spirited, the one to give and the other to receive wholesome impressions of Divine Truth. But, while securing fresh air in full and inexhaustible supplies, every public speaker should beware of speaking in a draught. The last effort in public of the most polished and cultivated speaker in New England was a fatal one to him on this account. Pure air, it should be remembered, is essential to the clear working of the brain, through the proper clarifying of the blood. And whatever affects the condition of the brain is immediately manifested in the voice. Much of the preparatory hemming and hawing, not to say hawking and spitting, which are the embarrassed orator's natural preface, comes from impurity of air. The beneficial effect of pure air upon the health and spirits, and upon the nervous system, is greater than can be stated.

Although the free use of pure air is demanded, care should be exercised, especially in the colder weather, to secure the air at a genial temperature. It is simply impossible to have the vocal organs in the right condition for work when the body is chilled. To insure the proper physical condition for public speaking, the feet should be kept warm. Thin-soled or damp shoes will impair the power of the best orator. Is it not proverbial that much of the health of the English people, of both sexes, is preserved to them by the use of thick-soled shoes? It is very dangerous for the public speaker to sit in the study when the feet are chilled. So simple a protection as a newspaper thrown over the feet during the hours of study will check the draughts on the floor of the room, and keep the head cool by keeping the feet warm. It is well for the student, who is to use his voice, to form the habit of standing during a part of his study hours, that the blood may descend to the extremities. The lamented poet Longfellow, to the last years of his life, practiced the habit of writing at a standing desk. And this custom of standing erect effects not only an easy and erect carriage of the body,

but, by strengthening the abdominal and also the dorsal muscles, lessens greatly the fatigue of rendering the public Service. For the dorsal muscles have a twofold functionthat of supporting the spinal column, and that of aiding the expulsory muscular action in speaking. This exercise is much more exhausting when using the voice in the kneeling posture, and hence arises the necessity of some natural strengthening discipline of these muscles. At all events, one should avoid the weakening process of their entire neglect during the week. Sitting hour after hour throughout the days of the week, and then kneeling and vocalizing with full voice in the public Service, is quite enough to tax the strength of the strongest. The nervous condition into which many speakers are thrown, during and after the effort of public speaking, can, undoubtedly, be traced to this neglect of the action and use of the dorsal muscles. This would affect the nerve centers in that vicinity of the spine, and, sympathetically, those all the way up to the brain.

While the essential conditions of warmth are insisted upon as necessary to the health of the public speaker, care should be exercised not to overheat the organs of the throat by the use of a muffler in cold weather. As an extraordinary means of protection, it may be used at times; but the continued habit of wearing a close covering for the throat softens the organs, and renders them more sensitive to the harmful influence of cold. The throat can be inured to such climatic conditions as readily as the face or hands. The rare occurrence, at present, of "clerical sore throat," and the decrease in the death-list of consumption, may be largely attributed to our more rational modern custom of leaving the throat exposed. If it be necessary to ride in the open air for any considerable distance before speaking, a newspaper buttoned under the coat will keep the chest warm, and prevent that deep chill which is so disastrous to the voice. If one is compelled to pass directly into the

cold air after speaking in a heated room, then the throat should be covered; but it is much better for the speaker to remain for ten or fifteen minutes in the room where he has been exercising his voice, that the blood may be gradually cooled. We believe our advice on this point is clear. It may be summed up by saying that the throat should be left open as long as this strengthens it. When danger arises that a chill will be caused, then it should be protected.

Another essential condition for the preservation and development of the vocal powers is the recognition of nature's demand for healthful rest. The nervous system of the speaker demands it, because that, especially, is worn by the intense concentration of thought and vivid flashes, or continuous fire, of the feelings which accompany public speaking; the muscular system, because in many parts of the body, and especially in the trunk, there is a continued strain upon the muscles, which becomes the more wearisome because varied by the concussive effect of the expulsion of voice. This waste can be supplied only by the proper amount of sleep during the night, when the nerves find their recreation in rest and torpidity, the muscles theirs in quiet secretion. The speaker who exhausts his power by too little sleep, or an excess of it, is deliberately injuring his voice. Insufficient sleep leaves the nerves disturbed, and imparts a harsh, wiry quality to the voice; the excess of it causes that stupefying and sluggish circulation which renders the action of the organs labored and unwieldy, and effects the roughness of tone attending profound somnolency. A brief nap, caught even in a chair, is often a great restorative to the enfeebled energies of body and voice. Excessive or even the usual amount of labor on the day preceding public effort should be avoided. The best possible preparation for effective Sunday work is a Saturday morning of exercise, an afternoon of quiet meditation, and a night of sleep.

Harmonizing with the rest of body is the rest of spirit,

which should precede the placidity and depth of feeling expressed in Divine Service. This tranquillity should be imparted, in turn, to the voice, that through this medium the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit may be the more perfectly shed into the hearts of the hearers; and few things can be more earnestly condemned than the ill-timed haste with which some clergymen approach their divine ministrations. A rush for the vestry, a hurried and superficial glance at the Lessons, the whisking on of a surplice, the sudden assumption of a calm face over a disturbed heart, and the shepherd is ready to lead his flock into the Holy of Holies! It is impossible. A few moments, surely, of calm should precede the approach to the chancel. It is the custom of at least one effective speaker in the Church to so plan his time as to arrive in his vestry-room several minutes before service, in order that he may be seated. quietly for a brief space before his work; and the best preparation for the fit rendering of Divine Service is a quiet hour of private meditation. The voice will tell its unwelcome tale in public if the clergyman neglects his duty in private.

In regard to all other matters relating to preservation of health through needful rest, the speaker should realize that the violation of nature's laws will be retributively visited upon him in spite of all efforts to secure the best culture of voice; and, among others, it should be remembered that there are few things so injurious to the voice as protracted mental exertion until late hours of the night.

Another important matter to be considered is close observation of the natural results of proper dieting. The clergy, as a class, suffer more from indigestion than any other body of men-the inevitable result of their sedentary habits and neglect of exercise. This evil is largely increased by eating indigestible food. No single rule can apply to all cases, but whatever is found to be difficult of digestion should be avoided by every man seeking the best use of his voice. The disturbance of the mucous

membrane, caused by a disordered stomach, tells immediately on the vocal quality. Almost any one can satisfy himself of this by eating largely of any fatty matter, or highly spiced salads, pickles, nuts, etc. Whatever may be easily digested, that the speaker should consider sufficient nourishment as his meal before speaking. He can gratify the cravings of appetite at other times. The precise hour for using the voice after eating would depend on the condition of the stomach. Strong vocal effort should be avoided immediately after eating a hearty meal, yet it should be remembered that it will not benefit the voice to speak while fasting.

In this connection the author feels the necessity of cautioning all public speakers against the custom of drinking freely of cold water, especially iced-water, either immediately before or during the hours of speaking. It is well also to avoid, as far as possible, the use of condiments as a habit. A medicated lozenge, or even something as simple as a lump of sugar, or, better still, a taste of an orange, may be helpful at times; but to form such a habit is almost of necessity to destroy the more delicate and natural qualities of the voice, and the play of the organs in producing them. We should so drill the organs to a natural and healthful action as to make them independent of all soporifics and stimulants.

There is still another matter left which is, perhaps, of greater moment to the public speaker than any of the considerations preceding, and that is the absolute necessity of paying attention to physical exercise. No man, desirous of using his voice at the best, can accomplish this purpose without some stated exertion, which shall cause the blood to circulate freely and healthfully, and to give tone and vigor to the body. Whatever pertains to physical health immediately affects the voice. It is simply an impossibility that a clear and healthy resonance and a sustained and reserved vocal power can be secured while the bodily