Successful Recitations

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Successful Recitations, by Various, Edited by Alfred H. MilesThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: Successful RecitationsAuthor: VariousEditor: Alfred H. MilesRelease Date: December 22, 2005 [eBook #17378]Language: English***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUCCESSFUL RECITATIONS***E-text prepared by Roy BrownSUCCESSFUL RECITATIONSEdited byALFRED H. MILES1901"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of ourplayers do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines."—Hamlet. SHAKESPEARE.London:S. H. Bousfield & Co., Ld.,Norfolk House, Norfolk Street W.C.London:Printed by H. Virtue And Company, Limited.City Road.PREFACE.Many things go to the making of a successful recitation.A clear aim and a simple style are among the first of these: the subtleties which make the charm of much of the bestpoetry are lost in all but the best platform work. The picturesque and the dramatic are also essential elements; picturesare the pleasures of the eyes, whether physical or mental, and incident is the very soul of interest.The easiest, and therefore often the most successful, recitations are those which recite themselves; that is, recitations socharged ...