The introductory chapter is mainly intended to assist the teacher in imparting to his pupils a somewhat scientific knowledge of the art of reading. Of course the teacher will choose for himself his mode of dealing with the chapter, but it has been written with the thought that he should use it as a convenient series of texts, which he might expand and illustrate in accordance with his opportunities and judgment. Examples for illustration are indispensable to the successful study of the principles described, and they should be sought for and obtained by the teacher and pupils together (whenever possible they should be taken from the READER), and should be kept labeled for reference and practice. If the application of these principles be thus practically made by the pupils themselves, they will receive a much more lasting impression of their meaning and value than if the examples were given to them at no cost of thought or search on their part. To the teacher it is recommended that he should not be contented with the short and necessarily imperfect exposition of the art of reading therein given. The more familiar he is with the scientific principles the more successfully will he be able to direct the studies and practices of his pupils. Works on elocution are numerous and accessible. Dr. Rush's _Philosophy of the Voice_ is perhaps the foundation of all subsequent good work in the exposition of voice culture. Professor Murdoch's _Analytic Elocution_ is an exhaustive and scholarly treatise based upon it, and to the plan of treatment therein fully developed the practical part of the introductory chapter has largely conformed. The pleasing task remains of thanking those authors who have so kindly responded to requests for permission to use selections from their works: to President Wilson, for a sonnet from _Spring Wild Roses_, and for _Our Ideal_; to Mr. Charles Sangster, for two sonnets from _Hesperus_; to Mr. John Reade, for two poems from _The Prophecy of Merlin_; to Mr. Charles Mair, for the scenes from _Tecumseh_; and to Professor C. G. D. Roberts, for _To Winter_. To Miss A. T. Jones, thanks are due for permission to use _Abigail Becker_, recently published in the _Century Magazine_. The heroic acts described in this poem seem so wonderful, so greatly superior to woman's strength, even to human strength and endurance, to accomplish, that were it possible to doubt its truthfulness, doubt one certainly would. Nevertheless the poem is not only strictly in accordance with the facts, it is even within and below them. CONTENTS. _(The Titles of the Selections in Poetry are printed in Italics.)_ NUMBER. TITLE. AUTHOR. PAGE. I. King Solomon's Prayer and Blessing at the Dedication of the Temple. HOLY BIBLE 33 II. Invitation. HOLY BIBLE 39