Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-02

The art Of whistling when mas y"
long been frowped upon by sehate
adults In being taught scientihcailysto
a group OF boys and girls by spsee'
specialist. What Is most rcrnarKaple'
n woman Of about 80 years is IN tne
class along with the youngsters. She
believes that the old adage:
whlstIing girl and Growing men
never come 10 any good END, ~ more
in It's revised version:
girl that can whistle and hen that
can crow win make their way wher-
ever they 60"
The class in whistling is the idea OF
Or. Walter Il. Swift. well known
speech specialist OF Boston. ne
noticed that many OF his clinic pa
tients could not whistle. lie also TOOK
note OF the fact that people VINO
whistle easily and well usually nave
clear cut speech. The doctor thought
over these significant observations
and came TO the conclusion tnat
whistIing might we'll be a means OK
clearing up defective speech. Accord
ingly. ne held his first whistling cioss
in Boston last month--ths first whisu-
ing class In history, he whimsicaliy
calls IL.
Eight students enrolled. One was
stammerer. One had a phonetic de-
feet. And the other six came just 70
learn TO whistle. After 81 month OF
persistent work DR.. Swift reported
That the stammerer had improved %
per cent in his speech while the boy
with the phonetic trouble also talked
with noticeable improvement. Inc
children with whistiing ambitions
were ioyously trilling all sorts Of tunes.
The whlstllng doctor then moved %
Washington 10 conduct his next ez-
pertinent.
Whether or not the experiments
Justify his theory. the doctor is
strong advocate OF wbistling as mu-
sic and exercise. He says: Every
body should whistle. II is the great
est worry killer 1 know Of. Try u
when you feel gloomy and watch your
self cheer UP. whistlins should be a
part Of everybody's education; II
ltend. to improve speech even II there
is no defect"
A Good Vocal Exercise.
The method OF producing
whistling sound and the method q
speaking are closely allied. tho docto
points out. 40 that vhistting Is goo'
vocal exercise. Then too when per
son whistle. he listens TO tho soun'
he IL producing and tries to make ]
clear and pleasing.
That most people need 20 improv
their speech is obvious. The America
voice Is harsh and rasping, due I
fast. high pitched. and slovenly con
versation. II we listened 20 on
speech as we listen when we aing O
whistle we would econ have NOR
agreeable voices, DIR. Swift says w
would pronounce our final g's an
cease to run words together IN
, tumble. We would talk slowly enous
TO make our words distinct, and softl
, enough to produce pleasing soundi
But most people do not listen w
are so intent on the remarks we wan
10 make that the technique seem
unimportant-
This is no defense. however. OF IN
individual who always hears his vote
when he Is speaking. SUCH a perso
| so enjoys the melody that he draw
from his instrument that his self col
I seriousness is easily apparent. The
2 is presumably a happy medium Ii
!. ten to your voice occasionally. enous
4 to become sensitive 10 your defect
n and listen to the voices Of other pc
= pie. That will help you 10 discrin
t nate between a pleasing voice Al
s granting mannerlsms. These metho
e have been advocated all along. Whis'
t ing is the new addition TO the Il
5 OF suggestions for speech improv
: ment.
Learning 10 whistle seems simI
as DIR. Swift teaches it. He opens {
class by testing each pupils found
ton for whistling. The record of I
speech defect. if there is any, h
been obtained before the class
gins.
: Can you whistle? Some? Good
y says the doctor TO a Is year old b'
. Whistle something"
The boy strikes up Yankee Doodl
!. and gets through it .creditably thou
. not all the notes are correct. He
:, then given a whistling lesson:
l. practice Yankee Doodle five times
"A day for five minutes at a time.
A bright and smiling little chap
~ nine with a faint lisp in his speech
s. next. He speaks In very deep, mon
S. onous tones. the doctor points out.
IS says that he can't whistle at all.
er TRY" urges the doctor. Wet yc
whistle. quicker your lips and let I
lie one note-tike this"
ly The boy grins and gets out a L
faint note. He is told 10 pract
ne puckering up and whistling stea
IL note five times a day.
u Seeks Cure For Stammering.
! Then comes the smiling gray hal
woman of the class. After a (
y, false starts she gives a wavering V
: sion OF Yankee Doodle" as a. test
ne her ability. She stammers a Ii
ne when excited, she explains, and
y is interested TO see whether whistl
'N will help.
Il admire your courage" says
doctor. I'VE can teach you TO viii.
- anyway"
The doctor says that he has 10,
only one person who could not le
nd to whistle. Why this boy could
he remains a mystery Either he &C
re. not grasp the idea of how to fo
IS. the sound out, or he could not con
, / the muscles. While others In the cl
ly. advanced from steam engine no
to scales and on to My Old Kentu
Ike Home" this boy never succeeded
producing a feeble pipe.
Se But he is rare exception, DR.. S,
believes. With patience and prac