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Show GOOD READERS All enjoy hearing a good reader. Yet it is not regarded us an accomplishment. accom-plishment. Our eons pry among Greek roots and the intricacies of mathematics for years; our daughters daugh-ters thump the piano until life becomes be-comes almost a burden, and but seldom sel-dom give thought, or make an attempt, at-tempt, to perlect themselves in control of the human voice in articulation, modulation and the art ot reading.' The subject is one greatly negleoted iu the common schools. We very much doubt whether our modern schools, wbich claim such improve-' ment over the old methods; produce1 as good readers or spellers. If we criticise the reading in the schools, what shall we say of the public, speakers and ministers? To have some beautiful hymn, full of poetic fire aud inciting to love and worship, mangled and torn to pieces by the lips and tongue and teeth of the minister is just what you can hear in more than one-half of the pulpits. Sitting ami-1 oua and expectant in the audience room of one of Chicago's most eminent emi-nent divines, -not more than one half the distance back from the stage, we saw the Bible read, we saw the 1 ps move in the opening prayer. The announcements for the week were read, and not a single sentence was heard or understood. We have no idea the' minister was aware -ol 1 the fact that be did not open his mouth. : He might have read the words, "H that hath ears to hear, let him hear ' but how oould one hear when the miniatfr was but whispering the blessed word to a few on the front seats? As the same minister warmed to hia work, he opened his mouth, and- bis eloquent words and sentences reached every part of Ihe great audience. We believe the devil likrs the bible to be read in that way. We have, a reverence for its truths, nnd we think there are but few ministers min-isters who would wilfully or knowingly give clear expression to their own thoughts in the aermon while they mangled and mumbled tho reading of the scriptures. To come hack to our text, we think our educators should see to it that more attention is paid to the beautiful accomplishment of rending. Tne scholars in the common com-mon school, in the academy and college, col-lege, should have a drill daily in this exercise, even if Latin and logarithms aud music are in a measure sacrificed. sacri-ficed. Dancing and music, fancy work and scholarship, in the sciences are all right enough, but let us be careful to not neglect this much-needed much-needed accomplishment. Chicago Times. |