Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-10-31
Proper Care of the Voice.
Real Musical Training and Hard Work Must Not Be
Begun Too Early--No Excuse for Not Gull
tiuatng This Great Gift

will hear the best singers and hear
them under conditions and for prices
that cannot be equalled on this side
of the water. =, -
A young girl should not go unchap-
eroned or by herself to study music
or art in Europe. Several girls may
combine and keep together. If neces-
sary, without an older woman, al.
though it is desirable in that case
that they shall be safely established
in the home of people vouched for by
their acquaintances and satisfactory
to their parents.
Tuition and living expenses may be
reduced to a sum within the modest
| means OF young woman struggling
to secure the best education within
her reach, and if she be so fortunate
as to have a mother or elder sister
who can accompany her, the stay in
some German, French or Italian city,
among music-loving people. will be re-
membered through life as ideally de-
lightfuL
For the young girl with clear,
strong voice, voice that is adapted
| to solos and that has the force that
fits it to lead chorus, there are OPP
, portunities in church choirs and
quartettes. Most of the churches en-
ploy singers who are paid fairly good
| salaries. Apart from the pleasure frs
assisting in the worship of congre-
cation, there is the feeling that one
| is individually praising God for the
| divinest of His rich gifts. A sweet
voice rising from the music gallery
| gives happiness and consolation to-
| the listeners in the pew, and is in it.
self an exquisite inspiration. and al
| most an angelic ministry.
If, however, one have only slen.
der thread of voice and not aspira-
tons toward using it in public there
! is no excuse for not cultivating it,
provided one can afford to do SO.
| Home music may not be ambitious,
| but it brings joy and gladness to
ones family and helps entertain the
stranger within ones gates. The faith
er may be tired at night, but his
| daughters singing rests him and
makes him forget the cares and
trials and the jarring Interruptions of
| his day. The mother feels stealing
over her the quietness and peace that
come floating on the wings of song,
as she hears a. familiar air once on
her own lips in days that are past
1t may be that a passer-by on the
street, lingering out of sight and
hearing a pure melody coming: to
him from an unseen singer, may turn
away from evil and make fresh
start in the pursuit of good, because
the song has had for him its beauti.
full message.
Not long ago a woman, whose life
had been desolated by Sudden and
crushing, sorrow, exclaimed that mu-
sic had helped her to bear it and had
given her more strength than anyone
could dream.
Even though one may never sing
livery much, yet the training, il thor.
ough, will increase the breathing
power, expand the chest and add
something to the vital force. One of
the first things the singer learns is
how to breathe, and the breathing ex.
ercises swiftly and surely raise the
rate of health.
To put the matter in a nutshell, cul-
tivate the voice you have. IF it be a
whole voice, do what you can with it.
II only half or a quarter voice,
make the most of its development
that is possible, but do not dream of
fame and fortune so much as of add
ing to the pleasure of the people
nearest you.
Copyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles)
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