The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-12-14
i CHAPTER FROM THE YOUNG MANS GUIDE
BY W. A. ALcoTT.
SECTION III. Rules for Conversation.


i BY w. A. ALcoTT.
SECTION III. Rules for Conversation.
The bee has the art of extracting honey from
|every flower which contains it, even from scmt
which are not little nauseous or poisonous. l,
has also been said that the conversation Of every
individual, whatever may be the condition Of his
mind or circumstances, may be made means OF
improvement How happy would it be, then,
| If man possessed the skill Of the bee, and knew
how to extract the good, and reject the bad or
useless
Something on this subject is indeed, known.
There are rules by the Observance Of which we
may derive much valuable information from the
conversation of those among whom we live, even
though il should relate to the most ordinary sub
ljects and concerns. And not only so, we may
often devise means to change the conversation,
either directly, b. gradually introducing other
topics Of discourse, or indirectly, BY patient at.
tempts to enlarge and improve and elevate the
minds of our associates.
/ Every individual has excpllences; and almost
every person, however ignorant has thought
upon some one subject more than many,-per-
| haps most others. Some excel ia the knowledge
cf llusbandry, some in gardening, some IT, me
chancs, or manufactures, some III mathematics,
and SO on. In all your conversation, thea, ii
will be well TO ascertain as nearly as your can
wherein the skill and excellence of an indyid
ual lies, and put him upon his ayoritc subject.
Ncr is this difficult. Every one uil, Of his own
accord, fall to talking OH his favorite topic, if
you will follow, and not attempt to lead him.
Except in few rare cases, every one wishes
to be the hero o! The circle where he is CONVEX
sing. If, therefore, you seek TO Improve in the
greatest possible degree, from the conversation
of those among whom you may be thrown, you
will suffer companion to take his own course,
and 'ont Of the abundance of his heart, let his
moutl. speak By this means you may easily
| ollect the worth and excellence of every one
you meet with; and be able to put it together
for your own use upon future occasions.
The common objections to the views here
presented, are, that they encourage dssmua-
ton. But this does not appear to me 10 be the
fact. ID suffering person, for the space Of a
| single conversation, to be the hero of the circle
we do not Of necessity conccde his superiority
company. It often happens that you are thrown
among persons whom you cannot benefit by be-
coming the hero CT the circle yourself for they
will not listen to you; and perhaps will not
understand your terms, if they d. II, however,
there appear to be others in the company whose.
object, like your own, is improvement, you
might expose yourself 10 the just charge Of be
ing selfish, should YOU re use to converse unon
your own layorite topics in your turn; and thus
| to lit the good deed 90 round.
Never intprrunt another, but hear him cut,
You will understand him the better for it, and
be able to give hin the better answer. If YOU
only give him an opportunity, he may saw some
thing which YOU have not vet heard or explain
what YOU did not fully understand. or even men
ton something which YOU did not expect
There are individuals with whom YOU NAV
occasionally com. in contact from whose CON.
versation YOU will hardly derive much benefit a,
all. Such are those who use wauton. orobsccue
or profane LANGUAGE For besides IN. almol
inter boneIpssnrss Of der;,;no ,nv hs,oGt from,
"a" 'a "'a 49,. r." :" ''l"'' i"e' ''"oi!
suffer hearing them, Dut