The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15
Tones of Voice.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

While every one admits the necessity of
care and the advantage of culture in the
selection of the best language in which to
express ones meaning, there are very few
who give much attention to the tones of
voices used to utter it, except for purposes
of elocution and oratory If, however, we
bear In mind that, as words are the express
sion of our thoughts, so tones are the ex-
preston of our feelings, it may invest them
with somewhat more importance n our
eyes. There are few better tests of men 5
states of mind than the tones in which they
speak When calm, and free from pas
sion, the voice is quiet and comparatively
monotonous when reused to enthusiasm
it becomes fervid and emphatic; when
stricken by fear, it trembles when ex-
cited by anger, it is loud or Deep when
cast down by sorrow, it is plaintive when
elated with joy, it is triumphant.
On listening to the sound of voices, too
distant for the words to be audible, we can
usually detect something of the feelings
which actuate the speakers we can dis
tinguish the tones of persuasion and en-
treaty, of resentment and indignation, of
tenderness and affection, of pity and COM
passion, of reproach and recrimination, of
resolution and command, of fretfulness and
complaint The cadence, the pitch, the
varying intervals, all betray, perhaps un-
consciously, what emotions are being stirred,
and to what degree; and in the same way
an habitual state of mind, which is called a
disposition, is manifested in the equally
habitual tone of voice which belongs to it.
Indeed, men say, naturally and truly, in
describing one who has spoken, ''it was not
so much what he said, as the tone in which
he said it, that showed how he felt
If, then, care is needed to select our Ian
guage so as to express with accuracy the
thoughts we wish to convey, certainly an
equal care is desirable that our tones of
voice shall signify with equal accuracy
those emotions or dispositions which 1t is
desirable to make manifest The chief
difference between the savages and the civ
ilized man is in the power and the habit of
self-control. The savage may be master
over other savages, but his own feelings he
never masters, and their utterances he
neither subdues nor regulates. Civiliza-
ton, however, and experience teach men
that both should be cultivated. Some of
the emotions need development, some re-
straint; all need training. They are not
all fit for utterance nor of those that are
is it wise to give all unreservedly to the
world. There is no way of repressing
fool;nos co o{FooF,,ol &c "a donrr ;tc ox-,,,-oe
sion. The very effort so to calm the tones
of our voice as to express less anger than
one feels, will of itself allay the anger and
bring about milder mood The brave
struggle to endure necessary suffering with
out inficting cries and lamentations upon
friends will enhance ones power of endur-
ance. He who resolutely changes whin-
ing and fretful tone for a cheerful one, will
soon find much less to fret about. So, in
many other instances, it is true that obiec-
tionable feelings will decrease if men
steadily discard the tones of voice which
convey them.
Such control, however, does not end
with repression. Many of the emotions
need, not less, but more expression, to de-
velop them into full existence Some
people are afraid of putting too much en-
phasis, too much tenderness, too much
feeling, into their tones of voice, and as
sumo careless or cold manner, an indif-
ferent or unimpressive tone, to hide what
they really feel Now, if the emotion it.
self is good one, and its influence bene-
fetal, it should be encouraged by every
appropriate means. The world has need
of all the love and tenderness, all the sym
pathy and compassion, all the cordiality
and kindness that exists and whatever of
these men feel in their hearts should find
ready outlet in the tones of their voices, as
well as in more substantial ways.
Probably no one can ever fully estimate
how much influence he is constantly exert
ing through his tones of voice Nothing is
so powerful to cheer the dropping energies
of discouraged army, as the inspiring
tones of hope in which their general urges
them onward Who has not seen the i'm
mediate effect of a glad and sprightly voice
breaking in upon dull and uninterested
party of people? How their eyes brighten,
and their brows clear, and their forms be-
come erect On the other hand, let
solemn, or doleful or fretful voice break in
on gay and cheerful company, and how
quickly the smile dies on the lip, and the
depressing influence goes round The in
fant who cannot understand word that
his mother says, is soothed and pleased, or
grieved and frightened by her tones, and
the seeds thus sown of love and gentleness,
or of harshness and impatience, are sure to
bear fruit in his later development
Let US then never imagine that the tone
of voice in which we speak is u trihing
thing beneath our notice We may make
it the means of purifying and refining our
emotions, of strengthening the best that is
in us, and repressing the worst, of chasing
away the shadows of life, and infusing
gladness and hope into others hearts
only for such results we must obtain the
mastery over our tones, and not let them
master us.