instances, in men's voices as well as in women's, could
be adduced, but the foregoing suffices; the results of incorrect
breathing and of forcing being much the same in all cases, differing
principally in degree.

In the "Treatise on the Art of Singing" by the late Signor Lamperti,
occurs the following passage, which fully bears out the necessity for
diligent acquirement of correct methods of breathing:--"Masters of the
present day, instead of obliging pupils to make a severe study of the
art of respiration, as a rule, omit it altogether, and take them through
the greater part of a modern opera at every lesson, to the certain ruin
of their voices, and often at the expense of their bodily health. How
many young singers come to Milan or to Paris with beautiful voices,
musical talent, and every other natural gift, who, after putting
themselves under the guidance of a master for two years, study modern
operas; how many of these unfortunately find at the time of their
_debut_ that their voices, instead of being fresh and improved by
education, are already worn and tremulous, and that, through the
ignorance of their master, they have no longer any hope of success in
their artistic career, which was finished before it was begun." A sad
but an "ower true" description, applicable to other centres of
voice-training besides Milan and Paris.

It is scarcely possible to over-estimate the importance of correct
methods of breathing and of breath management to all voice users,
whether they are singers or speakers. As breath is the motive power of
all voice it needs but little consideration to arrive at the conclusion
that the best method of supply and control of this motor power is of
vital necessity to those who depend upon their voices for success in
their vocation, whether it be that of singer, clergyman, lecturer, or
actor.

Some of the worst descriptions of stammering owe their origin to
improper breath management, and numbers of such cases which have been
under my care have been perfectly cured by specially designed breathing
exercises, adapted to the requirements of each individual case, combined
with training of the various muscles employed in articulation. As no
two persons stammer alike there can be no universal panacea for the cure
of this terrible affliction; it is, therefore, necessary to study the
peculiar idiosyncrasies of each case before formulating a plan of
treatment; and this makes it impossible to write rules fo