We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as of proportionate and of good issues, so it be faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise shall give him no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope. Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying the perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort and advancing on Chaos and the Dark. (EMERSON: Self-Reliance) CHAPTER XII FORCE (RANGES) As is the case of pitch, force may also be divided into three ranges; normal or moderate, greater than normal, which may be termed energetic; and less than normal, which may be termed subdued. Each range includes, of course, several degrees of force. In the preceding chapter we considered the almost constant change in the amount of force employed while speaking,— this change being due to the varying importance of the words used. Whether one is speaking in the moderate, the energetic, or the subdued range, the variation of force will be observed, but it will be least marked in the subdued range, and most marked in the energetic range. Another essential preliminary observation is that speech in any one range may from time to time, as occasion requires, change into another range. With these facts in mind, we shall consider the special functions of each of the three ranges. Moderate Force Naturally, the normal or moderate range is the one most frequently used, since it expresses ordinary facts and ideas, and all those states of feeling which do not, as we say, "grip the soul," such emotions, for example, as a moderate degree of happiness, displeasure, or affection. It is a mistake to suppose that normal force, or normal quality, pitch, and rate, are to be used only for expression which is absolutely unemotional. To set anything like definite limits to the three ranges of force is even more difficult than to fix pitch boundaries. Some voices are stronger than others, and each individual can best determine when he is using his moderate, subdued, and energetic, respectively. In establishing his moderate range, the speaker should realize that in public address, people, as a rule, use too little volume rather than too much. However, a voice which is firm, not flabby, tremulous or breathy, does not need to be loud even in a good-sized auditorium. As has been suggested before, a moderate rate and clear utterance count more for audibility than mere loudness. The cultivation of a firm, moderate volume will be of great advantage since, with occasional variations into the subdued and energetic, this is the most commonly used range. For practice in moderate force, the selections used for the practical application of stress, normal quality, and moderate rate are well adapted. The Energetic Range We may now consider those cases wherein energetic force, with, perhaps, occasional changes into the moderate, becomes the prevailing range throughout a larger or smaller part of an address. A very large audience, a noisy vicinity, or some other physical circumstance, may .call for more than normal force. So may a sustained climax or peroration. Another reason for the use of the energetic range is excitement or intensity of feeling, which naturally manifest themselves with more than ordinary physical force. For example, in narrating or describing an exciting incident, energetic expression would be employed; also in communicating the more intense degrees of such feelings as anger, scorn, determination, enthusiasm, hilarity, and contempt. It is comparatively easy to know when to use energetic force; the more difficult thing is to acquire the habit of discrimination, physical capacity, proper management of the strong voice, and sure control. Some speakers have no idea of fitness regarding the relation of matter to manner. Many who know better, but have not the habit of discrimination, use energetic force when there is no occasion for it. Others, who have not accustomed the throat muscles to vigorous action, become hoarse after a few sentences; or, if they have strong throats, they may exhaust the tissues by unwisely over-driving their tones, or forcing a large volume of air through the closed throat, and failing to take advantage of the amplifying cavities. Finally, any of these speakers may be unable to control the loud voice, or to shift flexibly from one degree of force to another within the energetic range. It is, indeed, a very common thing to hear a loud speaker pound his words uniformly. Intelligent practice, which strengthens the muscles, cultivates correct management, with resultant good quality in the loud range, and establishes a habit of flexibility, - such practice should be devoted to the following selections. SELECTIONS FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION OVER THE TOP (King Henry): Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Let it pry through the portage of the head O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen, That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; Cry "God for Harry, England, and Saint George!" (SHAKESPEARE: King Henry V) |