"But here I stand and scoff you! here I fling Hatred and full defiance in your face."

Basing my classification on the principles laid down in Dr. Austin's" Chironomia" and the works of later authorities in France and England, I recognize nine attitudes for the

Attitudes of

the Head.

head in public speaking.

Erect.

The erect head is the natural position in repose, signifying respectful attention, earnestness of purpose, and the serenity of conscious power.

Illustration.

The whole continental struggle exhibited no sublimer spectacle than the last great effort of Napoleon to save his sinking empire. Europe had been put upon the plains of Waterloo to be battled for. The greatest military energy and skill the world possessed had been tasked to the utmost during the day. Thrones were tottering on the ensanguined field, and the shadows of fugitive kings flitted through the smoke of battle. Bonaparte's star trembled in the zenith, now blazing out in its ancient splendor, now suddenly paling before his anxious eye."

The bowed head indicates absorption of mind or purpose to the exclusion of passing events. It is the attitude of contempla

Bowed.

tion or of cunning stratagem or suspicion.

The elevated head is indicative of pride, exultation, and joy. It expresses the sentiments of a domineering and self-conscious

Elevated.

spirit.

"But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke:

My manors, halls, and bowers shall still
Be open, at my sovereign's will,
To each one whom he lists, howe'er
Unmeet to be the owner's peer;
My castles are my king's alone,
From turret to foundation stone,-
The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp

The hand of such as Marmion clasp.'

399

When turned toward an object, the head signifies interest or affection; turned away, it in- Turned dicates aversion or repulsion.

Horizontally.

"I acknowledge my sincere regard for the honorable gentleman who preceded me.

"Shall I bend low, and in a bondman's key,

Illustrations.

With 'bated breath and whispering humbleness, say

this:

'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;

You spurned me such a day; another time

You called me-dog; and for these courtesies

I'll lend you thus much monies ?' ''

The head inclined toward a person or object,

shows respectful attention; bent in the

opposite direction, critical distrust.

66

'Give me good proofs of what you have

alleged."

Inclined.

Illustrations.

"I acknowledge his greatness as a military leader, but I doubt the sincerity of his intentions."

"How like a fawning publican he looks."

The head pushed forward is expressive of hope, expectation, eagerness, and a desire to engage in some enterprise.

Pushed

Forward.

Illustrations.

"Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote! It is true, indeed, that, in the beginning, we aimed not at independence. But there is a Divinity which shapes our ends. The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and, blinded to her own interest for our good, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why, then, should we defer the declaration?"

The head drawn backward, with the chin pressed inward against the neck, indicates suspicion, fear, hatred, vengeance, and violent anger. This position of the head gives rise to the harsh guttural tones of rage and indignation.

Drawn Back.

66

'On the Earl's cheek the flush of rage

O'ercame the ashen hue of age:

Fierce he broke forth,- And dar'st thou then

To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas in his hall?

And hop'st thou hence unscathed to go?

No, by St. Bride of Bothwell, no!

Up, drawbridge, grooms!-What, warder, ho!
Let the portcullis fall.'

The head hanging downward exhibits physical weakness, consciousness of guilt, shame,

Hanging

Downward.

or remorse,

King Robert crossed both hands upon his breast And meekly answered him: Thou knowest best; My sins as scarlet are; let me go hence,

And in some cloistered school of penitence,

Illustration.

Across those stones that pave the way to heaven,
Walk barefoot, till my guilty soul be shriven.'''

The head is thrown backward in the death agony, in extreme exaltation, or in supreme suf- Thrown fering of mind or body.

"Oh, I die, Horatio;

Backward.

The potent poison quite o'er-crows my Illustrations. spirit."

66

By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is a-weary of this great world."

The Arms in Gesture-The Hand, Supine, Prone, Vertical, Clenched -Position, How Taken and Changed-Lines of Gestures-The Ictus-End of the Gesture-Illustrations, Table, and Selections for Practice.

THE

HE arms perform an important function in Gesture. They are freest to move of all the members of the body, and with the hands are the chief expositors of the public speaker's sign lan

The Arms.

guage. It is to the arms and hands,

then, that chief attention should be directed in the cultivation of effective Gesture.

the Arms.

When standing, the arms hang naturally by the side, and this may be termed the normal attitude. Attitudes of They are folded across the breast in contemplation, held behind the back in abstraction, raised above the head in threatening, and are placed akimbo in impersonation or contemptuous defiance.

For convenience in classification the movements of the arms in forming gestures will be considered under three divisions-the Shoulder, the Forearm, and the Hand.

Classification.