The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-01
The Voice of In American

Il say. you wouldn't care to be Miss
Penelope Browne, the American girl,
would you-sitting there holding forth
in that dictatorial manner through
her nose. even though it IS a pretty
one?"
That is how an Englishman SAYS he
consoles British girls when they COM
plain to him that they are quite put IN
the shade when the girl from the
United States appears on the scene.
The American girls superiority is
general attractiveness, in knowledge
and power to take care of herself. III
good looks n physical development
!, is admitted even by the English. But
there is one thing left to cast at her.
and it never fails. That is her voice
her nasal, thrOaty, uncultured voice.
Do YOU know there is such a thing
as the talking mouth? And with the
talking mouth generally goes the voice
that is terrible. The mouth is wide,
opening farther backward toward the
ears than the ordinary one. 1t is linn
Der Tipped, generally hung below i
that is sharp. The tongue is long
and thin, and, great Scott, how that
tongue does gallOp! The sound that
issues from 1t is as if it We're a run
away tin peddler's cart on a small
scale. You can hear it as If it We're a
monograph.
The woman with the talking mouth
may be we'll and tastefully dressed.
she may belong to the leading social
class. but her voice jars sometimes on
h sensitive ears like the crash Of
shivering glass or the twanging Of
metal. That voice agalnt
1t is time to be plain on this topic.
The one point lacking to he perfect
culture OF the beautiful American
woman is found too often in her speak,
ing voice. We cultivate carefully in
our girls the singing voice, they are IN
Structed in every manner of physical
accomplishments, to make their bodies
strong. beautiful n graceful; they are
trained to be perfectly hammered So
cIally; moral sentiments that do them
credit are inculcated-Only the speak
ing voice, that which means every
thing in a cultured woman. IS utterly
neglected and allowed to heave along
barbaric and throaty as il will.
The correction is easily made. For
girls a year or two of schooling in
Europe under teachers who will make
them open their mouths n speak
with the tip of the tongue instead OF
back in their threats afford the best
method Of getting a clear. sweet voice.
But any woman of any Age can ac-
NNAAARiAC4A ALLl HULL AN ACASOlI
even though she may never see
Europe. The simple method indicated
is infallible. Let the woman or girl
speak a sentence in the ordinary way
of so many Americans, back in her
throat Then let her throw her voice
forward TO the tip of her tongue and
her lips and utter the same sentences.
Her quick American ear will catch at
once the difference in tone.
Let me say il again: Any girl or
woman can achieve the sweet. clear
talking voice for herself. She ought
to do il and thus correct what is truly
almost a national blemish. though we
de not all recognize il. II is high
time that mothers and teachers took
this matter in hand with school chill
dren and that club women took il in
hand among themselves.
Pronunciation is a matter OF taste
and custom, and in many aspects the
American pronunciation is better than
that of the English. But the attain
ment of a clear, musical speaking voice
is a duty We owe to ourselves and the
rest of mankind.-Mary Gould Lytle in
Virginian Pilot.