(3) The rising and falling waves provide those pitch alternations requisite for bringing out comparisons, contrasts, and relative values (the voice rising to the more important words, the falling to the less important ones). (4) The greater the inherent interest or emotional content of the subject matter, the greater is the need for marked and varied inflection, and a broad pitch range in its expression. Of course, the opposite is true, to a certain extent, for varying degrees of calmness and tranquillity; but the speaker should never permit his inflections to become "flat" unless he wishes to display indifference, which is frequently suggested simply by a dull, restricted manner of inflection.

Up to this point we have noted the six types of inflection, and have observed their capacity for expressing a great variety of thought and emotion. We have also attempted to clear away certain misleading ideas concerning rules for the application of inflection, and have arrived at a few general principles. Probably the most important practical consideration yet remains.

The inflections which the average person uses in conversation are fairly expressive. This is a significant fact, for, with the guidance of the fundamental observation already presented in this chapter, a person can best improve his inflection on the basis of his conversational style. This method of procedure is more likely to secure better results than an attempt to build up an artificial style of inflection by the aid of a troop of rules and their inevitable retinue of exceptions. With a view to the above-mentioned improvement, the student should observe that many persons whose inflections in conversation are fairly indicative of their thoughts and

feelings become stilted and inexpressive before an audience. These persons are so hampered by a conscious effort to be impressive, or merely correct, that their inflections lose variety and range, and are often misleading in direction. The remedy lies, to a great extent, in getting a correct idea of good speaking style, which is the conversational style. The student should remember in all his practice that he is preparing, not to "deliver speeches," but to talk to audiences in an interested and interesting manner. Furthermore, while the conversational inflections are usually of the right kind, they need to be extended somewhat in order to add that brightness and vitality which carry a stimulating effect out into the audience. Especially the inflections in the high range need cultivation, and the voice throughout the whole scale should be made more flexible, and brought under easy control. The exercises herewith presented are, therefore, intended to develop conversational inflections along the lines of increased range, variety, flexibility, and control.

EXERCISES IN INFLECTION

NOTE 1: Keep the throat open, as determined by the ah position.

NOTE 2: Try to maintain a clear firm voice throughout the entire pitch range.

NOTE 3: Practice frequently in short intervals; stop when the throat shows signs of tiring.

1. Repeat each of the following sounds in a series of four rising skips, covering in all at least an octave: ah-oh-uh-a-ē-i.

II. Repeat the above exercise, using falling skips.

III. Utter each of the following sounds with a long, steady rising glide, covering an octave or more: ah-ohoo-a-ē-i.

IV. Repeat the above exercise, using falling glides.

V. (a) Speak the word "what" in such a manner as to express:

1. "I defy you to specify."

2. "What did you say?"

3. "I am mildly surprised."

4. "I am indignant at your remark.”

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(b) Speak the word no in such a manner as to

express:

1. A simple denial.

2. An interrogation.
3. An indignant refusal.

4. A very doubtful denial.

VI. Speak the sentence, "I offered to support him for the office," with such inflections as to indicate, respectively:

(a) Plain affirmation.

(b) Interrogation, suggesting falsity of the idea.
(c) Appealing reply to a charge of disloyalty.
(d) Sarcastic repetition of an opponent's state-

ment.

VII. Read the following sentences with a view to bright, flexible inflection. Keep the imagination active in calling up situations which might give rise to the remarks. Remember in all this work that the flesh is weak if the spirit isn't willing.

Я. "Well, well, well!" said our jolly host, "this is, indeed, a pleasant surprise. I had no idea you were coming so soon."

b. "Good morning, uncle! A merry Christmas to you!" said Scrooge's nephew cheerfully.

C. "Can you go to the park with us this afternoon?" asked my friend in a cordial voice.

d. "Now, Mr. Smith," said the manager challengingly, "what are you going to do about it?"

e. If I had plenty of money, money enough and to

spare;

The house for me, no doubt, were a house in the

city square.

Ah, such a life, such a life, as one leads at the win

dow there!

(BROWNING)

f. “Come on, Jim, you can't make any headway down there; pull her up on the float, and get the oars out of the way; then maybe you can do something."

g. Oh, there were books, and papers, and magazines enough, but the boys couldn't spend all their leisure time just reading.

h. Speak the speech as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. (SHAKESPEARE.)

i. Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (LINCOLN)

j. Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir; she has none. (PATRICK HENRY)

k. London, whichever way we turn, is so vast and varied, so rich in what is interesting, that to one who would wander with a plastic mind, irresponsibly, day after day in its streets and among its treasures, there is not a little difficulty in deciding where to begin, and

there is even greater difficulty in knowing where to end. (LUCAS)

1. If asked the question, "Can America under the League do all that we might desire at any time to do?" the answer must be "No!" (LANE)

m. Shall there be a common standard of right and privilege for all peoples and nations or shall the strong do as they will and the weak suffer without redress? (PRESIDENT WILSON)

n. These men who speak alien sympathies, who raise the cry of race against race or of church against church, who attempt to create divisions and antagonisms where there are none, such men are not the spokesmen of the great mass of Americans, but the spokesmen of small groups whom it is high time that the nation called to a reckoning. (PRESIDENT WILSON)

SELECTIONS FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION

MOSES' BARGAIN

"But, as I live, yonder comes Moses, without a horse, and the box at his back." As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the deal box, which he had strapt round his shoulders like a pedlar. "Welcome, welcome, Moses; well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?"-" I have brought you myself," cried Moses, with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser. Ay, Moses," cried my wife," that we know; but where is the horse?"-"I have sold him," cried Moses," for three pounds, five shillings and twopence."—" Well done, my good boy," returned she; "I knew you would touch them off. Between ourselves, three pounds five shillings and two-pence is no bad day's work. Come, let us have it then."-"I have brought