g intervals of a third, a
fifth, or an octave. Vary the sentences so as to include all the
tonic elements. 2. With each tonic element, severally, produce
first a rising and then a falling interval, each of a tone; then
intervals of a third, a fifth, and an octave. 3. Extend the
exercise so as to produce with each element, and with all the
various intervals, a series or succession of rising and falling
intervals, thus: _rising, falling, rising, falling_, etc. Use
the blackboard and the musical scale for illustration and
reference.

Syllables vary greatly in their capacity for prolongation, and in this
respect are classified into _immutable_, _mutable_, and _indefinite_.

=Immutable Syllables= are almost incapable of prolongation; they are
those which end in one of the abrupt atonic elements, _p_, _t_, _k_; as
_tip_, _hit_, _kick_; or in one of the abrupt subtonics, _b_, _d_, _g_;
as _tub_, _thud_, _pug_. Some syllables that so end, by virtue of tonic
or subtonic elements which they may contain, are capable of _some_
prolongation; for example, _warp_, _dart_, _block_, _grab_, _dread_,
_grog_. These are called =Mutable Syllables=.

=Indefinite Syllables= are capable of almost indefinite prolongation;
they are those which terminate in a tonic, or any subtonic except one of
the three abrupt subtonics, _b_, _d_, _g_; for example, _awe_, _fudge_,
_hail_, _arm_.

NOTE.--It must be remembered that when for the sake of exercise or
effect syllables are extended in time, they must be so uttered that
their identity is not impaired,--that is, their enunciation must be
free from mouthing.

As has been remarked before our pronunciation of vowels is notoriously
careless; but by a little attention anyone can easily free himself from
this reproach. Frequent practice in the accurate enunciation of the
tonic elements as given above, and a habit of watchfulness established
as to the orthoepy of those which are most easily obscured, in all words
in which they occur, will soon secure, if not a resonant, sonorous
utterance with respect to the tonic elements, at least a correct
pronunciation. But the correct and distinct pronunciation of the
subtonic, and especially of the atonic, elements, when they occur,
as is so frequent in English words, in combination, is not so easily
accomplished; and orthoepy, in this respect, as a _habit_, cannot be
secured without great care and incessant practice. For example