Year: 1872

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bcr who defends his right, must do
so wholly at his own proper cost,
even if successful, unless the Elec-
ton Committee resolves that his op-
ponent challenged his return on
frivolous and vexatious grounds, .
In that case the opponent has to pay
the costs of both parties.


Tho American Voice.


We hear great deal of, as well
as great deal from it. Foreigners
who come here have much to say
about its popularity. We, our
selves, when we 60 into other coun-
tries, find that no people speak as we
speak. When we come home, we
are shocked at.our instructive dis
like of our countrymcn's tones. We
feel as if universal catarrh had
seized the nation; everybody's voice
sounds as if they were haunted by
an uncanny demon Of steam en-
gine, and were trying to out scream
it; and we, too, begin to bemoan
ourselves over the American voice.
But there is no such thing as the
American voice. People may talk
as much and as learnedly as they
please and can about the thinncss
of our air, its stimulating quality,
the prevalence Of the mucous mem
brane of American heads and noses,
and so on. This is all nonsense. 1t
is only the American habit ofspcak-
ing which is at fault. 1t is our
national misuse of organs which
are just as good as any other peoples
organs Of speech


Three facts, open to every ones
observation, prove this. First, all
little children, beginning to speak,
speak in low, sweet voices. No
observant person familiar with
children can fail to find this out.
Secondly, large portion of the
Americans who spend year or two
in Europe return with the fixed
habit of speaking on much lower
key than they used before. Thirdly
there are some of our countrywo
and few Of our countrymen who,
without ever having been abroad,
and without any other training than
that resulting Of necessity from u
fastidious, sensitive, impressionable
nature, born of culture and breed
ing do habitually speak in q low
and well modulated voice, with
articalations which are a pleasure
and not a perplcxity to hear.


But the fact still remains, glaring
indisputable, mortifying, that the
average American has voice and
intonation which torture sensitive
ears, which identify him instantly
and unmistakably in any quarter Of
the globe, and which 60 very far,
much farther than his self-cstccm
let's him suspect, to stamp him as a
barbarian in the eyes of refined and
courteous people Of all nations. ~
heard American voices in this room
and came in to see you were here"
said kindly English woman to us
once, in room Of the Vatican.
little dreaming Of the stab CON
cealed under the cordial words. In
fact it was probably SO fixed n
point of distinction and recognition
in her mind that she had no con
seriousness Of having said an un-
pleasant thing.


There is no reason, not the least
reason, why, in single generation,
this national fault should not be
cured. If fpeople would only take
half the pains to teach their children
to speak in proper and pleasing
tones of voice that they do to teach
them to speak in correct language,
it would be accomplished. For all
the forces of nature are arrayed on
the side of the low and gentle tone.
1t is positively a wonder that SO
sweet an instrument as the human
voice can be in 50 many instances
made harsh and discordant. But
nature does not recognize grammar;
screeching outrages her. Talking
through the nose is an imprudent
violation of plain intent, but double
negatives do not offend her; and of
nominative cases she takes small
heed.


There are some things, many
things, which We cannot have in
America; not yet, at any rate. We
have not leisure, and our roots have
not struck deep enough; but low,
gentle, pleasing tones we can have.
We come Of the stock which has
the lowest tones and sweetest voices
in the world. We breathe better
air than we left behind. Let us put
it to better use, and remove from
us this unnecessary but too well
justified reproach as to our speech.