The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-10
Hus,c TeacbIng suggestions.

Know thyselt, seems 10 nave |
been completely metamorphOsed into |
" Know thy neighbor," or at least the
former sensible suggestion, important
as it should be, seems to be regarded
with a great degree of Indifference,
almost ignored. And why are so many
parents negligent in regard TO the
education of their children IN this
particular, viz. to knoao self, and the
laws - practically of Hygiene. A
little prevention is certainly better
than q great quantity Of cure. But
the class which / wish to speak of is
women from youth to middle age, as
later in life they usually exhibit more
wisdom in regard to taking care Of
health, and very few receive vocal in
Struction or sing even later In
life. 1t is not very fashionable
for married ladies to sing In
this section of the country,
with some honorable exceptions,
while the number who give any spe-
| cial attention to voice culture-vOice
| building -or voice making, can almost
be numbered in the column OF units,
| within q radius Of ten times as many
square miles. Does singing iDjnre the
lungs? This question is frequently
asked. And / reply, does speaking
iniure the lungs? Yes. Does eating
iniure the stomach and system? Yes.
Do gymnastic exercises iDjure the
body? Yes. All Of these, and many
other indulgences are causes for
4 ~ 4 tel Il
But, of those named, singing and
speaking are less fatal than eating.
And the latter when it is INDUCED in
to dissipation, together with the fash
ionable abuse of tight dressing (dttGS
slow murder-suiclde,) gives provl-
dence " good deal to shoulder in this
life. Upon this point in orthodoxy,
readers are referred to the indie
pendent" a reply to the letter of a
prouidenhally broken down, sore
throat, diseased lung minister-in
which article Mr.. Tilton hints very
largely upon this point.
But, / now ask, what is necessary!
And reply, good judgment, which is
the result of correct instruction, given
thereto, not only in regard to the use
Of the voice and training of the prop
er muscles hui. in IeGaEa to .Lirl8GA4 ]. Il tg
rich indigestable food and dissipation
in late suppeTs is q curse to the hui
man race to those who thus indulge,
affecting the third and fourth genera
tions after. And the injury is aug
mented, as a rule, in proportion to
the physical habits, whether they be
sedentary OF active. Ladies have
much less physical exercise than
men, too little for their own good.
And what ia a greater eursa than
this, is tight dressing, which / have
| limited at before. Singing is a health
full exercise-physically - when the
lungs are used properly. But this Is
a human Gnhuman) impossibility
when the dress interferes with the
free expansion Of the thorax and
lungs, and the proper museles-dia-
phragm and abdominal - are not
brought into action. And nine-tenths
of those who sing do not understand
this. What is wanted? More direct
personal instruction, and moro indi-
vidual attention. The throat may be
injured by too much contraction of
those muscles, and over exercising
them while in an abnormal condition.
/ repeat, more orthodox instruction
is needed. and the same put in every
day practice. Singing with the proper
exercise of the lungs, and the right
nlOtive pOsCer, being judiciously and
Understandings used, has been in
strumental in keeping disease away
from those sensitive vital organs in
ninety nine cases to one lin my opin-
ion, without statistics for proof who
has experienced any injury. In fact l
doubt if one person, even, was ever
injured by vocal practice when paying
due attention 10 physical laws.
III. S. PERKINS.