such abuse, it loses its power of movement and constantly hangs directly over the main opening of the larynx, confining the sound to the vocal box, irritating the membrane of the throat, and straining the vocal cords. This it is that produces laryngitis, or what was commonly known as clergymen's sore throat. The epiglottis is practically a bridge while one is in the process of swallowing, as the act of swallowing causes the epiglottis to cover the upper opening of the larynx, permitting the food or drink to pass over it into the oesophagus and thence into the stomach. If the epiglottis should not closely cover the larynx and any foodstuff should enter, a coughing fit would be the result, nature thus endeavoring to force out the intruder. When in a healthy state the epiglottis is elastic, possessing the power to stand erect over the larynx, only coming down when food approaches, when it quickly performs its work of protecting the air passages from intrusion, but abuse quickly destroys its elasticity and then the epiglottis becomes a menace to health and voice. The remedy for this trouble is diaphragmatic breathing. All the strain must be taken from the throat and the work performed only by the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. The epiglottis knows only one thing (if I might impute to it knowl edge) and that is to come down and cover the opening of the larynx, the approach of food giving it warning and causing it to act. Pressure of any kind on the muscles of the inner throat will cause the epiglottis to fall, consequently if one "talks in his throat" sufficient pressure is exerted to cause the epiglottis to perform its supposed duty of protection. Here is where the trouble shows itself; and if the improper practice is continued, serious results are bound to follow. Acute cases of laryngitis have been cured by deep and proper breathing after refusing to respond to the treatment of doctors. Nasal tones are supposed to prevail only in New England, but they are common wherever "colds in the head" are suffered from, and that is pretty well everywhere. The nasal tone was employed by the Puritans in chanting their hymns and was brought by them from England into the new land where climatic conditions fastened it upon their descendants. A nasal voice is considered offensive-it is at all events incapable of much coloring—and should be done away with. It is also indicative of disease, as one who suffers from catarrh always possesses a nasal voice. The one way to overcome the nasal tone is to send the vibration of the voice fully and clearly through the head passages. If the vibration passes through the nasal canals and comes directly into the air, a sweet, pure and living tone will be the result. Through keeping open the nasal passages by spraying the vibration through the resonance chambers of the head, catarrh cannot exist. It is impossible for the mucous to gather and lodge in the cavities of the head if the voice is propelled through them. Doctors render temporary aid to sufferers from catarrh by applying local treatment, but only the correct use of the voice will insure freedom from this prevalent and disagreeable disease. Humming is the best means for starting the vibration of sound through the resonance chambers of the head. Close the mouth and force the sound of m above the soft palate, along the nasal canals, and out of the nose into the air. Endeavor to make the tone ring with vital force. It is beneficial to hum tunes in this manner, but true nasal sounds, such as m and n are the best for starting the flow of voice through the proper head channels. Mouthed sounds are such as to suggest that the person producing them has his mouth full of mush. The cause of such tones is the holding of them in the mouth, and the remedy is to bring them on the lips-speaking the words "trippingly on the 'tongue." Finally, we are to consider lifeless tones. All the defective tones so far considered might truly be styled lifeless, but we will here confine that term to such tones that are free from organic fault, but deficient in the life-giving power of mentality. Most expressionless tones owe their lifelessness to a sleeping mentality, a failure to see the mental picture that should be reflected in the voice, so the only cure for this is for the offender to arouse himself, to awaken his mentality, and to realize that a sluggish mind produces dead tones. In conclusion I would impress on my readers the absolute necessity of masterful breathing, for, unless the inception (breath) is true, the close (voice) cannot help but be false. CHAPTER VI THE EFFICACY OF SPEECH How It Is Lessened by Defects; Their Causes, M Effects, and Remedies AN being the highest of all created beings, the power that best moves that being must be the greatest of all powers. Nothing earthly is capable of influencing the human mind to such an extent as the spoken word, therefore it stands to reason that educated speech is the grandest weapon possessed by man. Not only is the ability to speak convincingly and persuasively essential to the public speaker, but the power to use the voice effectively is of the utmost importance to all persons in every field of endeavor. Many Possess but Few Can Express Desires, The ability to exercise the functions of speech to the full will not only increase the working force of all business and professional men and women, but it will enhance the enjoyments of social intercourse. Man is a social being, and the faculty of speech being one of the agents that contribute to sociability, |