A COLLECTION DF THE MOST APPROVED PLAYS OF SHAKSPEARE

Careiully Revised, with Introductory and Explanatory Notes, and a Memoir of the Author. Prepared expressly for the use of O asses, and the Family Reading Circle.

BY JOHN W. Ss. HOWS, Professor of Elocution in Columbia College.

——The Man, whom Nature’s self hath made To mock herself, and TrurH tn imitate.— Spenser.

One Volume, 12mo, $1 25.

Ata period when the fame of Shakspeare is “striding the world like a colossus,” and edi dons of his works are multiplied with a profusion that testifies the desire awakened in all classes af society to read and study his imperishable compositions,—there needs, perhaps, but little apology for the following selection of his works, prepared expressly to render them unexceptionable for the use of Schools, and acceptable for Family reading. Apart from the fact, that Shakspeare is the ‘ well-spring” from which may be traced the origin of the purest poetry in our language,—a long course of professional experience has satisfied me that a necessity exists for the addition of a work like the present, to our stock of Educational Literature. His writings are peculiarly adapted for the purposes of Elocutionary exercise, when the system of instruction

ursued by the Teacher is based upon the true principle of the art, viz.—a careful analysis of e structure and meaning of language, rather than a servile adherence to the arbitrary and mechanical rules of Elocution.

To impress upon the mind of the pupil that words are the exposition of thought, and that in reading, or speaking, every shade of thought and feeling has its appropriate shade of modulated one, ought to be the especial aim of every Teacher; and an author like Shakspeare, whose gery line embodies a volume of meaning. should surely form one of our Elocutionary Text Books. * * * Still, in preparing a selection of his works for the express purpose contemplated in my design, I have not hesitated to exercise a severe revision of his language, beyond that adopted in any similar undertaking—* Bowdler’s Family Shakspeare ” not even excepted ;— and simply, because I practically know the impossibility of introducing Shakspeare as a Class Book, or as a satisfactory Reading Book for Families without this precautionary revision.— Extract from the Preface.

Professor Gros Wistorical Sreies.