The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-17
HUMAN VOICES.
Their Endless Range-NationaI Peculiari-
ties and Inherited Defects.

Their Endless Range-NationaI Peculiari-
ties and Inherited Defects.
The range of voices is almost endless.
The voices of childhood, of youth, of
maturity and of old age have distin-
gushing qualities among all nations.
There are three kinds of voices that
can be efficiently cultivated-the sing
ing, speaking and crying. The first
has the greatest artistic range and the
highest commercial value; the second
has many delightful possibilities, but
is sadly neglected; the third is nearly
always disagreeable but often effective.
Voices are inherited, and have ma
tional peculiarities. The Latin races
are famous for liquid tones, the Saxons
and Slavonic for deep and heavy vocal
sounds. The men who belong to tribes
descended from Ishmael have powerful
voices; the women of the same families
speak in fiute-like tones. The Chinese
have but two registers high and
rough, low and indistinct. The Indian
tribes and New Zealanders have harsh
voices.
Among civilized nations there are two
grades of voices. as distinct in charac-
ter. The educated and refined people
of all countries have attractive quail
ties in their voices; the unlettered and
vulgar usually express themselves in
sounds that are repulsive. Keeping
within the limit of enlightened nations,
a profitable field for study and illustra-
tons may be found worthy of more
than passing reflection. At home we
have. as u nation, three distinct grades
of notes.-the New England high key,
the Southern drawl and the Western
chop. The parent of American tones
is British, with three distinctive feat
ures-English, Irish and Scotch-the
Irish being the richest of the three, the
Scotch the hardest. Of the voices of
the multitude little need be said-they
are common and the word brands them
as disagreeable.
Education is the basis of the thousand
charms found in vocal sounds; not
merely the education of schools, but
the higher education of refining asso-
Citations, with effects that come by intu-
ition, like many other graces that make
men and women delightful compan-
ions. Every voice has definite value
as tangible as good looks or 4 well
rounded figure. The actor favored with
a pleasing voice attracts his audience.
The orator may lead the multitude after
him and into labyrinths of folly, if his
voice has but 4 magnetic ring. The
physician with bracing tones assures
his patient of immediate recovery and
the power of his voice is often more
potent than skillfully prepared nos
trums. From the bar the pleader's
voice follows the jury like a talisman,
and the verdict is often largely in
fluenced by series of exquisite de-
livered sentences. The priest who
would cure souls must have a charming
voice. The range of various voices has
enriched orr language with shades of
expression which words can not convey.
Poets never weary of writing of
notes.-the lovers voice, the voices of
the night, morning, stars, the sea,
woods and streams. Voices are a posi-
tive indication of character Go and
listen to the rasping tones of the Police
Court shyster; then take seat before
the bench of the Supreme Court, and,
though blindfolded, you can, from
the voices you hear, name the distinct
localities. The subdued echo of
drawing-room conversation will indI-
cate the attractive presence of cultured
ladies and gentlemen; while, on the
other hand, the rough sounds of a gath
ering of brawling jewellers will imme-
diately indicate the quality of the COM
pany.
1t is not possible nor desirable to as
sess speaking voices like bales of mer-
chandise. but good voices might be
valued higher than they are. Half the
fun in life comes from merry voices.
The debaSed criminal element, all the
the world over, has voice of its OWL;
every large city has degraded multi
tude of people whose hard. hollow and
cruel voices distinguish them. Women,
gentle in appearance, make their want
of character manifest by the tones in
their voices.
Voices can be adapted to uses wide
apart. Soldiers and sailors, who call
to each other through the lannon's
roar or the blasts of 4 storm; the herds
men and drovers, who terrify half
tanned animals by wild shouts; the
hunter, who mimics the cry OF birds to
bring passing focks within range of
his gun, are instances of this adapta-
bility. The grandest, tin most stirring,
ecstatic, solemn and sad sounds known
come from single or combined human
voices.
Science and observing care have
brought singing voices almost to per-
lection. Now some thoughtful atten-
ton may well be given to speaking
voices. When there are no inherited
defects. early training will give the
right direction. Strength will always
come with good health and plenty of
pure air, fresh from the sea or the
At home and ut school
faults should be corrected. The greatest
risks are run in the school-room, where
children are sometimes compelled to
strain their voices in reading or recit-
ing. The injury is manifestly ire
parable, as shown by the army of men
and women who every day emit harsh,
metallic and high sounds, that CRATE
upon every refined ear.-San Francisco
NetCS- Letter.