The St. Johns herald., 1893-01-05
CHARACTER IN VOICE.
An Infanible Index CT Man's Real
 Nature.
The Rare Sweetness of the Finte-Like VOice-iIarsa, Biscordant Tones That Crate Sensi-
 tive Ears.

London Saturday Review. The very 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 belongo of neees- sity to men of gravity and i1tclligenee, while fiute-lile sounds announce friv- olity of temperament. Harsh voices in- dicate 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- genee naturally has distinct mode Of utterance, but if ke should happen to be rufiled the tone will sharpen at the time the voice is used. Novelists call this rise of tone "a clear and cutting enunciation," but they consider it to be a sign of anger with every person, whereas it chiefly belongs to those who are intelligent by nature. nor docs it de pend on the amount of education or re- finement they may possess.
 A curious little grittiness in the gen. eral suavity of a 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 a happy disPosi- 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- ous. For there is sort of passion among the average specimens of hu- manity to initiate something better than itself and thereby to claim dis tinction.
 It therefore delights in speaking in ready tones, as hute-lilze as can be managed by dire endeavor, es- pecially when idleness gives the time and opportunity for dis play. There is a very peculiar ring in 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 in-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 un- common among girls is a 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 character. to- gether with reclxlessness and ambition. It appears to be caused by the conflict ing interests of the speaker, as these qualities cannot live in the same per son without internecine struggle.
 woman's voice being of high regis ter, has properly a. native tendency to softness and sweetness, though--itmust 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 tue per- feet form. Like the voice eof Milton's 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 pure pel'fcc- tion and gives an extreme -sweetres 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 its own kind of voice doubtless owing to the climatic coEa tions which have affected the w3s,ie growth and development of the race. X point not enough noticed is that as in each civilized nation some persons Wi}l be found who outwardly resembie the average members of another nation these individuals will show a rernarka- ble affection to the language of the nation they resemble and win have the very tone and accent by raluro that is required, besides being generally gifted with good mental powers.
 How this variation in race may come about must be left for et2nolo- gists to decide. Perhaps these members arc unconscious peacemal1ers between the Babel-sundered nations. From this fact the following curious result is seen: Whatever nation a man most strongly resembles it is that nation language he will speak the best waeth- CT it be his native tongue or not. Ia fae case of mixed descent Q req aptitude for the languages of the GiHercct al. cestral races will be found aG D s3ca of the descendants as may eaatees3 ae intelligent, and the resemblance .t9 one, of its progenitors will show at once which is the best known language,
 A further strange, instance Of the power of the human voice ia ei.eeflag the face can be noticed here. < ut1u ot unmixed descent who is clever ars Ia a talent for laperr ges wjil not -,,i to learn whatever language he chooses. although he will find those most 1.iJ,- emit which are most iiCr-t.-l 5I .-ef.-