Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-10-12
TRe HUuAN voIcE.-We are all
sensible Of the varieties of the human

ces by its tones, as u,erring as by the
features of the face; and in speaking
Of each other we refer to its qualities
- constituting . most essential point
in our descriptions Yet how few OF
US have any distinct consciousness OF
the immense influence which the tones
Of the voice exercise, not only in quail
flying the import Of our words, but in
communicating, almost Independent Of
them, the most delicate sensations, as
well as the most violent emotions, and
in disclosing the deepest and most hid
den traits Of the aconceited heart"
very one feels how many physiog-
-punicaf pec1Iiarities IRE indissolubly
connected with certain moral and in
tellectuaI qualities; but this co,nexion
is far less extensive and fixed, than ,ha;
between peculiar tones and these quail
tiles.
From the first to the last breath Of
our existence. the voice takes its char
acter from the mind and the heart -
Education, as ii modifes our other at
tributes, may modify this, and even be-
stow command over some Of its pow
ers; still its tones will remain the true
index Of the soul. The various chang
rs, from the angelic innocence Of the
little child, through the joys of child
hood, the hopes Of youth and the de-
signs Of maturity, down to the indif-
ference Of old age, continually produce
their corresponding changes in the
tones Of the voice. @ss
What description of the purity, the
innocence, the heiplessness of an in
FAINT could move our hearts towards
the little being like its sweet and world
less to:es; what call Of distress SO ir-
resistsbly draws assistance, as the cries
Of Its wants and pains Nature has
given TO these tones peculiar power
commensurate with its entire depea-
dence upon Us, and we are lis serva-
tors.
Then is there on earth, any thing
like the playful and joyous tones thru
which alter childhood pours out its I'm.
chained SPIRIT Nothing-no wit, no
humor, no exhilaration Of the mature
man has power over our sympsthies
like the bursts from the spotless heart.
Of laughing children.
In youth, that state between the art.
less child and artful adult, when the
bosom is in perpetual commotion, it,
hopes and its passions assuming new
positions and new combination, kalei.
! dascope like, al erery new inciden,
that agitates the mind-how import.
ant are E:e-c woTds-how meagre
would be the pictures Of tn heart, with
out the tones Of the voice peculiar te
that age.
In manhood, when the mind direct.
every act and every speech according
to design, good or bad, and attempts u
bend every incident to its purpose, we
aequire the ART Of appearing what VIC
wish to be thought instead of what we
really are. Every thing that is Of US
yields to the cunning devices Of the
mind except the voice. The tones
which belong to particular emotions
cannot Be altogether suppressed, nor
esn the most consummate hypocrisy
perfectly initiate .he.e tones where the
emotions do not exist. Hence il is that
the pure, the simple, the upright, the
sincere need no vouchers: they have
only 70 speak, and the tones Of their
voice beEet At once implicit faith. De-
ecpfion may practise her wiIes in every
ether way, she may force the eve 10
Nsep, the lips 10 smile, the tongue to
inter false words, bat she essa ! s 10 vain
Z - subdue efirely the tones Of The
voiee-at efeSy moment they rebel in
favor Of truth.
From old age we need no decl,ra.
lions of decayed sensibilitief, Of ia.
di6efei,ee 10 the exciten.ents Of the
younger world Of loved repose-thi,
stage Of mortality has it, own tones
which convey the sad truth Of decay
in dispite Of al the treasured phrase,
u former and more vigorous habits.
nctwesn friends, lovers, parents, and
children, in al the dearer relationship
r. ll!e. mess words are s'ss the idle
Winds INN passes unheeded by;" it ii
e the tones 81 the voice that they liz.
ten-those esSt TIVE messengers -.
fweon mind and mind. ana h..rt "a
heart Even ia our sliRhtap int 49,, -
With the world, the attrac,ians and 3
,versions which we feel towards nar. !;
eular persons depend, more than upa =
ny thing else, perhaps, on the impraS J!
SIene slesivsd from the tunes Of ii
4 80 al0nnaf,ca which riyefa eyer,