word, and lest those around should utter the doubt he feels himself, says:—
Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle and low; an excellent thing in woman!
This is the verdict of every society. A harsh, masculine voice, strident, loud, or shrill, we associate with fish-wives, with throats rasped by fiery liquors, with viragos, and common-scolds. It was not with such a tone, but "in a clear, melodiously-piercing voice," as the chronicles are particular to say, that the Empress Maria Theresa appeared, babe in arms, before the black-bearded Magyars of Hungary, to appeal to them to save her crown. The proud, semi-barbaric nobles were touched, overpowered, by the sight and the tone. They sprang to their feet, swung aloft their naked swords, and with one voice shouted, Vitam et sanguinem pro rege nostro Maria Theresa; "Our life and our blood for our King Maria Theresa"—not Queen, for a queen to rule over Hungary, those haughty magnates would never brook—in grammar.
A soft, clear, modulated tone of voice should be assiduously cultivated. It is a valuable acquirement in society to read well, especially poetry. Children should be trained not merely to pronounce distinctly, but to express feeling in tone. For this, parlor theatricals are admirably fitted, and have ever been favorite amusements in polished circles. Our national talent is much inferior in this respect to that of the Italians
