~~The Plan of the Book.~~
In the preparation of this book the author has had two great plans in
mind:
To prepare a work which will enable _any person, who can speak to a
class or an audience, to give a helpful, inspiring illustrated
talk_; to place in the hands of parents everywhere a book to enable
them to teach the children a simple, fascinating method of drawing
and, at the same time make the great truths of life a part of their
every-day learning.
Clear instructions are given as to the method of doing these two
things. Then come sixty-two complete talks of special appropriateness
for Christian teaching. If you are included in the following classes
of workers, the book should be of special value to you:
(a) Speakers who earnestly want to give illustrated talks, but
who feel that they "can't draw a straight line."
(b) Those who are experienced in chalk talk work and are seeking
new material.
(c) Teachers of the Uniform Lessons.
(d) Teachers of Graded Lessons.
(e) Sunday school superintendents, for platform work.
(f) Pastors, for use in prayer meetings and many other services
of the church.
(g) Temperance workers. In this department of work this book
is especially worthy of consideration.
(h) Those who need suggestions to help them work out their
own addresses.
(i) Parents for giving instruction in the home. It is a great
truth that such teaching is far more effective than any which the
church or the schools may provide.
~~The Value of Chalk Talks.~~
Scientists tell us that _nothing which completely occupies the mind
for any length of time is ever forgotten_.
This, then, is the reason that the chalk talk method of teaching is so
lastingly impressive. People forget everything else while watching a
speaker draw a picture. And if they do that, they can never completely
forget the words of the speaker or the picture he draws. A baby that
doesn't know one letter from another can understand some pictures as
well as _you_ can. Try him once and see. And if he lives to be a
hundred years of age, he will receive more lasting impressions from
pictures than from what he reads. Your audience, therefore, may be
depended upon to be "right with you" from the beginning.
~~The Two-Scene Method.~~
Added to this feature of securing strict attention, we find in this
book another help in the same direction: Every talk is given in two
"scenes" or steps. The speaker draws part of the picture, while he
speaks, and then, at a little later period, adds the lines to complete
the drawing and bring the scene to a climax. In each talk, the upper
picture is the first scene, and the lower picture is the second scene,
or completed drawing.
~~Chalk Work on Paper.~~
The book is planned to encourage the use of sheets of book- or
news-paper instead of the blackboard. Paper is used by all leading
workers with chalk. To discard the blackboard is to take a forward
step. However, if you are "wedded" to the use of the blackboard and
can handle it effectively, you will find all but a small number of
these illustrations adapted to your method.
~~Materials Are Cheap.~~
Probably your school or church is already supplied with the necessary
apparatus to do all the work as planned in this book. However, for any
who may need to provide for himself a drawing board and easel,
instructions for making them are here given. It is only necessary,
then, to procure drawing paper and chalk. These are cheap in price and
easy to get. You are urged, therefore, to proceed with the use of
drawing paper as here instructed, and to lay aside the blackboard for
the more advanced method.
~~Important to Beginners.~~
Each drawing in the book, as already stated, is given in two "scenes,"
in order to show you how your drawing will look _when it is partly
finished_ (first scene), and how it will look _when it is
completed_ (second scene).
If you are at all "bashful" about taking up the work, let us make this
suggestion: In the seclusion of your home or elsewhere, draw the
_first scene_ of your talk completely. Thus you will have plenty
of time to make it to suit you, with no one to look on and fluster or
confuse you. Then cover up the completed work, by placing another
sheet of paper over it. When you appear before the audience to give
your talk, give your spoken introduction and lead up to the _first
scene_. At this point, remove the cover paper and expose your
drawing. Proceed with your talk until you reach the climax in the
_second scene_, at which time you give the picture the final
lines with your crayon. Many will find this an easy, satisfactory way
to give these talks--indeed many of the illustrations in the book are
most effective if given in this way. Experience, however, brings
greater confidence, and many will prefer to do most of their drawing
in sight of the audience.
Devote yourself to a thorough understanding of essentials, and you
will be pleased at the ease with which the field opens. The
encouraging words of your associates and the echoes of the good you
are doing will strengthen your confidence.
~~Equipment and Materials.~~
The necessary equipment and materials for the work include the drawing
board, the drawing paper and the chalk (or lecture crayons).
~~The Drawing Board.~~
Probably your school has a reversible blackboard mounted on an easel,
like that shown in Fig. 1. If so, you will find it amply sufficient
for your use. The two or three little holes made by the thumb tacks,
to attach your drawing paper to the board, at the top, will not injure
it in the least. If you haven't such a board, it would be well to
procure one, as it can be used for many purposes. The writer has often
used a board of this kind in giving chalk talks. The publishers of
this book will be glad to give full information as to size and price
of such a board.
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Another convenient and cheap equipment is an ordinary square board,
Fig. 2. If you take six boards, each 45 inches long, 7 inches wide and
1/2 inch thick, and attach them to two cleats at the back, you will
have a good, serviceable drawing board which can be hung against the
wall with screw hooks and screw eyes; or, it can be set on an easel or
other convenient holder. It is only necessary that the board be smooth
and the wood be well-seasoned soft pine or bass wood to keep it from
warping. If screws are used to fasten the boards to the cleats, screw
them through from the back, leaving the front perfectly smooth. Be
sure that the screws aren't too long. It would be well to stain the
board brown or some other dark color.
[Illustration: Fig. 3]
A combination drawing board and easel is shown in Fig. 3, a back view
of which is given. Take six boards of well-seasoned soft pine, 45
inches long, 8 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. For the rear legs, use
two pieces 5 feet and 8 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch
thick. A wire should be attached to each rear leg to avoid spreading.
Fig. 4 shows this board and easel in use.
[Illustration: Fig. 4]
~~The Drawing Paper.~~
The most inexpensive paper for chalk talk work is the kind on which
newspapers are printed. It may be purchased from printing houses,
paper dealers or newspaper offices. A cheap quality of book-paper is
also good, and may be bought from printing houses and paper
dealers. Ordinary light-colored, light-weight manila paper, such as is
used for wrapping, is very satisfactory; it may be procured from paper
dealers, or, if you want but a small quantity, probably any merchant
would be glad to supply you. The lines which you intend to place on it
may be worth infinitely more than the goods he plans to wrap in it.
~~The Chalk.~~
The writer is accustomed to using chalk made by the American Crayon
Company, which can be had at any time from the publishers of this
book, and, doubtless, from other publishers. Ask for "lecture
crayons." A complete price list, together with samples of colors, will
be furnished on request. For general work it is well to have on hand a
half dozen sticks of black and a stick each of green, brown, red,
yellow, orange and blue. The lecture crayons come in two sizes, one
measuring one inch square and three inches long; the other is one-half
inch square and three inches in length. If you choose the larger size,
the sticks can, when advisable, be cut to the smaller size.