Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-02

Washington, Sept. IA whistling
school is being conducted in this city.
The art of whistling which has so long
been frowned upon by sedate adults
is being taught scientifically to a
group of boys and girls by a speech
specialist. What is most remarkable,
a roman of about SO years is in the
class along with the youngsters. She
believes that the old adage: "A whis-
to any good end" is more sensible in
its revised version: "A girl that can
whistle and a hen that can crow will
make their way wherever they 60"
The class in whistling is the idea
Of DR.. Walter =. Swift, well known
! speech specialist of Boston. He noticed
that many of his clinic patients could
not whistle. He also took note of the
fact that people who whistle easily
and well usually have clear-cut speech.
The doctor thought over these sig
nificant observations and came to the
conclusion that whistling might well be
a means of clearing up defective
speech. Accordingly, he held his first
whistling class in Boston last month
the first whistling class in history,
he whimsically calls it.
Eight students enrolled. One was
a stammerer. One had a phonetic
defect. And the other six came just
to learn to whistle. After a month of
persistent work DR.. Swift reported
that the stammerer had improved so
per cent in his speech while the boy
with the phonetic trouble also talked
with noticeable improvement. The chill
dren with whistling ambitions were
joyously thrilling all sorts of tunes. The
I u-hsctl;a~ 1aaRo- +ko~ -.@vaI ~ IIazl
ington to conduct his next expert
ment.
Whether or not the experiments
justify his theory, the doctor is a
strong advocate of whistling as music
and exercise. He says: Everybody
should whistle. 1t is the greatest worry
killer | know of. Try it when you feel
gloomy and watch yourself cheer up.
Whistling should be a part of every
bodys education; 1t tends to improve
speech. even if there is DO defect
A Good Vocal Exercise
The method of producing a whistling
sound and the method Of speaking are
closely allied, the doctor points out,
so that whistling is good vocal exer-
clse. Then, too, when a person whistles
he listens TO the sound he is producing
and tries to make it clear and pleasing.
That most people need TO improve
their speech is obvious. The Ameri-
can voice is harsh and r%asping. due
to fast, high pitched and slovenly
conversation. If we listened to our
speech as We listen when we sing or
whistle we would soon have more
agreeable voices. DIR. Swift says. We
would pronounce our final g's and
cease to run words together in a jum-
Bile. We would talk slowly enough to
make u words distinct, and softly
enough TO produce pleasing sounds.
But most people do not listen. We
are so intent on the remarks we want
to make that the technique seems un-
important.
This is no defense. however, of the
individual who always hears his voice
when he is speaking. Such a person
so enjoys the melody that he draws
from his instrument that his self CON
seriousness is easily apparent. There
is presumably a happy medium. Listen
to your voice occasionally. enough to
become sensitive to your defects. and
listen to the voices of other people.
That will help you to discriminate be-
tween a pleasing voice and grating
mannerisms. These methods have been
advocated all along. Whistling is the
new addition to the list of suggestions
for. speech improvement.
Learning to whistle seems simple as
DIR. Swift teaches it. He opens the
class by testing each pupils founda-
ton for whistling. The record of the
speech defect, if there is any, has
been obtained before the class begins.
Can you whistle? Some? Good"
says the doctor to a is year old boy.
"Whistle something"
The boy strikes up Yankee Doodle"
and gets through it creditably though
then given Il whistling lesson: To prac-
tise Yankee Doodle five times a day
for five minutes at a time.
A bright and smiling little chap Of
nine with a faint lisp in his speech is
next. He speaks in very deep, monot-
onous tones. the doctor points out.
He says that he can't whistle at all.
"Try," urges the doctor. wet your
whistle, pucker your lips and let out
one note-like this
The boy grins and gets out a low,
faint note. He is told to practise puck
ering up and whistling n steady note
five times a day.
Seeks Cure for Stammering
Then comes the smiling gray haired
woman of the class. After a few false
starts she gives a wavering version
Of yankee Doodle as n test of her
/ ability. She stammers a little when ex-
cited, she explains. and she is inter