Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/238

SINGAPOKE. 194 SINGING. The population, consisting largely of Chinese, Malays, and Hindus, in 1901, numbered 228,555. The only important city is Singapore (q.v.). SINGAPORE (from Skt. Sivhapura. Lion tityl. Tlic capital of the British Straits Settlements and the most important commercial emporium of Southeastern Asia, situated on the island of Singapore, in latitude 1° 17' N., and longitude 103° 50' 47" E. (Map: French-Indo Cliina, D 7). The town is well built, not merely in its European residence portion, but also in the native quarters. Its harbor is commodious and easy of access. F'or six miles along its water front the City is lined with quays, wharves, docks, and shijiyaids. In the rear of the city still stands Fort fanning, the fort erected on a hill just out- side the original settlement, but it is now sup- plemented by modern batteries, which command the harbor. The Governor's palace is a large im- pressive structure, situated in the midst of a beautiful park at the top of one of the three hills on the outskirts of the city. The most charming spot of the city is the turfed and shaded espla- nade, fronting on the outer harbor. In its midst is erected a moniunent to Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of the city. The botanical garden ranks as one of the best in the world. The city hail, the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Andrews, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Raffles Museum and Library are all notable buildings. The greater portion of the trade is in the hands of the Chinese, who constitute about three- fourths of the population. Its geograpliieal position at the eastern en- trance to Malacca Strait, about midway between Hong Kong and Calcutta, the proximity to the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and above all the policy of absolute free ti-ade have made Singapore" the centre of a trans-shipping trade that is surpassed in the East only by that of the Chinese ports. The list of imports and exports comprises cotton, copra, rice, tin, textiles, to- bacco, spices, petroleum, sugar, cofi'ee, pepper, opium, gambler, coal, fish, rattans, skins, silks, and gutta-percha. The manufactures are not extensive, but comprise the preparation of white pepper, tapioca, sago, and gambler, and the manufacture of vehicles, tools, and furniture, and there are shipbuilding establishments, pine- apple canneries, and biscuit factories. The total imports for 1901 amounted to $254,128,315 in Mexican silver, and the exports to .$213,108,826. The resident population of the municipality of Singapore, in 1801, was 155.G83; in 1900, 193,- 089. Of the latter number 141,865 were Chinese, 26.230 Malays, 15.646 natives of India. 2748 Europeans and Americans, and 3982 Eurasians. Singapore has its own municipal organization under supervision of the colonial Government. The founding of the city in 1819 was due to the desire of Sir Stamford Raffles, then an employee of the East India Company, to establish an out- post to counteract the growth of Dutch influence in this quarter of the globe. Despite intense ojiposition on the part of the Dutch and only half-hearted support from the home Government, he succeeded in gaining the island for England, and the continuously rapid growth of the city of Singapore has fully demonstrated the wisdom of his purpose. After the formal cession of the island to Great Britain in 1S24 it was the capital of the consolidated governments of Penang, Singapore, and Malacca, which in 1867 became a Crown colony as the Straits Settlements. SING'ER, Ls.AC Merrxtt (1811-75). An American inventor, born at Oswego, X. Y. He became a mechanic, and after a time interested himself in the sewing machine. He constructed an improved machine with a rigid overhang- ing arm to guide a vertical needle, in com- bination with a shuttle and what was called a wheelfeed. Singer made a large fortune from the sale of his machines. SINGER, Otto (1833-94). A German Ameri- can pianist and composer, born at Sora. Saxony. He studied at Dresden, at the Leipzig Conserva- tory, and subsequently with Liszt. In 1867 he came to New York, where he became a teacher at the !Mason and Thomas Conservatory. In 1873 he conducted the first May Festival in Cincinnati, and was appointed professor of pianoforte and theory in the Cincinnati College of JIusic. His compositions include two cantatas. The Landing of the Pilfirim Fathers (1876) and the Festiral Ode (1878), symphonies, concertos, and numer- ous pianoforte pieces. SINGER, P.LL (1844—). A German politi- cal agitator, born in Berlin. Pursuing a mer- cantile career since 1858. he founded a cloak factory in Berlin in 1869, joined the Social Democrats in 1870. and was elected to the Reichs- tag in 1884. Gaining prominence as a debater, he became, next to Bebel, the principal leader of the party. SINGHALESE (or SINHALESE) LAN- GUAGE AND LITERATURE. See Ceylon, section on l.iiniiuuyc iiiid Literature. SINGH ABA (sing-hii'ru) NUT. See Trapa. SINGING (from sing, AS. singan, to sing, Goth, siggican, to sing, read, OHG. singan, to sing. crow. Ger. singen. to sing; possibly connect- ed with Gk. 6ij.<f>^, omphe, voice, sound). The art of making music with the human voice. The physical apparatus employed in the production of musical tones consists of the larynx, which contains the vocal cords, the lungs, and the nuisclcs of the chest and diaphragm. To these nnist be added as accessories the cavity of the mouth, the hard palate, and the nasal chambers, all of which aid in modifying the character of the tones produced, and also serve as sounding boards to increase their power. The tones of the human voice, either in speaking or singing, are formed by the vibration of the vocal cords. These are two parallel elastic membranous bands situated in the larynx, which thus resembles a reed instru- ment, like an oboe. The blast of the air column driven from the lungs sets these bands vibrat- ing. By the act of volition they are set to receive the impact of the colunui of air in such a way as to produce tone. By closing or opening so as to vibrate at difTerent portions of their length, they give tones of difTerent pitch. The lungs supply the air and are operated by the muscles before mentioned. The diaphragm, the use of which is often neglected by singers, is generally conceded to be of great service in giv- ing power and control to the breathing, which is of the first importance in singing. Some teach- ers hold that the secret of good tone production lies entirely in the management of the breath. Clavicular or upper-chest breathing, such as is seen in women tightly laced, is regarded as the