Pure tone, in the expulsive form, is the appropriate quality of voice for the delivery of narrative, descriptive, and didactic thought, in which the purpose of the speaker is more to enlighten the mind than to awaken the feelings or rouse the passions. EXAMPLES: I. NARRATIVE, DESCRIPTIVE. Pure Tone, Expulsive Form. [From "The Blind Preacher."— Wirt.] It was one Sunday, as I traveled through the County of Orange, that my eye was caught by a cluster of horses tied near a ruinous old wooden house in the forest, not far from the roadside. Having frequently seen such objects before in traveling through these States, I had no difficulty in understanding that this was a place of religious worship. Devotion alone should have stopped me to join in the duties of the congregation, but I must confess that curiosity to hear the preacher of such a wilderness was not the least of my motives. On entering I was struck with his preternatural appearance. He was a tall and very spare old man; his head, which was covered with a white linen cap, his shriveled hands, and his voice, were all shaking under the influence of palsy, and a few moments ascertained to me that he was perfectly blind. II. DIDACTIC. Pure Tone, Expulsive Form. [From "The Puritans."-Macaulay.] The Puritans were men whose minds had derived a peculiar character from the daily contemplation of superior beings and eternal interests. Not content with acknowledging in general terms an overruling Providence, they habitually ascribed every event to the will of the Great Being, for whose power nothing was too vast, for whose inspection nothing was too minute. To know him, to serve him, to enjoy him, was with them the great end of existence. They rejected with contempt the ceremonious homage which other sects substituted for the pure worship of the soul. Instead of catching occasional glimpses of the Deity through an obscuring vail, they aspired to gaze full on the intolerable brightness, and to commune with him face to face. Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial distinctions. Repeat the following elements and words in the Explosive Form, Pure Tone: Pure tone in its explosive form is the quality appro priate for the expression of ecstatic joy and mirth. EXAMPLES: I. ECSTATIC JOY. Pure Tone, Explosive Form. [From "The Voice of Spring."—Mrs. Hemans.] I come, I come! ye have called me long; II. GAYETY. Pure Tone, Explosive Form. [From "Lochinvar."-Scott.] O, young Lochinvar is come out of the west! Through all the wide border his steed was the best; And save his good broadsword he weapon had none; So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the young Lochinvar. The advantages of Pure Tone are twofold-first, to the speaker; second, to the hearer. It is produced with less expenditure of breath than any other quality; its effect upon the vocal organs is beneficial rather than injurious; with the same effort it is heard at a greater distance than any other quality; its clear musical properties give a distinctness to articulation and an ease to utterance grateful to the ear; it produces none of the jarring effects experienced in listening to a speaker whose voice is harsh, hard, or in any way impure in quality. SECTION VIII. OROTUND. The orotund is that quality of voice in which the breath is converted into a full, round, deep, musical tone, with the resonance in the upper part of the chest. It is distinguished from the Pure Tone by a fullness, clearness, strength, smoothness, and sub-sonorous quality resembling the resonance of certain musical instru ments. "In the orotund, volume and purity of tone, to the greatest extent of the one and the highest perfec tion of the other, are blended in one vast sphere of sound." This quality is possessed naturally by very few. Even among public speakers it is rarely heard, save in a limited degree. Actors and orators of eminence and distinction understand and appreciate the value of the orotund, and have spared no pains to obtain control of it. It is heard in all their utterance of grand, lofty and sublime thoughts. Though rarely possessed, it is susceptible of cultiva tion, and may by judicious practice be acquired by almost every one. Dr. Rush mentions it as the highest perfection of the cultivated utterance of the public speaker. To acquire control of the orotund, practice the following exercise with the freest opening of the vocal organs. Before repeating each element inhale a large quantity of air. Give to each sound all the volume and quantity you can command. Repeat the words as directed above, carefully observ ing both the Effusive Form and Orotund Quality. The orotund, in the effusive form, is the quality of voice appropriate for the expression of sublimity, grand eur, reverence, adoration, and devotion. EXAMPLES: I. GRANDEUR AND SUBLIMITY. [From the "Apostrophe to the Ocean.”—Byron.] Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty's form Dark, heaving, boundless, endless, and sublime, Of the Invisible! even from out thy slime The monsters of the deep are made: each zone II. SUBLIMITY AND REVERENCE. [From "God."-Derzhavin.] O thou Eternal One! whose presence bright Whom none can comprehend, and none explore; Embracing all-supporting-ruling o'er; III. REVERENCE AND SOLEMNITY. Orotund, Effusive Form. [From "Psalm CIV."] Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty; who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the : |