a INPLUEiVCE OF TONES. 



expressed. Madame de Stael was in the habit of reciting certain stanzas, 

 simply for the sake of the agreeable succession of sounds. " That is 

 what / call poetry !" said she. "It is delicious ! and so much the more, 

 as it does not convey a single idea to me." Though we cannot agree 

 with this gifted lady in her opinion of poetry, we can readily conceive 

 of the pleasurable feelings she describes as being produced by a succes- 

 sion of melodious sounds. 



Some of the readers of this article have possibly known men who 

 were indebted for their success as public speakers to a well cultivated 

 voice. There is a preacher now living in one of the Middle States, who 

 ten or twelve years ago drew admiring crowds to hear him. He has no 

 advantages of person — his gestures are rather awkward than otherwise. 

 The matter of his discourses is exceedingly meagre. In brief, the man 

 himself is as "a root out of dry ground," and his sermons are literally 

 "without form and void." But there is a witchery in the tones of his 

 voice. At times his intonations are peculiarly happy — sweet as the 

 sounds that issued from the warbling fount of Chindara. We may won- 

 der why people flock to hear such a preacher. We may say he does 

 not feed them with knowledge and understanding. But then we forget 

 that there is an occult power in a smooth, full, melodious voice which 

 it is not easy to resist. 



Of the multitudes who crowded to hear Whitefield, there were many 

 doubtless who cared not for the doctrines he taught or the duties he 

 urged ; but they were charmed with the melody of his tones. "He was 

 unto them as a very lovely sound of one that hath a pleasant voice, and 

 can play well on an instrument : for they heard his words, but did thera 

 not." We need not feel surprised at this ; for the charms of eloquence 

 and music are still the same. 



" Oh Music I thy celestial claim 



Is still resistless, still the same ; 



And, faithful as the mighty sea 



To the pale star that o'er its realms presides. 



The spell-bound tides 



Of human passions rise and fall from thee." 



As to those who can derive no delight from melodious sounds, 1 will 

 not class them with that sect of ancient philosophers, who valued them- 

 selves for their contempt of the arts and sciences; I will not call them 

 Cynics^ nor say with Shakespeare, 



" The man that hath no music in himself, 



Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, 



Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils." 



If there be such, tlicy deserve our sympathy more than our censure. 



