SLIDE IN VOLUME.
As the mind of the student continues to dwell upon the parts of the
subject as separate and distinct wholes, there is gradually developed
within him an appreciation of the value of each part. Out of the effort
to make each thought live in the minds of the hearers is born the desire
to reveal the value of that thought. This desire is reported in the
voice through Slide in Volume.
The significance of the term Volume has been explained in an earlier
chapter. The valuable parts that the speaker presents are expressed
through inflections that suggest breadth and freedom. Each part is felt
to have a value of its own, intellectual, moral, esthetic, or
spiritual.
Freedom of will is expressed in the voice by slide in volume, for the
speaker, convinced of the truth of his thought, is learning obedience to
it, and obedience is always the way to freedom.
It must be remembered that the intellect determines the value of the
parts. It is true that the discernment is sharpened by the sensibility;
but the feelings, unguided by the thought, may be misleading. Feeling is
dangerous unless controlled by thought. All sentiment must be directed
to the audience "thought foremost"--the thought itself must induce the
feeling.
Analysis. Example: "The Bells." (Page 82.)
_Unit of thought_: Varied bells, expressing varied emotion.
_Parts_:
(_a_) The tinkling bells of Merriment. Stanza 1.
(_b_) The mellow bells of Love. Stanza 2.
(_c_) The clanging bells of Terror. Stanza 3.
(_d_) The tolling bells of Menace. Stanza 4.
This poem is well adapted to develop power in emphasizing parts: the
several parts are very distinctly differentiated, as the student must
reveal through the rendering. He should strive to reveal them as
graphically as the author has set them forth. Moreover, he should
endeavor to make their value felt. In doing this, he will perceive the
varying scale of values; some of the bells reflect great value, others
less.