PREFACСЕ. This "Collection of Recitations" has, for its ap- Partly for my own convenience, but more par- To the habit of clipping from newspapers and PREFACE. This "Collection of Recitations" has, for its appearance, the same reasons that books of this order usually have the necessities and experiences of the class-room. Partly for my own convenience, but more particularly in response to the continual call made by students for something to recite, I have been induced to prepare the present work, and to present in an orderly collection a part of the large number of literary gems that have accumulated on my hands during my experience as a teacher. To the habit of clipping from newspapers and magazines, preserving political speeches and other articles of merit in my private scrap-books, I am indebted for many of the rare selections here found. This does not imply, however, that they are old and hackneyed, or have "lost their savor.' On the con trary, many of the pieces appear for the first time in the form of a declamation, and in some cases hundreds of pages have been read in order to secure a recitation of, perhaps, not more than three pages. Students will appreciate the fact that much of this work has been done amid the arduous demands of the classroom; and will derive an added pleasure in recogniz ing those selections which have won the medals in the various contests. Recitations suitable for children are also given, with the desire of making this book a valuable and effective aid to both teacher and pupil in Friday afternoon exercises and evening entertainments. While I feel justified in calling this a new book, I have not omitted some of those masterpieces of eloquence which, though old, never lose their interest, nor grow stale by repetition. ERMINE OWEN, Chair of History and Elocution. North Mo. State Normal School. |