The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-25

Birmingham is @ magnet, it would seem, attracting as 1t does the highest order of talent from every quarter music, art, expression--in fact in every line the best" seem to appreciate the fact that the Magic City is a broad and fertile field for their endeavors.
 Among the latest acquisitions to lit- erary circles Is Miss Norma Seebode, whom many have heard in her ex- quisite readings already, and those who have not certainly have in store gen. uine treat, for she is not only gifted and cultivated, but most unusually pret- ty and attractice otherwise.
 Miss Seebode Is tall and graceful. with a soft, resonant voice that capti- yates at once, and her grace and charm are synonymous with the requirements of the spaker who appears in public whom as we all realize must be good to look upon" as well as talented.
 There Is no doubt but that Miss See bode will succeed in her work here. for she Is full of enthusiasm and energy and is intent upon reaching the high est, for nothing short of that would satisfy her, and 1t is a real joy to talk to her and catch some of her enthus- iasm, an asset without which none can succeed
 When I was chatting with Miss See bode yesterday about her work she re- peated my first question after me quick ly, and in her bright, clever way said:
 How did I happen to come to Bir- mingham, and what am I doing here We'll, it's something like this. From very early childhood the stage and fine readers appealed to me. It was not, however until I was really grown up that I had the opportunity to study, first at the Cincinnati School of EX- pression, where I took both certificate land diploma, and later with Mrs. Lily Iollingshead James of the Cincinnati Iconservatory While studying with Mrs James (who by the way is the most remarkable woman I have ever along the line of expression, but also as fine woman in the highest sense of the word) I was teaching at the Cin- cinnati School of Expression, in thls way getting my wonderful principles as received from Mrs. James, put into ac- tual working order.
 Much as l enjoyed my work at the school, still at the end of my second year, l felt that I wanted to spread out in my work I was persuaded that Birmingham was remarkably me town, full of industry and life. So came. l looked around, delighted with the town, the people, the conditions And I have decided to stay whether Birmingham will or not, am here to open and operate school such as the large one l came from.
 I. Tell me just exactly the nature of Iyour work" 1 requested. There are so many new modes and methods Miss Seebode replied:
 sSouthwicl< says that, rightly studied, as the art of interpretation, elocution IS the key to the spiritual meaning Of all great literature," and again ito read lit erature aloud requires not merely com mand of the voice, but complete un- derstanding of and sympathy with. the thoughts and emotions of the author. My method of teaching insists that the following rules be observed ito be heard, to be felt, to be understood and TO BE NATURAL! On the surface this doesn', seem such great task, but try IL; get ar untrained speaker up before an audience and see now their nerves get the best of their better judgmnt. We train for cor rect breathing, for articulation, for Voice Culture for Every Day Speech. for bodily boise and expressive gesturing. A.l of this comes slowly and surely while the student Is taught how to study, how lo read aloud well, how to get the deer meanings from the author, and then knowing them, to give them back to the audience And all the willie. uncon- sciously, what a wealth of general cul- ture and knowledge the student is stor-
 ing up for himself!'
 '.In these days, so many women appear on the platform" I suggested. "Cluh women and otherwise, l should think there would be a great demand for in- struction."
 "For the man and woman called upon freouently to make public speeches ex- ternporaneously, 1 mean to give special in- Michigan and has been visiting her daugh- ter, is now at her home.