New-York tribune., 1901-08-24
PIAZZA TALKS.
A GROUP OF WOMEN DISCUSS VOICE CULT
Ire

IRE.
..sba has beautiful voice." said Mrs Jones. al
Iuding 10 an expected guest at the summer hotel.
mats great point in her favor" said Mrs
Brownsmith.
Indeed it is. I'm sure you'n be pleased, for she
is that all? what I want know is, how does
she speak,
speak? Oh. I don't know-like every one else.
suppose
DO you really think that every one speaks In
the same way2
.,oh. weli-no not exactly. People from different
places speak little differently
..In afraid they do. indeed" sighed Mrs. Brown
smith Il may as well say at the start that
can't bear people who forever casting surs
upon their own country and everything in IL. and
yet the American voce-well. the best that can
be said Of II is that. among a select few. it is
improving. But the few. alas are too few.
good voice and manner. in speaking, are becoming
more and more the sign OF the educated minority.
But even that is improvement for until
Gently II wasn't considered a part Of educa-
tion People had old Dogberry's idea-that it
comes by nature
But surely II does by nature II YOU
haven't a sweet voice. what can you do?"
Your voice is naturally sweet. Mrs Jones. and
you II well because you have refined instincts:
but l assure you that in most cases II is matter
OF cutfva II my voice. for example. tolera-
bly, agreeable. ] owe thanks 10 nature When
! was very young ] spoke in thin nasal tone
with careless enunciation. My mother had sense
enough 10 tell me that could change IL II I would
and that the speaking voice was not q matter OF
Indifference. any more than the carriage OF the
body. They things she said. of more i'm
portance than beauty Of feature She showed me
in the first place. that could neither speak well
nor well unless I held my head up-not
straining the shoulders back. but keeping the
chest and throat erect. How can person speak
with a bent Windpipe2 That doesn't sound sciAr-
thc. / admit. but II is the way IL strikes me,
linen I was sent 20 teacher. not 10 learn elocu-
tion,' but TO learn 10 speak, and 10 conquer my
natural defect
Il never thought II could be done said Mrs
Jones. In fact never thought much about il
Because your organs OF speech haven't given
you any trouble. But with most OF you know
good g0ts gained al the price OF good work
I wish young would think OF that when
they trained for the ministry said another
in the group. II know a young student
whose zeal and spirituality give promise OF great
spoil II all He simply does not speak plainly and
doubt he thinks he can't help it
He ought feel that he must help IL or leave
the ministry said Mrs. Brownsmith Why they
IS past my comprehension. It's bad enough for a
girl be graduated from a fashionable school. or
college. with voice like foghorn-"
But don't YOU thnk-as you said a while ago
habits OF spesch%'
Yes / think IL IS growing upon us. Our percep-
tions, last. sharpened little on that point,
and our nerves are Jared by unmusical tones as
well as by coarse or slipshod expressions Women
the worst sinners in this particular. but they
also the best reformers. For most bad voices
there is more excuse than for bad English. but
occasionally person Ike the young man you spoke
OF has a congenital defect 10 overcome. ] know IL
can be conquered. however. by perseverance,. and
it's worth while"