376 INDOOR RECREATION 



is a sudden growth of the larynx, and in consequence, a 

 lengthening of the vocal cords. This change is so rapid 

 that there is an uncertainty in the boy's control of his vocal 

 cords, and the break in the voice occurs. 



How we talk. Human speech seems very wonderful, 

 and yet it is all accomplished after we have learned how 

 to control the voice with absolute unconsciousness on our 

 part. When we speak in a monotone, all of our words 

 are of the same pitch, and yet we can distinguish differ- 

 ences in the sound of the different words. This is due 

 to the quality of sound. As the sound waves pass through 

 the mouth, they are changed in quality by movements 

 of the tongue, soft palate, cheeks, jaws, and lips. A 

 study of your own voice before a mirror while you make 

 the sounds a, e, i, o, and u, will show you that in each 

 of these sounds, a different position of the parts of the 

 mouth and throat are assumed. It is excellent practice 

 for any one who is troubled in enunciation to thus stand 

 before a mirror and practice making these sounds, for it 

 is only by practice that our mouth parts unconsciously 

 get the habit of forming sounds correctly, and thus we 

 learn to speak clearly. Get this habit of clear enuncia- 

 tion while you are in school, and it will remain with you 

 as a good habit through life. 



How we hear. Sound and speech would not be of 

 much use to us if we could not hear. The ear is far too 

 complicated and delicate an organ for us to understand 

 at this time, although a study of the accompanying dia- 

 gram will give us some idea of how sound is heard. The 

 outer ear, which is simply an organ to help gather the 

 sound waves, leads by means of a tube into the middle 

 ear. This is separated from the outer ear by a delicate 



