflection; though, when one side of the contrast is affirmed, and the other denied, generally the latter has the rising inflection, in whatever order they

occur.

EXAMPLES.

1. I have seen the effects of love' and hatred', joy' and grief hope' and despair'.

2. A wise' son maketh a glad father'; but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother'.

3. Men's words' are like leaves', and their deeds' like fruits`. 4. We should judge of others, not by our' light, but by their

own'.

5. The first object of a true zcal is that we may do right`, not that we may prosper'.

6. The supreme law of a State is not its safety', its power', its prosperity': there is a higher law, even Virtue', Rectitude', the Will of God'.

5. Familiar address, and the pause of suspension, denoting condition, supposition, or incompleteness, usually require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Officers', soldiers', friends', Americans', our country must be free.

2. If thine enemy hunger', give him bread to eat; if he thirst', give him water to drink.

3. To sit up late at night', to use intoxicating drinks', and to indulge evil passions', are things not permitted in this school.

4. Consider (and may the consideration sink deep into you heart'!) the fatal consequences of a wicked life.

5. The sun being risen', and the discourse being ended', we resumed our march.

6. His adventures', his toils', his privations', his sufferings, his hair-breadth escapes', and his struggles for victory and liberty', are all remembered.

6. The language of concession, politeness, admiration, entreaty, and tender emotions, usually requires the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Your remark is true': the manners of this country have not all the desirable ease and freedom'. We are improving, however, in this respect.

2. My dear sir', we ought not to be discouraged at the fickle, ness of fortune'.

3. O noble friend'! Thy self-denial is wonderful'! thy deeds of charity are innumerable'!. Never will I forget thee'!

4. Then Judah came near unto him, and said', O my lord', let thy servant', I pray thee', speak a word in my lord's ears', and let not thine anger burn against thy servant', for thou art even as Pharaoh'.

5. O my son Absalom'! my son', my son Absalom'! Would God I had died for thee', Absalom', my son', my son'!

7. The end of a sentence that expresses completeness, conclusion, or result, usually requires the falling slide of termination, which commences on the general pitch and falls below it; as, The rose is beautiful

EXAMPLES.

1. That industrious scholar has finished his task.

2. The great end of society is to give free scope to the exertions of all.

3. The idea of right can never be effaced from the human mind.

8. At each complete termination of thought, before the close of a sentence, the falling inflection is usually required; though, when several pauses occur, the last but one generally has the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Every human being has the idea of duty'; and to unfold this idea, is the end for which life was given him.