There are comparatively few persons who have perfect command over their vocal organs. Speaking, is in reality an art, is exercised only as an instinct; and thus, as an eminent American author (Dr. Emit) observes, " some men only Heat, bark, or bray it little better than others." It is some consolation to those who have been miurelled by deft els to study the art of speech, that they exercise the crowning faculty of dad's ? online more worthLy than others, and thus become, per haps. better spet.kers than they Weald have been without the stimulus of defect or impediment.
Speaking. v. hen the respiration is proierly conducted, is one of the roost healthful exercises: but violent or lopg continued effort is injurious to the chest, when the lungs are not kept well inflated. Frequently. also, such eireLmstances, the vocal chords become permanently relaxed, and total loss of voice sometimes ensues.
The acquirement of the power of speaking in Mabry is dependent on the possession of hearieg, so that deaf children are also mute. Under proper training, however, they may be tatteht to articulate, as the organs of sl tech are very rarely imperfect. Children
'who have been subject to fits or other cerebral affections, or who are deficient in imita tive power, are sometimes very backward in learning to speak. In such casea, great care is requisite to direct the early attempts. and prevent the formation of bad habits. Many of worst forms of defect and impcffiment owe their origin simply to the want of proper direction in the production of elementary sounds, when the little sufferers have failed to enounce them correctly by patina] imitation.
It is unnecessary to enumerate the various English. American, and foreign authors who have propounds 1 conflicting theories of the cause, and st ht nil's for the cure of impediments of speech. Of the systems practiced in this country at the present day, those of Dr, limit and Mr. Melville Pell have been most fully pullkhed. The views of these authors differ but little, and are in substance the same Ls thole contained in this article.