The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-16

40S" y" NSSA NS@S w.
dress by a person whose voice strikes
the ear soothingly than even better
matter from the lips Of one who has q
voice that would scratch glass. Music
in our public schools ought, if it does
nothing else for the children, to modify
and subdue 1.-THE American voice. "
II sometimes think it hasn't produced
any ~appreciable results as yet, as ]
listened to the voices Of children at
play
In selecting persons to fill a pro
gramme far too little thought is given
to the manner in which they will per-
form their part. Those selected give
much more attention to the prepare
ton of the matter than they do to its
delivery. Yet the latter is every whit
as important. To ''speak loud" is not
always equivalent to being heard.
There is a certain art in the use of the
voice, which, once acquired, enables
the individual to take a tone that
''carries"-to give it the carrying
quality" that fills the room or hall,
falls ~agreeably on the listeners ear,
and permits the speaker to talk with
out fatigue or strain.
Elocution lessons ought to give this
accomplishment-fOr it ia a great &C
complishment. Unfortunately, they
quite too often merely induce an arri-
hciality of voice and manner as tire
some as what it is intended to do away
with. But the "%'elocution craze" has
borne it's part in keeping alive the sub
j CT Of the training Of the speaking
voice, to which more Importance is
constantly being attached, though, as
a matter of fact, general vocal training
is only just beginning to be specially
recognized as a duty owed to the in
dividual and society. There is 70
doubt that when voica- training shall
be generally adopted we shall see q
marked decrease in the number of
throat and lung diseases, as we'll as in
the refinement and enrichment Of the
American voice.
a melodious and we'll modulated
voice, distin It, clear yet not loud,
thoroughly under control, is one of the
attributes Of the we'll bred omsn A
sharp, nasal, rasping voice will detract
from the cnarm Of the finest face and
finest figure, and more than onca I've
heard men, and women, too, say, I'D
hate to live in the house with that
voiceI'
They say it is impossible for US to
recognize the real quality Of our own
voices; that is, tha5 if we spoke into a
phonograph we would not recognise
the voice reproduced by the cylinder
as ours. know not how that may be,
out it seems to me as if ones own ears
might be sufficiently keen to recognize
our own tones with or without the
photograph, and apprise Us whether
we have one of these voices that would
scratch glass or CRATE a nutmeg. Or,
haven't we some friend who could tell
us-if we asked-of such a sad defec5,
and thus enable US to set about filing
it down2" However we come by the
kno wledge is not as important as toE
promptly we act upon it.
A. A J referred more particularly
to the inaudible voice in her mention
of poor reading. How few of those
who read audiOly read so as to convey
to their hearers the full beauty and
meaning of what is read? r fading is
the child's first lesson and that 10
he gets the longest drill as we'll,
as the requirement he usas most. yet
only a small percentage are able to
take up a book or paper ana read a
passage aloud to the pleasure and edit
of others. I take it that read
aloud, we'll and a~cceptably, in a
well-moduIated aud musical voica, is
accom- olishment that would give
to more than music pleases;
it could be psaotice1 by everyb Ody, in
every home, and would require no ex
instruments or cOstly tuition.
Perhaps it ia because any one could
t she would-become a good reader,
hat reading aloud is ignored as an &C
3omp!ishment.-B Jatrix in DJGro- Fee
DEVELOPING MANHOOD AND
WOMANaOOD.