Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1907 — How to Speak Correctly. [ARTICLE]

How to Speak Correctly.

Say the alphabet aloud, and when you have finished ask yourself if every letter would be perfectly distinct and Intelligible to any one who might be listening. Here lies the fundamental principle of all speaking. Every element of every spoken word should be distinct jund Intelligible. In repeating the alphabet each letter ought to make a perfect escape from the lips of the speaker. Does it make such au escape when you say it? Do you send It out vigorously? Watch yourself as you speak each letter and see what happens to It- If it gives you the sense of hanging about your lips, or if it does not seem absolutely to separate itself from you, or if it drops into your throat, say it again and will it to go boldly out. Try to think of it as beiug out* side yourself as a thing apart. Wbel you succeed ln thinking of it ln this way. If you don’t care for words or if you have never thought about them, you will have taken the first step toward the mastery of good speech. Tc speak well you must love words and their elements. You must love individual letters—Harper’s Bazar. Frankness. “I believe ln being absolutely frank with everybody,” said the aggressive man. “Well,” answered the peaceable citizen, “I suppose that sort of thing is largely a matter of temperament. If I were as good a hand in a fight as you are, maybe Td be that way too.”— Washington Star.