are fine-fibred within, even if on the outside the rough
bark clings. Without being schooled, they are apt to instinctively
detect a sham,--one test of culture. Without haunting the
drawing-rooms, they are likely to have manners of quaint grace and
graciousness,--another test of culture. Without the
singing-lessons, their tones are apt to be gentle,--another test of
culture. Without knowing anything about Art, so called, they know
and love the best in _one_ thing,--are artists in their own little
specialty of work. They make good company, these men and
women,--why? Because, not having been able to realize their Ideal,
they have idealized their Real, and thus in the depths of their
nature have won true "culture."

You know all beatitudes are based on something hard to do or to be.
"Blessed are the meek": is it easy to be meek? "Blessed are the
pure in heart": is that so very easy? "Blessed are they who mourn."
"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst--who _starve_--after
righteousness." So this new beatitude by its hardness only falls
into line with all the rest. A third time and heartily I say
it,--"Blessed be Drudgery!" For thrice it blesses us: it gives us
the fundamental qualities of manhood and womanhood; it gives us
success in the thing we have to do; and it makes us, if we choose,
artists,--artists within, whatever our outward work may be.
_Blessed be Drudgery_,--the secret of all culture!

And now, as a final step in this preliminary study, a step which shall
again give practice in both forms of expression, you are to choose from
your vital interests one concerning which you hold intense convictions.
First you are to set forth these convictions in the strongest piece of
persuasive prose you can command: this is work for your study. Second,
you are to summon all your vocal resources, and, with the one idea of
persuading us of the truth of your convictions, make to us for them a
direct appeal: this work is for the class-room. So shall we have
combined the preliminary study in vocal expression of _direct appeal_
with the preliminary study in verbal expression of _persuasion_.

FIRST STUDY

TO ESTABLISH VITALITY IN THINKING

Among the axioms of our subject-matter already formulated stands this
one: reading aloud is thinking aloud. If reading aloud is thinking aloud
the quality of the reading will