The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-01
READING AND VOICE CULTURE,

In last Sundays EAGLE Mr.. Hyde
touched an important matter In bis article
on reading, drawing, etc. l desire to
make a few remarks On reading aud voice
culture.
1t is a common remark that reading is
much neglected in elementary education.
l will not affirm or deny on this point, but
will affirm that it is rare to find good
reader among the pupils of our public
schools. q do not refer specially to the
schools Of Wichita, but to schools In gen
eral) The result: the effect wrong, the
cause must be wrong. This cause may be
ID in want of time; CO in lack of interest
on part of pupil or teacher or both: (3) in
mode of training; (4) in good models IN
the teacher. Any one or all Of these may
enter to produce the result. In view OF
lack of training and to multiplex studies
in the curriculum, it is fair to infer that
teachers often lack in both time and wide
and thorough training for this work,
especially in voice culture. In this
last, the lack is likely to be greatest, be-
cause few years ago, in the school days
of many now teaching, this branch re-
ceived much less attention than at present
in an elaborate article on this subject,
pointed out the defects in our national
voice, the nasal tone OF New England. the
slurred of the south and the imperfect
articulation of the west, with very gem
eral lack of sweetness and variety in nearly
all parts of the country.
As remedy for this, the same insisted
that voice culture should take its place in
the public schools along with vocal music,
penmauship aud drawing. having special
teacher as has these. Many schools are
adopting this plan, some employing
special teacher all the time. some portion
Of the time some for certain classes,
especially for senior classes in preparatory
for their graduating addresses. This last.
while valuable for the end in view, does
but little for permanent voice develop
ment. To develop the singing voice re-
quires years. so by parity of reasoning,
| to develop and train the speaking voice,
must require many months at best. After
two thousand years, we are beginning in
this, as in the other higher arts to go
back to the ancient Greeks with them.
The pupil in voice training passed under
| the different teachers. one to develop
strength or fullness of volume, one variety
and hexibility, another smoothness and
sweetness. Plato summarized the whole
OF voice when he said speak, that l may
know you," as much as to say voice reveals
| character. Pythagerus said, when the
wise person opens his mouth the beauties
of the soul reveal themselves as the Statues
of "A temple"
In view Of these statements and in view
of the wide culture, we are giving in other
departments, the fair influence is that
voice culture should receive more atten
/ ton than now given it. This inference Is
strengthened when we consider the time
required to develop the singing voice
which is used once week or fortnight, o,
month. while the talking voice is used
daily and hourly, in the family. the social
circle. and business, and in the professions
il becomes the prime factor in the work
In the light of the above, it would seem
that an instrument Of so general and 81
efficient use should receive culture specia
and careful.
In closing we would suggest one OF two
means to this end is available; % as sug
yested above, special teacher, for thi:
work; 60 a higher preparation on the par
OF the general teacher. The former vii
be the more effective, the latter less expen
sive.
Ii is not the purpose of this article {,
s,eak of the dsagreeable qualities OF thu
voice often heard in the school-room. il
the pulpit, at the bar, as the nasal tone
the throaty. the metallic, the declamatory
the sing-song, bad articulation, indistiuc
enunciation. Sc. grating upon the ear
paining the nearer and harming tn
speaker.
Touching voice, Shakespeare says: "He
voice was ever soft, gentle and low, an ex
cellent thing in woman
Byron: Her voice was like the warbiin.
of a bird, so soft. SO sweet, SO delicatel
clesr."
Another: Nothing brings heart With
touching distance of heart like th
tongue"
A cultivated voice. like handsome tscs
often introduces to higher things.
\. VOICE.