Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-01
TIE HUMAN VOICE.
Some Incidents which Go to Show Its
Wonderful Influence Over Man.

WONDERFUL influence over MAN.
It is said by those who are compe-
tent 10 judge that an Englishman's
voice indicates almost infallibly the
social standing of its poSsessor.
Shakespeare calls a soft, gentle and
low" voice an excellent thing in wo-
man" and another observer. with a
happy kuack NJ phrasiEg, says, "A
woman should never raise her voice
above the singing of a kettles" while
another CXclaims, let no one say il is
a matter Of Indifference what song is
sung by u chiid's cradle. 1t sounds
through the whole life"
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. 4 brave New York
fireman was climbing "A ladder upon a
blazing hOusr, striving TO reach child
who stood in the window of the fourth
story. The smoke became SO binding
and the heat 81 uncomfortable that the
intrepid man wavercd and paused.
i shudder ran through the crowd,
till an inspired voice called out, Cheer
hint" Instantly the heavens were
rent with a shout of passionate enthu-
siasm that bore The sinking fireman up
ward OH il, breath, and the fainting
child WAS soou IN lis mothers arms.
We recall another instance. On the
night of the ever to be deplorcd 10Th
of July, 1872, tire broke out ia the
v~eneratcd l~aStlica of st. Paul. Rome.
The terrified and lamenting populace
gathered from all quarters around the
sacred ediAce, which had been filed
from very carly times with the most
veneratcd religious relics, as well Is
with the richest treasures of art.
Paralyzcd with fear and grief, the
people stood in helpless awe, when Il
clarion voice rang out, Save the
arch, the gift of the Fifth 10 the Nine,
teenth century, The cry acted like
an inspiration upon the crowd; every
arm felt the thrill, and the arch was
saved.
A still familiar instance of the
power of the voice over a crowd is
perhaps that which occurred at the rails.
ing of an obelisk i'm Rome, many years
ago. For a long time no one could be
found willing TO attempt the work,
but at length an architect. Domenico
Fontana, devised machinery by which
to accomplish il. The risk was great.
If the enterprise should m~iscarry, and
the Dbelisk, partly raised, should fall
10 the earth, il might cause the death
of hundreds, beside the destruction of
the monument.
A huge crowd assembled 10 watch
the operation. To prevent confusion,
an edict had been issued forbidding
any one, Oh pain of death. to speak,
or even 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
sounded, and the machines began 10
work, and the levers TO creak and bend
under the great pressure. The obelisk
o S steadily, surely. At first easily;
then with greater and greater difficult
ty, until il was within a few lines of
the perpendicular.
Men and beasts exerted themselves
to the utmost, but the cables refused
TO work far1her. 1t was a moment Of
despair. All seemed lost, when a
brave sailor boy, perched aloft,
risked his life and all by calling out
in the dead silence, WET the ropesl'
The word was an inspiration. The
architect and master worklmen saw il
at once. As if the voice Of the sailor
boy had electrified them, they wet the
ropes, which contracted, and the ODE.
lisk was raised to the upright position
it has held ever since. Ii is needless
to add that the prayers Of the people
procured the pardon of the sailor
Youths Companion.