Ib2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



The retaining of air in the lungs is an important point in tlie 

 government of the breath. You hold the inspiratory muscles con" 

 tracted, close the glottis as in swallowing and aid the operation by 

 shutting as far as possible the air passages of the mouth and nose. 

 If you ask for what time one may retain his breath without injury, 

 the answer is : it varies with the person and his degree of skill. One 

 may hold for a minute ; for another forty-five seconds may be too 

 long. The end to be gained is control over the muscles and, as in 

 gymnastic exercises, that which is to be avoided most is straining. 



Except for rest, the breath is to be set forth through the mouth. As 

 in retaining, time has been divided into short, medial, long, very 

 long. You may empty the lungs, as it were, at a blow or within a 

 measurable time. In all cases expiration should be free, that is, 

 without scraping, without obstruction. Whatever time you practice, 

 a regular, even and full flow will give you more complete command 

 than spasmodic or irregular jerks. The reader should imitate the 

 athlete. In his private practice he will prolong his expiration to the 

 utmost ; in reading will not stretch beyond a quick recovery, but act 

 within himself and at his best. To use up a breath as if it were 

 one's last, necessitates, in almost every instance, an effort or gulping 

 for the next, which is not more conducive to health, agreeable to an 

 audience, charactei'istic of good delivery nor in itself more skilful, 

 than " catching crabs " is evidence of superior oarsmanship. 



Voluntary breathing is the foundation of public speaking. Under 

 whatever defects one may labor, lisping, stammering or stuttering, if 

 once he gain power over his respii'atory muscles to use them at 

 pleasure, he will be hindered neither by want of breath nor a surplus 

 of it — the main stumbling-blocks of public speech — will not only 

 avoid the throat-laceration which afliicts the clergy so deeply, but will 

 have already overcome more than half the obstacles which lie in the 

 way of distinct and effective delivery. 



Vowels — their Production. — How many vowels has the English 

 language] Webster reckons 33, Ogilvie 14, Sweet 36, and other 

 orthoepists say 40, 1 2, 9 or 6. There is no consensus of opinion as to 

 the number of our vowels. How, then, may they be distinguished 1 

 Mr. Melville Bell gives a systematic answer. He subjects the mouth 

 to minute experiment and classifies vowels mainly according to the [posi- 

 tions which the tongue assumes in enunciation. Thus they are front, 



