REMARK.-The inappropriate use of the monotone,—a fault into which young people naturally fall,-is a very grave and obstinate error. It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous.

It should be studiously avoided.

The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, Are you

The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, What are

In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the general pitch; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it. The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams:

Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'?

Is virtue lost? Is martial ardor dead/?

Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell/?
No patriot WALLACE'? No undaunted TELL ́?
Yes', Freedom, yes! thy sons, a noble band,
Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand'.

REMARK.-The same degree of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the nature of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks another:

former inflection may be called intensive, the latter, common.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you meet me at the depot'? Yes'; or, I will'.
2. Did you intend to visit Boston'? No'; or, I did not'.
8. Can you explain this difficult sentence? Yes';

4. Are they willing to remain at home'? They are'.

I can.

5. Is this a time for imbecility and inaction?? By no means".

6. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets'? I know that thou believest'.

7. Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization'? By no means'.

&

To purchase heaven has gold the power'?
Can gold remove the mortal hour/?

In life, can love be bought with gold/?
Are friendship's pleasures to be sold'?
No'; all that's worth a wish, a thought,
Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.

The man

9. What would content you'? Talents'? No. Enterprise? No. Courage/? No'. Reputation/? Nc'. Virtue'? No'. whom you would select, should possess not one, but all of these'.

NOTE I.—When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes the intense falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Is he not a bold and eloquent speaker'?
2. Can such inconsistent measures be adopted'?
8. Did you ever hear of such cruel barbarities'?
4. Is this reason'? Is it law? Is it humanity'?
5. Was not the gentleman's argument conclusive'?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by yes or no, usually take the falling inflection, and their answers the same.

EXAMPLES.

1. How far did you travel yesterday? Forty miles.

2. Which of you brought this beautiful bouquet'? Julia'.

3. Where do you intend to spend the summer? At Saratoga'.

4. When will Charles graduate at college? Next year'.

5. What is one of the most delightful emotions of the heart'? Gratitude'.

NOTE I. When the indirect question is one asking a repetition of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. When do you expect to return? Next week.

When did you say?. Next week.

2. Where did you say William had gone? To New York.

NOTE II.—Answers to questions, whether direct or Indirect, when expressive of indifference, take the rising inflection, or the circumflex.

EXAMPLES.

1. Did you admire his discourse? Not much'.

2. Which way shall we walk? I am not particular.

3. Can Henry go with us? If he chooses'.

4. What color do you prefer? I have no particular choice'

NOTE III.-In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you come to-morrow' or next day'? Yes.

2. Will you come to-morrow,' or next day? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK.-The first question asks if the person addressed will come within the two days, and may be answered by yes or no; but the second asks on which of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.

RULE III.

When questions are connected by the conjunction or, the first requires the rising, and the second, the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Does he study for amusement', or improvement?

2. Was he esteemed for his wealth', or for his wisdom'?

3. Sink' or swim', live or die', survive or perish', I give my hand and heart to this vote.

WEBSTER.

4. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath-days', or to do evil? to save life', or to kill?

BIBLE.

5. Was it an act of moral courage', or cowardice', for Cato to fall on his sword'?

RULE IV.

Antithetic terms or clauses usually take opposite inflections; generally, the former has the rising, and the latter the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores/ but to diminish his desires'.

2.

They have mouths',-but they speak not':

Eyes have they',—but they see not':

They have ears',-but they hear not':

Noses have they',-but they smell not`:

They have hands',-but they handle not':
Feet have they',-but they walk not`.

BIBLE.

NOTE I.-When one of the antithetic clauses is a negative, and the other an affirmative, generally the negative has the rising, and the affirmative the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. I said an elder soldier', not a better".

2. His acts deserve punishment', rather than commiseration'.

3. This is no time for a tribunal of justice', but for showing mercy'; not for accusation', but for philanthropy'; not for trial', but for pardon'; not for sentence and execution', but for compassion and kindness'.

RULE V.

The Pause of Suspension, denoting that the sense is incomplete, usually has the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom', neither shall fruit be in the vine'; the labor of the olive shall fail', and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold', and there shall be no herd in the stalls'; yet will I rejoice in the Lord', I will joy in the God of my salvation".

BIBLE.