Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-12
THE HUMAN VOICE.
Instances Of Its Power Over Indiyiduals
and Crowds.

Instances OF Its Power Over Indiyiduala
and Crowds.
1t is said by those who are competent
to Judge that an Englishman's voice in
dicates almost infalibly the social
standing of its possessor. Shakespeare
calls a ''soft, gentle and low" voice IAN
excellent thing in q woman" and an
other observer, with happy knack of
phrasing, says: ga woman should never
raise her voice above the. singing of the
kettles" while anothsf ,exclaAhs: Let
no one say it is matter of Indifference
what song is sung by child's cradle. Il
sounds through the whole l1fe."
There was a great thrill in a story
that went the rounds of the papers
some years ago because of its truthful
ness to nature. A brave New York fire.
man was climbing ladder upon biaz-
ing house, striving to reach child who
stood in the window of the fourth story.
The smoke became so binding AMI the
heat so uncomfortable that the intrepid
man wavered and paused.
shudder ran through the crowd, till
an inspired voice called out: 'sCheer
him" Instantly the heavens were rent
with shout Of passionate enthusiasm
that bore the sinking fireman upward on
a
soon in its mothers arms.
We recall another instance: On the
night of the ever to be deplored 18th of
July, 1898, fire broke out in the vener-
.ated basilica of st. Paul in Rome, The
terrified and lamenting populace gath
cred from all quarters about the sacred
edifice. which had been filled from very
early times with the most venerated re-
1igious relics, as well as with the richest
treasures of art.
Paralyzed with fear and grief the peo-
pie stood in helpless awe, when clarion
voice rang out: ''Save the arch, the gift
OF the fifth to the nineteenth oenturyr'
The cry acted like an inspiration upon
the crowd; every arm felt the thrill, and
the arch was saved.
A still more familiar instance of the
power of the voice over a crowd is per-
haps that which occurred at the raising of
an obelisk in Rome, many years ago.
For long time no one could be found
willing to attempt the work, but at
length an architect, Domenico Fontana,
devised machinery by which to accom-
plish it. The risk was great. If the
enterprise should miscarry,. and the
obelisk, partly raised, should fail to the
earth it might cause the death of hun
dreds, beside the destruction Of the
monument.
A huge crowd assembled to watch the
operation. To prevent confusion, an
edict had been issued forbidding any
one, on pain of death, to speak, or even
to make any noise. The signals to work
and rest were to be given by the sound
of trumpets.
The silence of death reigned over the
vast concourse as the. first signal sound
ed, and the machines began to work, and
the levers to creak and bend under the
great pressure. The obelisk rose
steadily, surely. At first easily, then
with greater and greater difficulty, until
it was within a few lines of the perpan-
diculaf.
Men and beasts exerted themselves. TO
the utmost, but the cables refused to
work farther. 1t was moment of des
spair. All seemed lost, when a brave
sailor boy, perched aloft, risked his life
and all by calling out in the dead ST.
lence: "Wet the ropest'
The word was an inspiration. The
architect and nd-master-workn1an Saw it st
once. As if the voice of the sailor boy
had electrified them, they wet the ropes,
which contracted, and the obelisk was
raised to the upright position it has held
ever since. 1t is needless to add that
the prayers of the people procured Che
pardon Of the sailor.-Youth's Compan-
ion