Calks on
IV. Good Diction a Requisite
By ENRICO CARUSO
COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION
GOOD diction, or the art of pro
nouncing the words of a song
or opera properly and Intelli
gently, is a matter sadly neg
lected by mauy singers and Indeed la
not considered Important by a large
proportion of the audiences In this
country, who do not understand for
elgu language, at any rate. And in an
opera sung in a language unknown to
most of the audience it Is apparently
unimportant whether the words are
understood or not as long as there is
a general knowledge of the plot, and
the main consideration Is, of course,
the music.
Yet for those who are conversant
with I lie language In which the opera
Is written lunv common an experience
It is u" concert alsui to be able, in
Bpite of their linguistic knowledge, to
understand but little of what Is being
rung, and what a drawback this really
is! IIow many singers there are who
pecm to turn all their attention to the
production cf beautiful sounds and
neglect in most cases the words that
tiften are equally beautiful, or should
be:
One hoars a great deal just now
about the advisability of giving operas
In the native language, as it is done in"
France aud Germany, and the idea
would seem to have its advantages, as
has already been demonstrated in
some excellent performances of Ger
man, French aud Italian operas In
English. Hut of what avail would
such a project be if, after ail, one
could not understand the words of his
own language as they were sung?
The language might as well be San
skrit or Chinese.
In France the matter of diction is
rrobably given the greatest attention,
and singers at the Opera Comlque, for
Instance, are noted for their pure and
distinct enunciation of every syllable.
Indeed, It Is as much of a sine qua
non there as good singing. If not more
eo, and the numerous subtleties In the
French language are difficult enough
to justify this special stress laid upon
correct pronunciation.
It requires a very particular ability
In a foreigner to attain the atmos
phere of perfect French to any very
high degree. Italian is generally con
sidered an easier language to pro
nounce In song, as Indeed it is, all the
Towel sounds being full and sonorous
and lacking that "covered" or mixed
quality so often occurring in the
French. Nevertheless Italian has its
difficulties, particularly In the way of
distinctly enunciating the double con
sonants and the proper division of the
liaisons, or combining of final vowels
with Initial vowels, and the correct
amount of softness to be given to the
letter O.
All this, of course, is from the stand
point of those to whom these lan
guages are foreign.
Certainly no singer can be called a
great artist unless hi diction Is good,
for a beautiful voice alone will not
make up for other deficiencies. A sing
er endowed with a small voice or even
one of not very pleasing quality can
give more pleasure than a singer pos
sessing a big, impressive voice, but no
diction.
Some people claim that a pronuncia
tion too distinct or too much insisted
upon spoils the real voice quality, but
this Ehould not be the case if the
vords are correctly and naturally
brought out. Doubtless this Impres
sion has come from the fact that, par
ticularly In France, many singers pos
sessed of small voices must exaggerate
their diction to obtain their effects.
But If they did not have this perfect
diction they often would have little
else to recommend them. I would aver
that a fine enunciation, far from Inter
fering with It, aids the voice produc
tion, makes it softer and more concen
trated, but diction should act rather as
a frame for the voice and never re
place it
Each of the three languages, French,
German and Italian, has its peculiar
characteristics, which are of nld to the
student In the general study of pro
nunciation, and it is well to have a
knowledge of them all outside of the
fact that an artist nowadays needs to
Lave this knowledge in order not only
to rank with the greatest, but to cope
.with the demands of an operatic ca
reer.
The Italian language in its very es
sence is rich In vowels and vowel com
binations, from which comes principal
)y the color In tones, and it has conse
quently been called the "language of
song." Italians thus have naturally
what It Is so much trouble for singers
cf other nations to acquire the numer
ous variations of vowel sounds.
French has the nasal sounds as Its
dominating characteristic and Is very
valuable In the cultivation of "nasal
resonance."
As I said before. It U so easy to ex
aggerate and the voice Is so apt to get
too much "In tbe nose" that one has to
be extremely careful In tbe use of tbe
French "n" and "ng." ..
German Is so full of consonants that
on needs to have exceptional control
of the tongue and llpa to give their
proper value. ;
English possesses tbe features of all
tbe other languages of course in less
marked degree-resembllug most per
Singing
haps the German. The "th" Is the
most difficult sound to make effective
In singing.
I have already spoken of the various
phases of nervousness which an artist
feels before the ierformance, but I
wish to say here a word in regard to
the practical significance of such nerv
ousness. Artists who do not experience
It nre those who lack real genius.
There nre really two kinds of fear
that arising from a realization of the
Importance of what Is to be done, the
other from a lack of confidence In
one's power. If a singer has no con
science in his performance be never is
nervous, but full of assurance.
It is seldom that true artists are
much troubled with nervousness after
going upon the stage. Generally, as
1 have lffere mentioned, they are apt
U be ill during the day of the per
formance, but once before the public
they forget eterytlilng and are dom
inated only by the real love of their
art and sustained by the knowledge of
possessing a proper "method."
It Is certain that with a gd breath
support oven nervousness need not
prevent t uc from singing well, al
though one may be actually suffering
from trepidation. Yet we know that
sometimes the greatest of artists are
prevented thus from doing their best
work. The principle, however, re
mains unshaken that singing in a cor
rect way is the greatest possible
"bracer."
It is best to remain absolutely quiet
and see no one on the day of the per
formance, so as not to be enervated by
the effort of talking much, to say noth
ing of tiring the vocal chords. One
prima donna of my acquaintance occu
pies herself In trimming hats on the
days when she sings, believing that
this provides a distraction and rests
her nerves. It is just as well not to
"pass through" tne role that Is to be
sung on the day of the appearing, but
In the morning a few technical exer
cises to keep the voice in tune, as it
were, are to be recommended. The
great Italian singers of other days fol
lowed this rule, and It still holds good.
If the singer gives much of himself
as well as of bis voice to the public he
should still hold bis breathing supply
in, so to speak, as be would guard the
capital from which comes bis Income.
Failure should be thus impossible If
there Is always a reserve to draw on.
So the more one sings with good
breath support the more beautiful tbe
voice becomes. On the other band,
those who sing haphazard sometimes
begin the evening well, but deteriorate
more and more as tbe performance ad
vances and at tbe end are uttering
mere raucous cries. They are like a
man unable to swim who Is in a deep
river their voices control them In
place of they controlling their voices.
Tbey struggle vainly against obsta
cles, but are carried away by the flood
and are finally engulfed in the waters.
Many too ambitious students are
their own worst enemies In the culture
of their voices. Because tbey have a
large vocal power tbey want to shout
all the time lu spite of tbe repeated
admonitions of their masters, who beg
tbem to sing piano. But they hear
nothing except tbe noise they make
themselves. Such headstrong ones will
never make a'career, even with the
finest voices In tbe world. Their teach
ers should give up trying to make
tbem listen to reason and devote their
attention to those who merit It and
want to study seriously. Singing as an
art is usually not considered wltb
enough earnestness. One should go to
a singing master as one goes to a spe
cialist for a consultation and follow
wltb the greatest care his directions.
If one docs not bave the same respect
and confidence one places in a physi
cian It must be because tbe singing
master does not really mer't It, and It
would be much better to make
change at once.
In general It is better not to stick
entirely to one teacher, for It Is easy
to get Into s rut in this way, and Borne
one else may bave a quits different
and more enlightening way of setting
forth his Ideas.
In taking up operatic work it is un
derstood, of course, that the slugcr
must bave mastered most of tbe tech
nical difficulties, so as not to be trou
bled wltb them when they are encoun
tered In some aria.
It is a most excellent thing to secure
an engagement in one of the small
theaters abroad, where one may get a
large experience before trying to effect
an entrance Into tbe bigger organiza
tions of tbe great capitals.
But be sure that the voice Is well
placed before trying any of this sort of
work and never attempt to sing a role
above your powers In the earlier stage
of your career, wblcb otherwise may
be compromised permanently.
One more bit of advice lu closing.
The best sort of lesson possible Is to
go often to tbe opera and note well tbe
methods of the great artists. This per
aonai example is worth mors and Is
mora illuminating than many precepts
This is not so much that soy form
et imitation may be attempted as to
teach tbe would be artist bow to pre
sent at bis best all those tell tog quail
ties with which he may be endowed
It is tbs ses of schools.
Tax Wealth, Set Pees.
Philadelphia Press. v
The revision of the tariff
year has a double task. The
rates must be revised and $100,000,
000 of additional revenue must be
raised.
Tbe committee on ways and
means has been wise in its tariff in
leaving out the tax on coffee and im
posing a tax on inheritance. It is
tatter to tax wealth than to tax
food.
European countries raise a large
portion of tneir revenue by taxes on
tea ana conee. Jingianu raises
nearly half its revenue from duties
by taxes on food. Sugar is dutiable
in this country, but there is for this
tbe sound reason that the da y pro
tects home-grown sugar, now one
fifth of the whole, aud fosters sugar
in Cuba. Abolish the duty on sngar
and the reduction in the Cuban pro
duct would advance the price by
more thaa the reduction from the
abolition of the duty.
I he McKinley tariff, in spite of
this, abolished the duty on sugar
and its consumption increased with
rapidity under tbe stimulus of cheap
sugar. It it were not tor it pro-
teetioti of the borne sugur product
and its effect on our insular neigh
bors there would be little to be said
even for the duty on sugar.
Aew duties on food have no de
fense. They ought not to he Im
posed. Ta; wealth instead of food.
The Dewberry Industry in Hie Sand Hill
Cuuntn.
San ford Esp-css.
The dewberry industry in Moore
md Lee counties is assuming pro-
portions aud promises to become oiie
of the leading and most profitable
mdustries of the two counties, fruit
growers about Cartnage, Cameron
uud Southern l ines were the first to
make the experiment in raising and
shipping dewberries. They proved
so profitable that fruit growers at
Aberdeeu, Jonestxtro an t Qwaiui
Station have entered the industry
and will have mauy acres nnder cul
tivation this year. A stock company
of High Point is preparing the land
and will piant 30 acres in berries at
Aberdeen, cince dewberries nave
been introduced on the northern
markets, the demand for this pala
table fruit has become great and
all that can be raised are sold at
good prices.
As A Top Notch Doer.
Great deeds compel regard. The world
crowns its doers. That's why the American
people have crowned Dr. King's New Lie-
covery the King of Throat and Lung reme
dies, hvery atom is a health lorce. It
kills germs, a..d colds and la gripj vanish.
It heals cough racked membraaes aud cough
ing stops. Sore, inflamed bronchial tubes
and lungs are cun-d and hemorrhages cease.
Ur. lieo. More, 11 lack Jack, N. U., writes
'it oured ms of lung trouble, pronounced
hopeless by all doctors." 50c, $1.00.
Trial bottle free. Guanmte. d by Standard
Drug Co.
President Elliott's DeBaltlon of a lib
eral Education.
The term liberal education has' al
ways been a veiy vague one, and as
generally used, is merely a compara
tive term as distinguished from a
limited education. But President
Elliott has given this succinct and
acceptable definition :
"A knowledge of past and current
events in the world's progress ; pow
er of expression ; an intimate ac
quaintance with some part of the
store of human knowledge, a clear
conviction of bow to discover the
truth, and a development of the
imagination."
Object to Strang Slcdlclnc.
Many people object to taking the strong
medicines usually prescribed by physicians
for rheumatism. There iano need inter
nal treatment in any case of muscular or
hrouio rheumatism, and more than nine
out of every tea caws of the diseaae are of
one or (be other of these varii-ties. When
there is no fever and little (if any) swelling,
you may fcuow that it ia only necessary to
apply Chamherlaiu'a Liuiment freely to get
quick relief . Try it. Nor sale by all drug;
gists.
LEFT 01 RER D08KTEP
FSB TXISI-2TEER
Mrs. A. O. Tuson, of liver-more, CeL,
writes: "I picked up from my door
step one day a little book In which I
too became very much Interested.
My little girl of five years of age had
been troubled for a long time with
loss of appetite, extreme aervousaess
and undue fatigue. She was all run
down and la a very delicate coalition.
"This little book was very compre
hensively written, and told of the asw
method of extracting the medicinal ele-
menu of the cod's liver from the oil.
eliminating the obioxioua oil which la
o hard for children to take.
" 'Just the thing said I, for my little
daughter and I Immediately went for
a bottle of Yinol. It helped her woa
eerfully. She has gained rapidly la
lesh and strength, and she does aot
take cold half so easily.
"I am extremely grateful for the
good it has doae her, and I hope other
mothers who have weak, delicate or
ailing children will he benefited by my
experience aod Just give Vlnol trial."
, Vinol ielaold in Asheboro by
A WOMAN'S ESSAY ON MAN.
Evidently Man It a Strange Animal.
A boy can sit still on n sled six
inches square, tied, to a sleigh moving
eight miles an hour but could not
sit still on a sola hve minutes for a
dollar. A man will sit on an inch
edge ef a board, and talk politics
Tor tnree nours; put mm in a church
pew for 40 minuites bo gets ner
vous, twists and turns, and goes to
sleep. A man will ponch his
cheeks with filthy tobacco, juice
runs down to bis chin, feels good,
but a hair in the butter kills him.
He stays out till midnight, wife
don't know where he is, comes home
when he pleases, but if a meal is
not ready just on time, pouts, frowns
ard says nnpretty things. Evident
ly man is a strange animal. Gets
full, beastly drunk, imagines he's
rich, a great mar, bets on the los
ing horse, goes broke, quarrels,
tights, lands in ia.l, eyes dressed
for Easter, face frescoed and morals
depraved, yet he is "Lord of all crea
tion and monarch of all he surveys."
Strange animal this man. Ex
Montgomery News.
From The Montgomrian.
The list takers for Montgomery
county for 1909 are as follows:
Troy J. . S.uinders.
IVe Dee 11. A. Matheson.
Mt. Gilead Ohuili-' Stunback.
Cheeks Creek 11. Urookshire.
Kocky Springs T. 15. Hush.
HollingswoiM A. 15. ilcCaskill.
Hill J. L. Stuart.
Little Kiver G. II. Cornelison.
Ophi N. W. Havis.
Eldorado G. B. Coggin.
Uwharrie J. C. Hamilton.
Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan died at
her home in the Speas section a few
days ago She was 79 years old on
the day of her death and was a good
woman, one was the mother of our
townsman, D. F. Morgan.
Earl Thayer died on March 28th
in New Mexico. lie was a son of
N. M. Thayer, of Eldorado. He
was about 21 years old and a bright
young man. He was buried April
6th at Macedonia, near Eldorado.
Fuaeial services were conducted bv
the past r. lie had 1 f . home
just 15 months aga. This is the
second death that has occurred in
Mr. Thayer's family this year.
lhe Commissioners of Montgom
ery county have appointed the fol
lowing persona a Board of Trustees
for each towoBhip in the county
r.n ler the new road law:
Troy D. D. Bruton, W. D. Al-
len, Leach Russell.
Uwharrie T. L. Mallinix, J. C.
Hamilton, J. T. Morr s.
Pee Dee W. L. Andrews, B. L
Moore, C.W. Wooley.
Mt. Gilead J. A. lngrem, J. B.
Hnrley, H. O. -ficarboro.
Cheeks Creek J. C. Thompson,
D. J. Poole, W. U. Uesery.
Rocky Springs Miles Rash, J.
E. Broadway, O. W. Poole.
llollingeworth Atlas McLeod,
H. C. Richardson, O. 0. Parsons.
Hill W. G. Stuart, J F. Deatoo,
J. F. Hnrley.
Little River U. a. Cornelison,
C. Mcintosh, B. F. Reynolds.
Op ir b. A. Davis, W. P. Hnr
ley, J. W. Warner.
Eldorado J. A. Kirk. J. A.
Gamble, B. E. Morris.
Tai Listers for Davidson County.
The board of county commission
ers held tbe regular session Monday
and Tuesday. Tbe usual routine
business was transacted and the tax
listers for the various townships
were named. - For the first time in
a decade the listers are Republicans.
They are as follows:
Abbotts Creek J. B. Motsinger.
Arcadia J. P. Grouch.
Alleghany E. 8. Varner.
Bnet. I, Wilson.
Cotton Grove W. O. Roach.
Conrad Hill-W. P. Briles.
Emmons 0. L. Parser.
Hampton Aaron Tesh. '
Healing Springe Walter Feezor.
Jackson Hill J. L. Thompson.
Lexington J. A. Lindsay.
Midway A. P. Hartman.
Keedy Creek J. 8. Hege.
Silver Hill Z. B. Tussey.
Thomasvitle D. P. White.
Tyro H. 0. Fritts.
Yadkin College Ed.. L. Greene.
Ou the first Monday in May these
listers will meet in j tint session with
the county commissioners.
Oa Teaeli of Natnr Ma-ekea the Wbol
IWhoU World Klia."
When a rooster finds a big fat worm he
calls all the hens to tbe farm yard to oome
and share it. A simi'ar trait of human na
ture is to be observed when a man discovers
something exceptionally good he wants all
hia friends and neighbors to share the bene
fits ot hi discovery. This is theloicb- of
nature that makei the whole world kin
Thia explains why people who have been
cored bf Chamberlain s Oonsh Remedy
write letters to the manufacturers for publi
cation, that other similarly ailing may also
se it and obtain relief. Behind every one
of th letters is a warm hearted wish of
the writer to be of as t souieOM el sr.
Thia remedy is for aale by all druggists.
"The Hand That Rotas Tbe Cradle"
"The hand tha rock the cradle is
the hand that rales the world."
The high pro'ectionists in Con
gress have offered a bold and defiant
challenge -to this claim. What are
the Amaiican women going to do
about it? Are they going to make
use of the influence whieh they pos
sess as mothers and wive, daughters
and sisters, and take up the gage
thrown down by the tariff extremists,
or do they propose to submit meek
ly to the proposition to add a tax to
gloves and stockings aul to other
commodities of essential consump
tion which it is proposed to revise
upwards?"
Bear in mind that what the
women are going to have to say
about the Payne tariff bill is, early
or late, going to have a tremendous
lot to do about that piece of legisla
t-inn Tf thn liiwnnU in fnnn-oca
... ,, . .?
are not taking this into considera
tion it only shows that they are
blind and deaf to the lessons of the
history. ,
"The women do the shopping ur d
keep the prices," said speaker Tom
Reed, in referring to the Democratic
landslide that followed the? enact
ment of the McKinley bill. "They
have the keenest sense for ihcreused
cost. In every stor th?-y heard t!-'e
clerks explain how this article mid
that could not be a dd hereafter at
the former price brcu3 of the Mc
Kinley bill. They went' home and
told their husbands an. I their fath
ers, and their stnrits had -a tremend
ous effect at the ballot box."
Now, women don't dh-m;e much
about things that affect them co -
cretely and individually. They are
as much interested now in making
a dollar go as far &i they can as
they were after the McKinley b 11
was passed aud there are a lot more
of th m now than there were then.
Women are by no means helpless
against the kind of injury they suffer
through unfair prices for what thty
me, even if they are without t ie bal
lot.If the'ehampions of the Glove and
Hosiery trust? in Oougress think the
women of this country can't find a
way to make their power felt at the
pells, these lawmakers are gjilty of
yet greater stupidity than they at
tribute to the women who they
think will submit to gratuitous
imposition without a protest. Ex
change. Personal experience with a tube ef Man
ran Pile Remedy will convince you it ia im
mediate relief for all forma of Piles. Can
be applied directly to the effected parts, re
ducing ioflammation swelling and itching.
Guaranteed. Pric 50c. Simpson Drue
Store. 8
Senator Simmons takes this view
on the tariff question: "That the
Democratic pledge of a tar ff for
revenue only was made with refer
ence to the whole tariff system and
trmr. inererore it does not apply to
if v individual article."
Permanently relieve con.timtion and in
digestion. Regulates the bowels, builds up
waste tissue. Make cure blood Y.
grow strong, healthy and robust. Hollister's
Rocky Mountain Tea, the safest, nicest
(Spring tonic, do cents. Asheboro Drun
NOTICE.
Havlnir anallHed u Aslminl.tratH
tate of J. A. Hayea. deceased, all pctkmm hnvlrs
clalma against said eutate are not: He I to present
inem nun unneminen. duly von fled, ou or
before the sod day of April, 1B10, and all person
owing ; said ertate will oome forward and moe
immediate settlement.
This gutb day of Mitrch. ISOt.
NETriK HAYKS, Admrx,
Jersey Calves
at
JOHN A. YOUNG,
Do not neglect to get a pair ef oar
eight-inch tension spring scissors..
Send in jour remittance today..
Thousands to Kidssj
Trocbld and Keier Si
::tfl
'mvjpyh
How To Find Oat.
Fill a bottle or common glass with your
water and let it stand twenty-four hoars;
2s, a brick dust aedi-
tV-r-'ra tnent. orsettlinc
striugy or milky
appearance often
indicates an un
healthy condi
tion of the kid
neys; too fre
quent desire to
pass it or pain in
the back an: n!fo symptoms that tell you
the kidneys and bladder are out of order
arid need attention.
What To So.
There is comfort in the knowledge so
' oflen expressed, that Dr. Kilmer's
j Swamp-Root, the prcat kidney remedy,
fulfills almost every wish in correcting
rheumatism, pain in tbe buck, kidneys.
liver, bladder and every part of the urinary
passage. Corrects inability to hold water
and scalding pain in passing it, or bad
effects following use of liquor, wine or
beer, and overcomes that unpleasant ne
cessity of being compelled to go often
through the day, and to get up many
times during the night. The mild and
immediate effect of Jwamp-Root is
soon realized. It stands the highest be-
causeof its remarkable
health restoring pro)- tTTIS!
erties. If you need a t -jj""
medicine you should
have the best. Sold bv jJfJgSSP
druggists in fifty-ceut SJ&SSS!
and one-dollar sixes. i.Tw a"2S32
You may have a sample bottle sent free
by mail. Address Dr. Kilmer&Co., Bing
hamton, N. Y. Mention this paper and
remember the name, Dr. Kilmer's Swamp
Root, and the address, Binghamton,
N. Y., on every bottle.
ClALiSHOD
Will Wear Long
er Than Any
Other.
We are making; a display of
a new Spring: line of
OXFORDS
For Men, Women and
Children.
Black, Tan and Ox Blood ia
Vici-Kid, Patent and Gvn
Metal Leathers. Wear them
for Style, Comfort and Econ
omy. W. J. MILLER,
Asheboro, N. G.
Dr. S. A. HENLEY,
Phyaiclan and Surgeon
ASHEBORO N C
3
HSPE
Great Overflow Sale pi High-bred
Jersey Males and Females at
Auction, Greensboro, 1ST. C,
May 4th, 1909.
My barns are now full of Jersey
cows and I am for the first time offer
ing heifers from the bull Trevarth's
General; He by General Marigold out
of Trevarth's Puritan; General Mari
gold by Major Polo ou- of Mary Ida
gold, test 2 lbs. of butter in 7 days as
a three year old. Major Polo , by
Glynllyn Boy out of Massey Polo the
butter queen of the Jersey race, milk
ed in 7 days ?54-lbs. of milk that made
30 lbs. 6 1-2 oz. of butter.
Cows sired by this famous bull
are now milking in my herd and every
o'nevare No. 1 cows.
Sale begins at 1 o'clock p. m. Bids
by mail will be placed in the hands of
competent man and treated with the
utmost fairness. .
For particulars address,
Greensboro, N. C