Publisher's Synopsis
From the INTRODUCTION.
That American voices are harsh, nasal, and devoid of beauty is such an oft told tale that I almost fear to repeat it, and yet of so much importance do I deem the subject that I risk the danger of being thought monotonous by referring to the causes and suggesting remedies for the removal of these defects.
What voices lack most of all, as a rule, is expression; and, of course, without expression we have nothing, considering that expression is to all things the life which gives them being. The great philosophical orator and educator, Victor Cousin, has given us these beautiful words of wisdom: "The great law that governs all others is expression. Every work of art that does not express an idea signifies nothing; in addressing itself to such or such a sense, it must penetrate to the mind, to the soul, and bear thither a thought, a sentiment capable of touching or elevating it." This expresses my views exactly in reference to the duty of the speaker in producing voice. He should produce tones that represent ideas - he should explain by the tones of the voice the meaning of the words spoken. If he fails to do this, he merely utters words instead of speaking thoughts. If expression is necessary in arts such as painting, sculpture, and music, how essential must it then be in that greatest of all arts - speech. I trust my reader will not immediately take issue with me and exclaim that speech is not an art - that it is natural - for I believe if he will hear me with patience until the end, he will agree with me that speech is an art, and not only that it is an art, but that it is the art of the fine arts.
It must be remembered that the writer alone is responsible for this work, that the opinions are only those of one man and may differ materially from those of many other men, but nothing is set down except after painstaking investigation and research extending over an active professional experience, in the classroom and on the platform and stage, of over thirty years, and that his instructions regarding the production and control of breath, voice, and speech have been carefully tested during that time, in many a class and upon many a platform.
The aim of the author is to show not only that all may possess a pleasing and expressive speaking voice, but also how it may be obtained. With this idea in view many specific exercises are given instead of general rules, for remedying vocal defects.
With these few introductory remarks I hopefully send my little work into the world to speak for itself.
