INFANT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 8

INFANT INDUSTRY

In meditating' the clher day on one of the most familiar lines in Tennyson — 'An infant, crying in the night,” I decided that insufficient attention had been given to it. by physiologists, phenologists, music teachers, elocutionists, singers, and public speakers (writes Wil.-. liam Lyon Phelps in Scribner’s. Magazine-) Evert those men and women who aru fortunate, enough to possess, like Marion" Crawford’s Roman singer. . a throat of iron do not flare to shout and shriek continuously. for the, space, of two hours; whilst- thy average adult, if he roared for fifteen minutes, would probably he hoarse, for two days, and might, seriously, perhaps permanently, injure, his. vocal cords. .Vet. a tender infant-, with a- throat as soft as water, can yell ■all night fortissimo, and not, only do himself no injury, hut in Hie morning be fresh as a foxhound, and not only able, hut quite willing—even eager--to continue.. What is ihe. secret of the baby’s voice production? It seems to he a matter worth serious investigation. Tri emission of tone tho infant, unconsciously has a system that, makes dm Italian' method appear mule. If sing ing masters. «.ouid -disep-yr wh.d it- ■: .s, and teach it, ail present methods of vocal, study- would be revolutionised. .'