Elocution at Harvard.

The announcement in the elective pamphlet that course IX in English would be omitted next year, provoked an inquiry which elicited the following facts. Mr. Jones for two years has endeavored to advance the work in elocution to a more philosophical basis than is possible in a half-course, the only elective which he now conducts. It has for years been conceded that Mr. Jones is the one man fitted to give elocution a scientific form that it might be studied here by students to advantage. This is seen in the fact that Mr. Jones was appointed to succeed Messrs. Riddle, Ticknor, and Sargent with a salary equal to theirs' combined. Shortly after his appointment Mr. Jones' position was made permanent. In recognition of the fact that he had succeeded in making class work a success, (individual work only had before been possible) he was given a half-course in elective study. This induced many men who purposed entering public life to devote themselves to the study of vocal expression. It was at once seen that a half-course could not satisfactorily accommodate all who desired to study the subject more critically, and Mr. Jones asked that English IX should be made a full course, and that an elementary elective should be established to accommodate those who had not studied elocution previously. As a refusal to grant this request seriously cripples the instructor's work, Mr. Jones, in justice to the students and to his profession, felt called upon to resign his position as instructor. The work in elocution since the establishment of the class method of instruction has been unprecedented. The numbers attending the class have increased steadily, from less than twenty to nearly a hundred. The interest of the students has been shown in the establishment of the Shakspere Club, the presentation of Julius Caesar last year, and the rivalry displayed in the Boylston Prize Speaking. It is only just to say that this interest has been in a great measure the direct outcome of Mr. Jones' work. The resignation of the permanent instructor will undoubtedly act as a serious drawback to the work in elocution for the future. It will be almost impossible to fill Mr. Jones' place, as he is to-day ranked with Hibbard, Cunnock, and Churchill, as one of the foremost exponents of vocal expression. John McCullough and Mary Anderson studied with him, and it is understood that many flattering offers have successively been made to induce him to leave Harvard and give his work a broader basis. With his resignation elocution will for a time be abolished here. It is to be hoped that in the near future arrangements can be made which will allow an increase in the facilities for studying elocution, and will call back Mr. Jones to occupy with higher powers and title a position which he has filled with so great success for nearly six years.