INSPIRATORY MOVEMENTS.

1. Lateral expansion of chest.

2. Vertical expansion of chest.
3. Side expansion.

4. Back expansion.

5. Abdominal expansion.

6. Waist expansion.

7. Waist and chest expansion combined.
8. Inhalation prolonged to the utmost.
9. Full inhalation in quickest possible time.

CHAPTER I.

RESPIRATION.

In elocution, mastery of the breath is a fundamental and essential condition of success.

The great actor, Talma, in his earlier efforts would, in the more violent passages, so exhaust himself that he would drop against the wings for support. One day he saw Dorival play in a part requiring much energy. He noticed that Dorival seemed to work with "How does the man do it!" was his exclamation. "I am ten times stronger than he, but he gets ten times less tired than I."

ease.

He asked Dorival why it was, but got no satisfaction.

Determining to know his secret, Talma, in disguise, visited Dorival's next performance. During the second act Talma rushed out crying, "I've got it!" It was by skillful management of breath that Dorival husbanded his strength. His lungs were kept well supplied with air and his breath was given out economically.

TEACHERS.

Ah! how much weariness would be spared the teachers in our public schools, did they understand this matter of breath economy!

DIVINES.

How many ministers might escape Monday morning prostration if they only understood the same!

Breathing exercises, moreover, are medicinal. Through them the feeblest circulation is quickened; cold hands and feet grow warm; the pallid face flushes; the sluggish pores will open, and the body will be thrown into

a gentle perspiration. By them pure air is driven into lung-cells; weak lungs are enlarged and strengthened; indigestion is removed, and the entire being is invigorated.

BREATHING.

DIRECTIONS.

It is

Fill the lungs quickly, deeply, reposefully. not necessary to lift the shoulders nor to gasp. The air will go into the lungs by virtue of its own weight, if given an opportunity.

Do not try to keep the lungs over-extended with air. That is unnatural and tiresome, and cripples speech.

INHALATIONS.

Practice prolonging the inhalation to the utmost. Beginners rarely succeed in surpassing twenty seconds in their early efforts. A few weeks, with ten minutes practice each day, will enable the student to reach a full minute in a single inhalation.

EXHALATIONS.

Practice prolonged exhalations, after a quick, full inhalation.

After a quick, deep inhalation, give out the breath expulsively, prolonging it to the utmost. Take six such exercises in rapid succession, unless interrupted by dizziness, by faintness, or by palpitation of the heart. In such cases, cease the exercise for a time, but resume and re-resume until such symptoms wholly vanish.

Inhaling as above, give out the breath explosively. Repeat the effort a half dozen times, taking great care to open well the throat before expelling the breath. Otherwise the throat would be irritated by this practice. For those who are accustomed to reading and speaking with congested throats, producing, as it in

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variably must, sore throat, the above practice will prove highly beneficial.

Inhale noiselessly. To see a reader or speaker struggling, or to hear him gurgling over his inspirations, is most disagreeable. There are tragic, or deeply emotional passages, in the skillful rendering of which, audible inhalation enhances the effect. In this matter let "discretion be your tutor."

WASTE NO BREATH.

Reading and speaking demand so much vitality that the strongest have no breath to fritter away. Convert all that escapes into voice, and you have learned the secret which Talma sought. That is the key-note to repose and reserve force.

LUNGS.

1. With tape measure around bust at rest, see how many inches in circumference you can expand. Repeat six times.

WAIST.

2. With tape around the waist at rest, inhale, noting the amount of expansion. In this exercise the lungs are lengthened vertically, their pushing down accounting, in great part, for the waist enlargement.

SIDES.

3. With fingers spread upon the sides, inhale deeply, swelling the costal muscles as much as possible. Repeat six times. Shoulders still. Chest passive.

BACK.

4. Spreading fingers upon the back, take full inhalation six times, noting each time the effect on the dorsal muscles. Quiet shoulders. Passive lungs.