The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-03-08
AMERICAN woMeN,s volcEs.
a Young English Diplomats Ron,ark
Throat Gymnastics.

Throat Gymnastics.
Considerable discussion has been caused
by remark Of a young diplomat belong.
ing to the English fisheries commission.
lie said that he was much struck witt,
the facial and physical lovelincss of
American women, but that his sense of
the harmonious was Jared when they
spoke. ''Ensli,hwomcn's intonaiion is
musical. low, sympathetic, while that Of
the typical daughter Of America is high.
somewhat harsh. and not grateful" lIo
added that in repose the American
woman is more attractive than her
English sister; but that the latter il more
agreeable in conversation.
Throughout the debate which this
candor has started their is no denial of
the assertion that American women's
voices are often disagreeable and that
English women's intonauon is more
melodious. But there is no proper effort
to get at the cause Of the difference.
There is an error in admitting that the
difference is due tn higher pitch in this
country than in England ANY one who
has heard English women speaking with
total self-unconsciousnes in their own
homes knows that they run TO quite as
nigh n note as women OF any other coun-
try; and that. in proportion lis the spirit
Is ainiable, the voice rises a. naturally in
the gamut as the thermometer asccnds
when the icy fetters loosen the mercury
Miss Terry's voice Is perfectly natural on
the stage, and when she is not tragic il
Is In high key. Sontag was noted for
talking as ''flutes lisp and nightingales
warblc, and both are at their best in
high pitch.
The trouble lies not in the pitch. but in
the quality of voice. When Lear said of
Cordelia, "Her voice was over soft.
gentle and low, an excellent thing In
woman" it was quality, not pitch, he
correctly described. When Petruchio
says OF Katherine, in Tanning Of the
Shrew," Think YOU little din can
daunt mine ears1" he describes again the
offensiveness in woman's voice. its noisi.
ness, not its pitch. Chaucer knew that
"small voices, sweet entuned," were
"the sweetest melody he ever heard"
nnd once again it is quality, not pitch.
that Is referred to. 1t s undeniable that
In the American air all voices are more
or less roughened by the catarrhal mala-
dies, more disagreeable than dangerous.
We can count too easily the singers We
nave produced; and the moment n voice
Is discovered there is feverish anxiety 20
get It out Of the country before our
winds crack 1t in the throat. Few sing
ers born or bred in Europe return. unless
IN extraordinary cases of great laryngeai
* keh'''t; 3 with as even g. - a tonal-
ity as they bring out hero.
The voices that are bred among us we
do our best TO destroy for musical quail
ity in either singing or speaking by the
elocutionary antics Of our schools. In
England, except among those who are
lattcrly patrons of the public primary
schools, tuition outside the home in
childhood is all but unknown. The GOV
erness is n tradition AS immovable as the
house of lords or the judges wigs. The
children study and rccite in an ordinary
room. The Glow voice is naturally and
sweetly developed. because the lining Of
the throat is not scrapcd 10y voice forcing.
When singing lessons begin the special
timbrc of each voice is scarefullv watched;
and as rapidly as indications suffice, II is
given the proper education for its natI-
raj register, be that high, low or medium.
Meanwhile we have forty children i'm
large schoolroom; the teacher arrances
them In row at the rear, and stands
herself ut the front of the apartment.
and the child who reads loudcst is the
highest in order Of merit. 1t is con-
sidered particularly commcndable if the
entire claSs can read in concert louder
than any other entire class in all the COM
petitive schools-compcting for the ruin
of individual voice quality. The same
unscientific course is followed in music.
All sing the same register for years: all
arc urged 10 shout and "holler" in school.
When they are Of an age To make battle
with the climate in its ugly moods they
can al.eady v, rs fiis,.ii-lliiaa 10 10 ri,ts- ne
chief justice, and more truly: "For nv
voice. have lost it with Eoiloaing and
singing of anthems"
Doubtless, too, mental composure has
much IN DO with the quality Of the voice.
The eager Of both sexes will shout or
scream. As the best conversers are also
the best listeners. the quality Of voice
which goes 80 far to make good con-
verser is instinctively low and symra-
thetic. The English girl learns in in
fancy that she is TO speak only when
spoken to; that she is TO reflect before
speaking, and when she speaks is to say
as little as possible that will antaconizc
her lords and masters. The American
girl is accustomed from childhood TO
speak on everything; To exercise spon-
taneity, il not independence: and the
vices resulting from the abuse of the good
ideas herein involved are loud voice.
harsh quality, and speech, followed by re-
Election, perhaps, but rarely preceded by
It, American girls, rs a rule, are poor
listeners. A dozen Of them will speak all
together, and the highest pitch is often
reached in u competition TO coerce atten-
ton.
Aside from climatic influence. not
easily overcome, whose effects, however,
can DO INDICATED, the disagreeable quality
in American women's voices is due 10
irrational throat gymnastics in childhood,
and 10 deficient mental composure in
maturity. Chicago Times.
A Bath In Washington.
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