Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-28
HER UNPLEASANT VOICE
AMERICAN GIRL PITCHES 1T EN-
TIRELY TOO HIGH.
Her Shrill, Brassy Tones Mark Her
Progress Through Europe-Can
Easily Be Improved.
From the New York Sun.

The laudation which has been so freely
given to the American girl In recent years
has not included praise of her voice. Her
beauty, Dress manner. vivacity, style and
wit have all come In for praise but there
Is yet to be heard in the chorus even
small note dwelling on the music Of her
voice.
Modern writers abroad have avoided the
ludicrous error made by so many of their
predecessors in attrfbuting to all American
women fondness for the of slang
spoken through the nose. Only very few
women from certain parts of the east talk
with the nasal twang just as certain other
localities stamp their natives with the burr,
rather pleasant in contrast with the high
pitched typical New York voice.
Whistler 1t is because American women
have proved so successful in social life
abroad not, 1t is difficult to say. but of
late the shrill American voice has been
made the fashion in London to such an eN-
tent that a gathering of duchesses resem-
bles vocally the group around Broadway
soda fountain after the matinee.
At no time of the year is the bad voice OF
the American woman more in evidence
than In summer, when travel and the Open
air life of the resorts give aggressive APP
portunties to it's clarion note. 1t sounds
from hotel and cottage piazza, on the links
and the courts, on driveway and beach from
June until September.
In the open air ii seems at is very worst
until you hear it resounding in a Pullman
car or a hotel office and 1t makes you
vince. You listen for the voices of the
children, but find no relief. The same
squealing, brassy effect is in evidence, only
more poignant in it's youthfulness-
This would seem to indicate that the
American girl is born with this defect. but
this Is not the case. The Shrill voice of the
American child Is largely the result OF
l~-.tk rnx
years ago a child who pronounced dog"
doll" coffee" coffin correctly was
laughed at, so today deep-voiced child
would be made fun of.
Today in the schools ''dawg. 'dawl."
tcawffin," 'cawffee'' are acknowledged TO
be among the most unpleasant peculiarties
OF American pronunciation, but the shrill
voice still obtains. The fact that the
American voice responds Immediately to
cultivation is best proved by the nice voices
OF some Of the leading actresses
Foreign Voices Better.
The women of Russia Italy. Ireland, Eng
land. all have better voices than the women
Of America, so 1t cannot be urged that our
climate is responsible for the trouble. for
each of the countries named has varying
climate that Of England being especially
injurious to the vocal organs
The pitch Of the American woman voice
seems to be it's most important defect. 1t
is noisy. brassy, assertive. Even in the
colleges and at college gatherings the strl-
dent high voice is noticeable The laughter
of the American girl is nothing short OF
disagreeable, and this can always be noted
in matinee audiences when a comedy is be-
ing presented.
This, of course, applies to women Of the
north. The southern women have pc
culiarly soft and charming voice. one of
their grea test attractions. 1t expresses re-
finement, cordially and gentleness. for the
voice, next to the eye is expressive of the
character, and some say that it tells far
more In its unconscious notes.
An American contralto has opened a
studio in New York for the purpose of
teaching American women how to use and
train their voices. The idea Of the venture
came to her at Washington reception,
where statesman called her attention to
the chatter around them and said that
when he had the money to spare he would
endow a college where American women
might be taught to talk correctly.
The new teacher. like the others who have
observed that the American voice has
grown worse instead Of better, has noted
that even the stage at the best theaterS
some of the leading women are now allowed
to talk in this disagreeable. high tched
fashion, possibly for the reason that the
idea is to initiate fashionable talk.
Considering the fact that women pay so
much attention nowadays to the beautify-
ing of their complexion and hair and the
accenting Of their charms generally. 1t is
surprising that more care is not taken or
the voice.
Deep breathing, which Is now prescribed
as remedy for many ills, is an excellent
tonic that speedily shows its effect In the
deepening Of the conversational tones. Sing
ing is an excellent exercise, and little girls
who insist that they do not know how to
sing should be encouraged to learn, as the
voice for speaking will mellow and grow
musical, even though the singing may not
become a marked accomplishment.
A coarse voice is hardly more disagree
able than a harsh, shr.ll one, and few
American women have coarse voices A
distinct low tone is the proper manner in
which to speak. The loud voice not only
shows bad training, but indicates an I'M
pleasantly domineering spirit.