The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-08-31
EXPRESSION, &c.

The Importance of a concise, forciJle, and
correct form of expression, is re allied by few
I Without it, the best ideas appear common.
( place and insignificant: while with it, common
place ideas appear dignified and original.
! A man who expresses himself WELL is always
I listened to attentiveIy, though his conversation
/ possesses but little intrinsic merit while that
of the man of fine ideas is unheeded because
clothed in redundant, frivolous, or awkward
! language.
Expression is to ideas, what clothing is to the
person. Though mans appearance be ever
so good he will not appear to advantage if dress
ed in sloVenly, or superauous manner
Simplicity of expression, is more interesting
and elegant than turgidness.
universal error in conversation, Is to dwell
and enlarge too much upon an idea.
oehtentiousness is more expressive Than 10.
quacity.
ii is more easy to write well than to converse
well or rather, the former talent is cultivated.
while the latter is generally neglected Con.
sequently few professional or great men, would
| strike at such If their conversation were the
criterion by which they must be Judged
10 converse well, is of more importance to
every day life, than to write we'll But they
are both talents and requirements Of inestima-
Die value, the possession of one of which need
IN no instance exclude that of the other On
the contrary, if properly cultivated, they are
mutual promoters
The conversational talent particularly is ac-
CURED only by practice. It's intuitive in none
Men who have astonished the world by the ell
oquence and elegance of their writings have
frequently been unable to give ineligible ex-
preston to their ideas, in conversation
Addison, whose style of writing is speci-
men OF all that is chaste and eloquent in com
position, lacked the most common conversation
al abilities His abOrtlve and ludIcrous attempt
to speak in parliament is universally known;
a s well as several anecdotes to the same effect
related by his biographer, Doctor Johnson.
man who can converse well is irreSist ble
at home A man who can write well is irresis-
tIbfe abroad. But one who can, both converse
and write well, is, in every sense, and in every
situation irresistible, whatever his personal dis
advantages may be. To acquire the ability
particularly referred to in these remarks c.
that of conversing well, is an end which can on
~ be at'aInedby observation and practice; but
is end TO which any man of sense may attain.
An individual, whose retiring disposition and
peculiar tone of mind excludes him from soci-
ciety, will never converse huently, while he
submits to the inclination
Such an one must mingle with the gay, the
sad, the merry, the wise, the foolish, before he
can give unexceptionable utlerance to his
thoughts.
However badly man Of taste expresses him
self, he notices the slightest defect in style or
grammar, in others
Here, then, is rule 10 go by, Think before
you speak" said wise man-and think after
yon speah, let one of his admirers add that
thert 49,, daino4 IT,. ,h;oI. ruas urrnnr
OF rJclish, in what you said, and profit in fu-
ture.
lfyou find your conversation unheeded, while
that of your nclghbor is eagerly swallowed, try
to discover the cause. Compare your remarks
and manner with his, and profit accordingly.
1t is not quantity that regulates the value of
conversation; it is quality. The man of few
words is more apt to be listened to than the one
of many sentences. /" A wholesome tongue is
tree of life but porverseness therein is a
breach of the spirit"