Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-23

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Did you ever notice the voices Of your
different friends, or even OF the people
that pass you In the street, Stop and
think . moment! Cannot you count on
your fingers the women whose voices are
soft and well-pltcheds Our fair Ameri-
cans, charming In al else, seldom charm
with their voices. And what pity this
liz! The voice OF child may be shrlll,
and yet be sweet, bat that Of woman
can never be both.
Beauty, grace and Wit are oil charms
In woman, bot none can retain its In
nuence long II accompanied BY voice
loud, harsh or shrill, for there 70 some
thing strangely rspellent In such voice
when falling from woman's lips. There
10 want Of harmony about Il that Jars
upon the nerves, and arousea . vague
feeling Of unrest and Irritation. Very
often, too, it gives false Impression OF
the speakers real character, for many Of
rs are apt to associate shrill voice with
shrewish temper, and harsh one with
IN ungentle spirit, and loud one with
want Of refinement and good breeding.
That the fair sex are not all endowed
with that excellent thing 10 woman" 10
not 10 every case the fault Of Nature
poor Nature, that has to bear the blame
OF 30 many faults Of cultivation. Chill
dren's voices are not always naturally
loud and shrill, though they oil Instinct
lively raise them when eager and happy,
and clamor and shout out Of pure de-
light and exuberant spirits. Indeed, II
party Of children are too quiet, their
mothers are apt 70 fancy that they can
not be enjoying themselves, or else that
they must be brewing some mischief.
There IL no need, In the process OF train
ing, to check this overflow Of cheerful
ness and high spirits In childhood, for
young voices can learn how to be gentle
and soft, just As the young mind learns
to be pure and true-little by little, day
by day--by example even more than BY
precept.
Although voice "harsh, loud and
shrill" IL not always = true index OF the
speakers character, IL sometimes IL, and
more often Il supposed 10 be, aud
therefore women should In this, as In
every other case, avoid even the appear
snce Of evil. ''Soft, gentle and low
the very words are harmony, rest Tor
wearied nerves, peace for storm-tossed
souls. There is 30 potent charm In
such voice that its hearers. at once
endow the owner Of this excellent
thing" with every good, sweet, and
womanly attribute under the sun, when
they, perhaps, more rightly belong TO
the woman whose voice does not speak
Of harmony, res; and peace.
And what an influence the woman
with voice soft, gentle and low" has
over those around her, and bow careful
should she be to use this power Alright,
for power II 10, both for good and fo'
evil! Even the gentle word, when
spoken In a tone that Is harsh, loses
much Of its gentleness, the soft speech
that turns away wrath, when uttered In
shrill voice, loses half lts strength
The charm Of woman's sweet voice
will remain to her long after her beauty
has been stolen away by the hand Of
Time, will return 10 the memory Of
those who are far away from Its sound
and Its influence, as does the echo tc
some tuneful old song, and will, even
when II Ia stilled by the touch Of death
linger "long after It Ii heard no more
In the hearts Of those who knew anc
loved its every tone.-McCalrs Maya
zine.