The Irish standard., 1892-02-13
CHARACTER IN VOICE.
An Infallible Index Of Mans Real
Nature.
The Rare Sweetness of the Flute-Liko
Voice-Harsh, Discordant Tones
That Crate on Sensi-
tive Ears.

phrase, "a Babel OF voices, recognizes
that individuals have each their own
way of speaking, as widely different as
If they used foreign tongues Grave
voices are considered to belong of neces-
sity to men Of gravity and intelligence,
while fute-lilSc sounds announce friv-
olity of temperament. Harsh voices in
dictate temper. These definitions are
somewhat overwide and require them
selves defining.
A grave voice may just as often mean
bad temper as intelligence and it is by
the tone rather than by the kind Of
voice that passion or emotion is be-
.trayed. A man Of very clear intelli-
gence naturally has a distinct mode Of
utterance, but if he should happen to
time the voice is used. Novelists call
this rise of tone ''a clear and cutting
enunciation," but they consider it to be
{. sign of anger with every person,
whereas it chiefly belongs to those who
are intelligent by nature, nor does it de-
pend on the amount of education Or re-
fnement they may possess.
A curious little grittiness in the gen
eral suavity of voice will warn the
listener that storms Of temper have
often swept those vocal chords. The
really harsh voice requires no further
notice, as, indeed it speaks for itself
Flute-like tones are exceedingly rare
and belong properly. to q happy DISPOSE
tion, including mental powers rather
above the average, with character at
once gentle, cheerful, sociable and
faithful. But on account of their rarity
and beauty The limitations are numer-
GUS. For there is a sort of passion
among the average specimens OF hui
mainly to initiate something better
than itself and thereby to claim dis
tinction.
It therefore delights in speaking
in ready tones, as hute-like as can
be managed by dire erdetvor, es-
pecially when idleness gives the
time and opportunity for dis
play. There is a very peculiar ring
ia these limitations which suggests that
If they were submitted to scientific
tests the wave motions would be found
to go all awry and that no flowers but
ill-grown weeds, not curves but ragged
edges, would be formed.
On the other hand, some voices might
be described as empty, as they have
neither volume Of sound nor expression.
An inveterate obstinacy of character is
hidden under this harmless defect.
A modern variety not altogether nm
common among girls is loud and very
high voice with sudden low tones in it
that mix as if melted into one, which
is exceedingly characteristic, indicating
genuine shallowness of :,}laracte', t,
gether with recklessness and amb;ticr'.
1t appears to be caused by Che conflict
ing interests of the speaker, as THESE
qualities cannot live in the same per-
son without internecine struggle.
A woman S voice being of high regis
ter, has properly native tendency TO
softness and sweetness, thought must
be added-also to shrillness. The ideal
feminine voice is
Ever soft and low
An excellent thing in women
Her voice should be distinct and clear
two qualities indispensable to the per-
feet form. Like the voice of Millions
angel, who
In Adams ear
So charming left his voice that he awhile
Thought him still speaking
It should have the specially musical
tone that belongs to the purest perfec-
ton and gives an extreme sweetness
and the sort of vitality that all music
possesses of divine right. A clear tone
carries the sound further with less
noise and avoids the shrill upper notes.
Each nation has it's own kind of voice.
doubtless owing to the climatic condi-
tions which have affected the whole
growth and development of the race.
A point not enough noticed is that as in
each Civilized nation some persons will
be found who outwardly resemble the
average members of another nation,
these individuals will show remar]za
BILE affection to the language of the
nation they resemble and will have the
very tone and accent by nature that is
required, besides being generally gifted
with good mental powers.
How this variation in race may
come about must be left for ethnolo-
gists to decide. Perhaps these members
are unconscious peacemakers between
the Babel-sundered nations. From this
fact the following curious result is
seen: Whatever nation a man most
strongly resembles it is that nations
language he will speak the best, wheth-
er it be his native tongue or not. In the
case Of mixed descent a real aptitude
for the languages of the different an
cestral races will be found among such
of the descendants as may chance to be
intelligent, and the resemblance to one
Of its progcnitors will show at once
which is the best-known language.
A further strange instance of the
power of the human voice in affecting
the face can be noticed here. A man of
unmixed descent who is clever and has
talent for languagesswill not fail to
learn whatever language he chooses,
although he will find those most diff
cult which are most illogical in con-
struction, whether they resemble his
native tongue or not. He will in the
process insensibly acquire thoughtful
oxnY.assiOn. rf faca h1ap1;nr tho o1,o,.