The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-09
Ernm the nllnpn,lrida

pleased. If a mar feels that an east
wind has rendered Inn d1ll and sulky, h,
should by all means stay at home TIL the
wind changes, aud not be troublesome TO
his friends for dullness, is infectious, and
one sour face will make many, as one
cheerful couutcnance Is soon productive
OF others. 1.-two gentlemen desire 10
quarrel, L should not be done in a con-
pany met to cnjoy the pleasure of con-
Vcrsatlon. let a stage be erected for
the purpose, N proper place, TO which
| the jurisdiction Of the Mildiesex maeis-
Tales doh no: reach. There lei Mar
Tin and Mendoza mount, accompanied
| by Big Ben md Johnson, and attended
by the amateurs, who delight to behold
blows neady laid in, ribs and jaw-bones
elegantly broken, and eyes sealed up with
oclIcacy and address. It's obvious, for
these reasons, that he who is about 10
form a conversation party, should be
careful to invite men of congenal minds,
and Of similar ideas respecting the enter
tainment ofwhich they are to partake,
and TO which they must contribute.
With gloomy persons, gloomy topics
likewise should be las indeed they Will be)
excluded, such as illhealth, bad weather,
had news, or torebodings of such, DC.
10 preserve the temper calm and plea
SAINT, II Is oiunspeakable importance that
we always acCuStom ourselves through
life 10 N, 10 tho bnst - tl,;,,,.
them on tn lr bright side, and so repre-
sent them to others for our mutual com
tort and encouragement. Few things
Especially, if, as Christians, we take the
other world into the accomt) but hav a
bright side: diligence and practice will
easily find it. Perhaps there is no cir
cumstance better calculated than this to
render conversation equally pleasing
and profitable.
In The conduct of II, be not eager to
interrupt others, or uneasy at being
yourself interrupted; since You speak
| either 10 amuse or instruct the company,
or to receive those benefits from ii.
Give all, therefore, leave to speak in
turn. Hear with patience, and answer
with precision. Inattention is i'll man
ners; ii shows contempt ; and contempt
is never forgiven.
Trouble not the company with your
own private concerns, as you do do not
love 10 be troubled with those of others.
Yours are as little to them as theirs are
to you. You will need no other rule
whereby TO Judge of this matter.
Contrive, but with dexterity and pro-
prlcty, that each person may have an OPP
portunity of discoursing on the subject
with which he is best acquainted. He
will be pleased, and you will be inform
ed. By observing this rule, every one
has II III his power to assist in rendering
conversation agreeable; since, though
he may not choose, or be qualified, 10
say much himself, he can propose ques-
tons to those who arc able to answer
them.
Avoid stories, unless short, pointed,
and quite a prOpoS. lie who deals in
them, says Swift, must either have a very
large stock, or a good memory, or must
often change his company. Some have
a set of them strung like onions, they
take possession Of the conversation by
an early introduction of one; and then
you must have the whole rope and there
is an end of every thing else, perhaps,
for that meeting; thouh you may have
heard all twenty times before.
Talk often, but not long. The tai
cnt of haranguing in private company
is nsupportable. Senators and barris-
tiers are apt to be gnilty of the fault !;
and members who never harangue in
the House, Will often do it out of the
House. If the majority ofthc company
be naturally silent, or cautious, the con-
versatlon will flag, unless it be often
renewed by one among them who can
start new subjects. Forbear, howev-
er, if possible, TO breach a second be-
fore the first is out, lest your stock
should not last, and you should be OBJ
liged to come back to the old barrel.
There are those who will repeatedly
cross upon, and break into the CONVEX
sation, with fresh topic, till they have
touched upon all, and exhausted none.
Economy here is necessary for most
people.
Laugh not at your own wit and hui
NOR; leave that TO the company.
When the conversation is flowing in a
serious and useful channel, never inter-
rupt it by an ill-timedjest. The stream
is scattered, and cannot be again collec-
ted.
Discourse not in a whisper, or half
voice. to your next neighbor. 1t is i'll
breeding; and, in some degree, fraud;
conversation stock being, as one has well
observed, joint and common property.
In reflections on absent people, 90
no further than you would go ifthey were
present. i resolve ; says Bishop Be-
veridge, never to speak of mans vir-