LETTER-BOX. A WORD FROM MISS BANCROFT. WILL ILL you kindly allow me to correct a misrepresentation which appeared in your January issue? In that number Mr. Henry G. Schneider defends the course of work in physical training formerly taught by Dr. J. Gardner Smith in the New York public schools, from criticisms made upon it by Miss Ada F. Thayer. In this defence Mr. Schneider says: "So far is Miss Bancroft from sharing Miss Thayer's opinion of Dr. Smith, that she wrote to him the next day [after an exhibit of work at the TwentySecond Regiment Armory ], acknowledging the superiority of his methods and asking for information." Mr. Schneider evidently gathered an erroneous impression from a letter which I wrote to Dr. Smith about the time mentioned. It is now so long since the occurrence that I do not recall the wording of the letter, but I certainly did not acknowledge the superiority of Dr. Smith's methods in school-exercises, for I have never regarded them as superior. As I recollect the circumstances, I wrote to ask Dr. Smith some technical questions about his work and took advantage of the opportunity to congratulate him upon what I regarded as the admirable features in the exhibit of his work. These features were the beautiful appearance which the children presented, and more especially the manner in which he marshaled his classes on and off the floor of the armory. This was truly remarkable, and I was glad to say so, as I have known Dr. Smith. professionally, for a number of years, and always very pleasantly, however our opinions might differ. This commendation, however, was very different from expressing the same enthusiasm for the method or principles in the exercises which followed the taking places on the floor. On these methods and principles I differ from Dr, Smith very radically, particularly in the use of forced memoriter drills, which I strongly deprecate. I also believe in different principles of progression to guide the selection and arrangement of exercises. I therefore do not wish to appear as acknowledging the superiority of his methods," and am sorry if either the Doctor or Mr. Schneider so interpreted my letter. Allow me to correct Mr. Schneider on one more point. The exhibition of work to which he refers was in no sense a competitive exhibit. It has been customary at the annual meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Physical Education to devote one evening to an exhibit of the various systems and methods of work A PLEA FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. In the proceedings of The Werner Society, published in the December No.. my attention was particularly called to the manner in which Alfred Ayres was checked in his remarks concerning one of the meetings of the National Association of Elocutionists. It seems to me much wiser and more just to hear a man through to the close of his remarks, even if he does say something very unpleasant, unless it is (considering all The most things) positively out of order. wholesome truths are often the least palatable. I see that the barbers desire State legislation, defining the term "barber," and restricting the use of the ancient and honorable title to those who come up to certain legal requirements. Here is the chance for the elocutionist who desires to elevate his profession. Let the elocutionists join hands with the barbers, and march to victory, hand in hand, amid the scorn of the envious butchers and tailors and peanut vendors, who have not yet acquired a legal status. Surely, that which has been achieved by the plumber, the doctor and the lawyer should be attained by the barber and the elocutionist. New York. us. Impartial Observer. In my work in the Michigan Seminary last year I adapted Scarf Fantastics which your Holiday Number of '95 gave to I did not use it in its entirety. In my opinion, the emotional tableaux found in it are inharmonious with the stars, triangles, ladders, etc. I used the latter as a basis, and enlarged upon the idea suggested by them, introducing more of their kind, and originating others which I thought preserved the symmetry of the whole. I used it to represent the muse Urania (Astronomy) in the program, "An Evening with the Muses," in which my pupils assisted. Calliope (Oratory) was presented to the audience by a rendering of an extract from Henry Ward Beecher's "Twenty-third Psalm," in which the twenty-third psalm was introduced. This selection was given after a short analysis of oratory, viz,, pulpit, patriotic, political, the oratory of Marc Antony, the Greeks, etc. Again your Holiday Number served for the thought and the last stanza of "A Union" was embodied in the prelude of the example of pulpit oratory. ers. " I have been in the habit, while a student, and as a teacher and a reader, of keeping a diary, in which I recorded notes of teachBrilliants I have pages which I call from Brown" (Moses True), "Methods from Manning" (Louise Jewell), Gems from Garland (Hamlin), Hints from Holt" (Walter V.), Practical Points from Posse," (Baron) Question from McQuesten" (Gertrude I.), besides my own trifling experiences, which were either amusing or instructive. Michigan. A. Ann Wentworth. NEW ELOCUTION? The magazine grows more interesting to me each year. I was much interested in Mr. Clark's paper "The New Elocution," in the February No. He calls it the new elocution. I can see no difference between it and the old but ever new that I was taught in my youth by my dear old Professor Taverner, and that I listened to from the lips of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Damoreaux, and others of Toronto, for I come from the same fair city as Mr. Clark. I have the greatest admiration for Mr. Clark's ability, but I am inclined to think that he exaggerates the faults of what he terms the "old school" and exalts the merits of what he terms the "new." According to another eminent professor of the Chicago University, Dr. Moulton, a poet does not mean-he makes, he creates. Whatever Tennyson may have felt when he wrote "The Charge of the Light Brigade," to the majority of readers it will always be a magnificent battle-hymn, glorifying the Englishman's watchword and inspiration—“ Duty.' Mr. Clark's reading might almost imply that the soldier should sometimes stop to reason why." Surely Tennyson never meant that. That would be utterly foreign to English ideas. The artistic truth, beauty and value of musical recitations, I am glad to see, are being nobly vindicated at The Werner Society's meetings. Let the good work go on. Illinois. E. Esther Owen. T MUSIC TEACHERS' NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. Nineteenth Annual Meeting, New York City, June 24-28, 1897. HE Executive Committee of the Music Teachers' National Association offer the sum of $500 to be divided in prizes as follows: Class one.-$75 for the best Cantata, sacred or secular, for mixed voices with accompaniment of piano, organ or orchestra. Time of performance not to exceed twenty-five minutes. Class two. Unaccompanied Part-Song for male or mixed voices; time of perform ance not to exceed eight minutes. First Class three.-$50 for the best String Quar- Time of performance not to exceed seven minutes. First prize $50; second prize $25. Class five-Pianoforte Composition. Time of performance not to exceed seven minutes. First prize $50; second prize $25. Class six.-Violin Composition, with piano accompaniment; time of performance not to exceed seven minutes. First prize $50; second prize $25. Class seven. For the best Song (words to be chosen by the composer) with piano accompaniment, obligato for stringed instruments ad libitum; time of performance not to exceed five minutes. First prize $50; second prize $25. Compositions will not be considered unless the competitor has qualified as a mem ber of the Music Teachers' National Association. To secure absolute impartiality the competitor must choose a motto or fictitious name, which must be affixed to the composition. This same motto or name must be written on a sealed envelope, within which must be enclosed the name and address of the composer; these envelopes will not be opened until the prizes shall have been awarded. A special session will be devoted to the performance of the prize compositions. An additional stimulus to the composer will be the fact that successful compositions will appear on the program and be rendered before the first musicians of the country. The manuscript will be returned to the composer, who will be privileged to publish his own work, controlling all copyright interests and sales. His name will appear as one of the prize winners in a 50,000 edition souvenir program, which will be sent to the principal musicians in the United States. Conditions: (1) The successful competitor in solo compositions shall perform his own work or provide a competent substitute. (2) In Orchestral or Choral works the successful competitor must furnish the required number of parts for a suitable performance of his work. (3) The compositions must be in the hands of the Committee not later than June 1st. (4) Postage must be enclosed to insure the return of manuscripts. HE methods adopted by French singing-masters have been amusingly burlesqued by martre. When a young man goes to this professor, something like the following scene takes place: Have you courage?" "Yes." 'I warn you my way is severe. But we will try it. Run down my six flights of stairs as quickly as possible, and then run up again, crying out, Bonifaccio' in varying tones. Do that for eight days, an hour and a half each day. Then we shall see about beginning lessons." The famous M. Wartel is less severe, though equally original. He asks a candidate to vocalize with closed mouth, and, if a protest be entered against the possibility of such a thing, exclaims: "So much the worse. You must do it, if I am to be your professor." But a well-known tenor employs a stranger method still. A young lady goes to him, for example, and is met by an order to stretch herself at full length upon a couch. She remonstrates, but finally obeys, and then the master piles upon her a heap of books, surmounting the whole with a glass filled with water. "Now sing," he commands. Sing, sir!" exclaims the victim. 'Yes, my child; in singing you must respire as little as possible. When you sing thus, so as not to spill the water, I will undertake your trainingnot before."-Tid-Bits. Illustrations specially for WERNER'S MAGAZINE. 3 BOOKS BY WEBSTER EDGERLY. Shaftesbury's Lessons in Extemporaneous Speaking. Price, $2.00. Shaftesbury's Lessons in Voice-Culture. Price, $2.00. Shaftesbury's Lessons in Emphasis. Price, $2.00. The National Association of Elocutionists. SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK CITY, JUNE 28-JULY 3, 1897. To the National Association of Elocu tionists: Feeling that all will be interested in the progress of the Literary Committee, the Chairman begs herewith to submit an informal statement of what has been accomplished so far. While much remains to be done, especially in the selection of readers for the evening entertainments, the following features of the general program have been decided upon: In the first place, the committee have, with the approval of the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, arranged for a conference on Monday morning with the vocalists of the Music Teachers' National Association, which meets in New York this year and whose last session is held on the first day of ours. As our body does not meet until Monday afternoon and as no other time was available, it has been decided that we accept an invitation from the M. T. N. A. to take part in their morning proceedings as their guests. Their program is not yet fully arranged, but one of our contributions to it will be a paper by Prof. A. Melville Bell, of Washington, D. C., which will deal with articulation. We feel that we can learn much from the distinguished essayists of this convention regarding voice placing, tone-color, and the like, while their representatives have been so kind as to intimate that we can help them in enunciation. result of the conference be no more than to bring about a closer sympathy between these two bodies of allied workers, we shall feel justified in our undertaking, but we trust that it may pave the way to a more intimate relationship in the future. A systematic interchange of opinions and comparison of experiences by singers and speakers from year to year might be of great value to vocal science. We hope that all members of the N. A E., who can possibly do so, will arrange to be in New York in time to attend this conference. We are also promised a representation from teachers of the deaf and possibly a brief afternoon conference may be arranged with them. If the It will be remembered that by special resolution, the last hours of three morning sessions were set aside for section-work. The chairmen of the sections have reported most admirable programs, though, as yet, many details are unsettled. Prof. Fulton, of the Section on Methods of Teaching, writes that he proposes to organize his section into a class to be taught on different days by distinguished members of the pro fession, thus giving a most convincing and practical exposition of the various topics under consideration. Mr. Hannibal A. Williams, of the Section on Interpretation, reports the following subjects which will be treated in brief papers of ten minutes each and then thrown open to discussion: "Prodigality and Economy of Gesture." To What Degree Shall We Supply Physical Expression in Character Reading?" "In a Given Selection, Should the Reader Aim to Adhere Strictly to the Same Method of Interpretation on all Occasions?" How Far Shall Readers Make Use of Vocal Imitation or Vocal Suggestion?" Each of these will be illustrated by passages from well known selections, which will be furnished to members in time for thorough study before the convention meets. Among the features decided upon for Section III. (that of Science and Technique) is a paper on Scientific Voice-Production,' by Prof. Hallock, of Columbia University, for Tuesday morning. This will probably be illustrated with specimens of the voicephotography which has excited so much interest among vocalists and with which the names of Prof. Hallock and Dr. Muckey are SO universally associated. On Wednesday our former president, Mr. F. F. Mackay, will favor this section with illustrations of practical points in technique by way of demonstrating his well-known theories. The program for the third hour has not yet been decided upon. In view of the exceptional general interest of the work of this section, the committee have felt justified in asking permission from the Board of Directors to have it meet at 9 A. M., in order that all who desire may attend these two sessions at least, thus leaving the noon hours free for the work of Sections I. and II. While all may not be equally interested in questions of pedagogy on one hand or artistic expression on the other, neither teacher nor artist can afford to neglect the technical groundwork of elocution. Therefore, we feel that this modification of the original plan will meet with general approval. The committee regret that the time at their disposal will not permit of full treatment of many topics suggested by those who have replied to their first circular of inquiry. Some of these topics have been referred to the chairmen of sections. Many were suggested by but one correspondent, but of those in which a number showed interest that of the relation of the old to the new elocution has been provided for by papers by the Rev. Francis T. Russell, of the General Theological Seminary, New York, on The Old-time Elocutionist and Public Reader;" and by Mr. S. H. Clark, of Chicago University, on "The Philosophy of the New Elocution." Prof. Russell's paper will be reminiscent as well as practical, and we can promise our fellow-members that it will be a most interesting feature of the meeting. Of Mr. Clark, it need only be said that the desire for his appearance was so frequently expressed and the subject so evidently desired, that the Committee .. 5 THE CENTRAL DEBATING LEAGUE. 44 could not, if they would, do otherwise than invite him. His paper will probably be discussed by Miss Gertrude McMillan, a pupil of Prof. Cumnock. Mrs. Genevieve Stebbins will give a paper on The Relation of Physical Culture to Expression," with special reference to the value of statueposing. This paper and its discussion will cover the ground suggested by a number of our correspondents. Other topics have not yet been definitely assigned. Among the readers who have been selected and whom we can count upon are Mrs. Harriet Otis Dellenbaugh, of New York: Mrs. Ella Skinner Bates, of Newark, N. J.; Mrs. Louise Jewell Manning, of Minneapolis; Mrs. Edna Chaffee-Noble, of Detroit; and Mr. Nelson Wheatcroft, of New York. The Committee are in correspondence with a AN 271 number of others, and hope to be able to report a complete program by the first of May. Very respectfully, F. TOWNSEND SOUTHWICK, Chairman, Literary Committee. N. B.-If, by inadvertance, any member of the N. A. E., has not been invited before, we take this opportunity to urge upon all the desirability of enrolment in one of the above-mentioned sections By communica ting with the general chairman, suitable blanks may be obtained; or one may write directly to either Mr. Williams, 98 Lexington Ave, Chairman of the Section on Interpretation; Prof. George W. Saunderson, Ripon. Wis., Science and Technique; or Prof. Robert I. Fulton, Delaware, Ohio, Methods of Teaching; and enter his name in their respective departments. THE CENTRAL DEBATING LEAGUE. N organization with the above name has been formed by Thomas C. Trueblood representing the University of Michigan; S. H. Clark, the University of Chicago; D. B. Frankenberger, the University of Wisconsin, and J. S. Clark, the Northwestern University. This year Michigan will meet Chicago, and Wisconsin contest with Northwestern, but there will be no final contest between the winners, as the League was formed too late to have the preliminary contests come off in time. The League has adopted the following schedule of semi-finals for the first six years beginning in 1898: 1898, Michigan vs. Northwestern at Ann Arbor; Wisconsin vs. Chicago at Chicago. 1899. Wisconsin vs. Northwestern at Madison; Michigan vs. Chicago at Chicago. 1900, Michigan vs. Wisconsin at Ann Arbor; Chicago VS. Northwestern Chicago. at 1901, Wisconsin vs. Chicago at Madison; Michigan vs. Northwestern at Chicago. 1902, Michigan vs. Chicago at Ann Arbor; Northwestern vs. Wisconsin at Chicago. 1903, Michigan vs. Wisconsin at Madison; Chicago vs., Northwestern at Chicago. These semi-finals will be held on the second Friday in January and the winners will meet in a final debate on the second Friday in April of each year. The final debates. will all be held in Chicago, probably at the Auditorium The constitution of the League makes express provisions for the selection of questions, the choosing of sides, the manner of appointing the judges and all other details, so that no charges of unfair treatment can be made. It is proposed to have a Debating Board at each of the universities, composed of five members of the faculty and four students. The different college boards are to send two subjects each to a graduate council composed of two alumni from each of the universities and a chairman, who is to be a graduate of some Eastern university. This graduate council will then select three, out of the eight proposed, to be used in the two semi-finals and in the final debate. In the semi-finals the visiting university will always have the choice of sides and in the final it will be determined by lot. Each Debating Board will also send to the graduate council the names of ten men, whom they are willing to have for judges. The council will then send the names of all judges proposed to the universities for challenging, and of the list of names not challenged, nine judges will be selected by the council for the three debates. Exact dates are expressed as to when the selections must be made, so it is evident that there will be no delay. .... DO YOU.... STAMMER? Write for our 100-page book, The Origin of Stammering. A practical and scientific treatise on the Cause and Correction of Speech Defects, by GEO. ANDREW LEWIS, who stammered for more than 20 years. Sent FREE with full particulars regarding treatment to any reader of WERNER'S MAGAZINE, Answer this advertisement at once and you will receive in addition to the above a beautiful Souvenir containing 25 half-tone engravings interesting to every Stammerer. (Enclose 6c. to cover postage.) THE LEWIS SCHOOL FOR STAMMERERS, Dep't. 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