The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-03-24
WHOLE NO. e973.

BAD HABIT. There are several vices in eon,.
mon conversation, of which we have becom~
extremely weary. The following Conversation.
which passed between the good dame Loyetalk
ana ner son Solomon, will more specifcaIl~
explain our meaning. We cannot hsteu with
any pauence 70 formal annuneiation of things
sufficiently obvious in their own nature
SOL Mother, it thunders!
Mo. You don't say so!
Sol II does
Mo-. So it does. Well, declare. vho,5 .
thought it? VINO :
In this case, the first reply Of the mothsr.
sne gives her son the lie direct, and thai. toa'
In the lace and eyes Of all her senses. Il dor9
not appear that she designs to doubt his ward
guy eoopts THIS methsd to convince him that
she IS attentive. The method is yeFv oh;sc-
tionable. 0'y s"Jss-
sol. Mother, il rains!
no. Does it, my son?
Sol. Yessum.
himself! His mothers reply as plainly denies
his Veraeity as If she had said at once. YOU lie.
And yet he passes it off with quiet eyes
sum-" and it is forgotten.
Another fault in many people, is the enun-
citation of a sound requesting the repetition oP
remarks addressed to them. This sound is not
legitimate English, but resembles as much as
any thing the cultural ruminations of those
animals which rank among the antipathies of
the Jews. As far as letters will convey an
idea Of its sound, it may be gathered from kng
The following conversation transpired between
person addicted to this habit, and one who
had undertaken to quiz Kim out of it.
Quiz. Good morning Mr.. Pop!
Pop. Good morning, Mr.. Quiz-good morn
ing.
Quiz. / say, Mr.. Pop, have you heard that
the late PRESIDENT was seen riding bareheaded,
the other day, through the streets of Washing.
TOM
Pop. Hing?
Quiz. l say, have you heard of the law that
has been passed, compelling non-residents to
have their washing done2
Pop. Hing? Ye-yes!-Oh yes. What did
you say2
Quiz. Mr.. Pop, are you deafe
Pop. Hing? No.
Qaiz Well, then, why do you not attend
when person addresses remark to you.
Pop. Hing OIL dol hear you.
to repeat his remarks
Pop. Hing 1 don't, do II
Quiz. To be sure Who called you then
Quiz. Ioadsr) How bald you are
SO, sure enough
:, Quts. Well done, Pop / owe you one
You shall dine with me.
Pop: Hing? OIL didn't mean So Iheard
you. 1t is provoking habit, isn't iii Upon
my word never thought of it. / couldn't
think what made you shun me SO. But I'll re-
form, pom honor
MIR Pop, who is with this exception, a very
fine man, and owns his hundreds Of thousands,
Is thus restored to the good graces ofhis friends,
a4Av RefaF affa ig6tGdbie Companion. 9"'T 1S'e'
There is a great deal of this unmeaning cUn-
versation in the most refined circles Of society;
we mean the common small talk, one degree
removed from the astonishing pathos between
dame Lovetalk and her insane descendant.
The trite remarks upon the weather, such as
" very fine day, to-day" or 'Quite rain,
MIR. Pipkins," are all of the same family with
the cogitations Of the Lovetalks; and did they
not often lead into conversation of more edi-
flying nature, might be with the same reason
lightly spoken Of But where person has any
depth of mind, it is often, and perhaps always
concealed under the foam of 3" small talk" and
is only to be reached through such channel
so true is it that, in every department of ma
ture, the dross is mingled with the gold.
PropidencR p1tyiof