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Show ON PANTOMIME. 113 posed of regulated signs, or signs of intelligence, is sometimes more striking than the slower and systematic language of words. It derives its origin from Pantomime. The Oriental nations have adopted it, and are greatly attached to it. Their imagination ardently availed itself of this mode of expression, that is, by an imagery of things; and hence arises, also, their partiality for a picturesque style. It was from reflections like these, so favourable to the art of Pantomime, that I studied the science of composing Ballets, and establishing more precise and exact rules for conducting them, consulting on such a subject the rules both of art and of taste. " Art furnishes rules, and taste exceptions; taste discovers to us on what occasions art ought to be subservient, and when, in turn, the latter should submit."-MONTESQUIEU. " M a n has three means of expressing his ideas and feelings:- by speech, tone of voice, and gesture. B y gestures we understand, those exterior movements and attitudes of the body which relate to the inward operations of the mind. ' Gestus,' says Cicero, ' est conformatio qucedam et figura totius oris et corporis.' " I name speech first because we generally pay more attention to it than to the two others ; which latter, however, possess many advantages over the former. Our tone of voice and gesture are of a more natural and extensive use; for by them we supply every deficiency in speech. By gesture we present to the eyes all that we cannot express to the ears ; it is a universal interpreter that follows us to the very extremities of the globe, and makes us intelligible to the most uncivilized hords. It is understood even by animals. Speech is the language of reason: it convinces our minds; tones and gestures form a sentimental discourse that moves the heart. Speech can only give utterance to our passions, by means of reflection through their relative |