THE PLEASANT VOICE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 64, 17 March 1910, Page 7

THE PLEASANT VOICE.

A VALUED POSSESSION. It is not only on the stage that a pleasant voice has a. high market, but in business a® well. Am agreeable voice is in itself .a; good letter of recommendation, as maary believe that it shows poise .and character. One employer said that he engaged a. girl at a Mgli salary because she had a pleasant voice. I advertised for a competent typist, amid' I had nearly fifty ■applicants," he explained. "Out of this number there were but few who could fill the, bill, because I wanted a capable gir'l with a pleasant voice. After talking with more than, haiLf the applicants I refused two whom I might have engaged because they had harsh voices. At last a timid girl appeared. She was so timid I had my doubts if she could make good, butt she had such a pleasant voice. I decided to give her a trial." Beautiful speaking voices are almost as rare as fine singing voices. But every woman, can acquire a pleasant voice. The. .first step is to train the ear by listening to one's own voice. The harsh notes are easily detected. Them try many registers until one finds out where the voice belongs. A voice to be pleasant must be flexible and have a wide range. If it lacks this quality it is monotonous. Flexibility is acquired in several ways. The simplest exercise is topractice the vowels in different registers. Reading aloud is a splendid exercise for voice. It gives intelligence and makes the voice clear and limpid. If it is not possible to read to a group, one should read aloud to oneself at least ten minutes ia day. Enunciation is also an important XJoint. To enunciate carefully is a s?lf-aonscious work at first, but it is soon made a habit. If the tongue is heavy or the notes come from the back of the throat they can be pushed forward. A splendid exercise is the thrill. It should be done slowly at first, and then aiccellerated. A pleasant voice is certainly worth the price of any labor, for it is a joy and always has. .a market value.