STRAY VERSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3297, 16 August 1911, Page 8

STRAY VERSE.

THE ART OF ELOCUTION. The noble songs of noble deeds of bravery or glory Are mufSh enhanced if they’re disclaimed with stirring oratory. I love sonorous words that roll like billows o’er the seas; - ... These I. recite like Cicero or like Demosthenes. And so, from every poem what m worthy I selectI use the phrases I like best, the others I reject; And thus, I claim that I have found the logical solution Of difficulties that attend the art of elocution. Whence comes these shrieks so wild and shrill? Across the sands o’ Dee? Lo, I will stand at thy right hand and keep the bridge with thee! For this was Tell a hero? For this did Gessler die? “The curse is come upon me!’’ said the Spider to the Fly. When Britain first- at Heaven’s command said: “Boatswain, do not tarry, The despot’s head is on thy shore, and while ye may, go marry.” Let dogs delight to bark and bite the British Grenadiers. Lars Persona of Clusium lay dying in Algiers! The sea! the sea! the open sea! Roll on, roll on, thou deep! Maxwelton braes are bonny, but Macbeth hath murdered sleep! Answer me. burning shades of night! what’s Hecuba to me? Alone stood brave Horatius! The boy—oh.: where was lie? —Carolyn Wells, in “Harper's Magazine.”