Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-11-07
From the New York Sun.
CONVERSA SATION.

SO much Of the enjoyment Of life lies in
easy, careless discourse, that 1t would be ab-
surd TO wish that men should never give
uiterance to- an idea without consideration
M ,rnlists must not ask too much from man
kind, or they will get nothing at all. In our
moments of relaxation, after having acted \
serious part for several hours, and spoker
only in chosen and guarded terms, nothing
can be more delightful than to give way tc
gush of heedlcys praite with friends arounG
us; flying from one idea to another, like the
bee from flower to flower; lightly touching
this, carelcssly pressing that, hero little
satire, there little pathos. sometimes wit
iicism, sometimes (but not often) pun-and
over all The light laugh that speaks the mind
at ease with itself. Who would wish to see
exactness introduced into such discourse as
this. The heart runs cold at the very idea
of such thing.
There is a great difference, however. be-
tween the careless, easy discourse of one
person, aud of another. II tho character,
implanted by nature, and improved by cul-
ture, be good, so will the speech, however
nnguarded, be agreeable and blameless; (; but
if the character be r. de, then the easier and
more careless the conversation is, the more
odlous it will be. The great dcsideratum Is
that all the inferior sentiments should be
kept SO far in bondage to the superior, that
there should be no chance Of their getting
loose, even in the most ungudrded moments
Of conversation. Though we may recIealc
ourselves at moments with light and unre-
fiectinp discourse, yet we are bound III order
that that discourse may be innocent, 10 put
our whole minds and hearts under proper
truining. We must bring ourselves into
such q state of habltual purity OF mind, That
we may bear inspection at any moment, ana
under any circumstances. Our hearts shonld
be such that when out OF ialr fulDeSs'the
mouth speuketh, our speech may be such
ns TO show that our hearts are clean. ii IS
not to be wished that any one should be un-
der restraint it is only desirable that ones
freedom Of speech should produce results nci.
ther degrading to himself nor offensive to-
others.
The attanmcn's Of men in general towards
the habits Of light and ut the same time easy
and innocent conversations, may be observed
TO correspond with amazing exactncss TO the
natural or acquired excellence OF their char.
acters. Tho most unrestrained hilarity ana
thoughtless conversation OF sume ncn, has
less excess about it, than the soberest dis
course Of others. The coarse nature Is
coarse under any circumstances; 1t repudl.
ted moments. The pure mind OH the other
hand, can never be off its guard,-ior it has
nothing to watch.
Among the marks Of rude nature, one OF
the most conspicuous is a habit Of s,oearing.
Perhaps it is not SO frequently the result OF
real wickedness, as some OF It's ccnsurcrs
allcge. II is moro frequently mere emana-
ton Of coarse good huInor, or results from an
undue desire Of giving emphasis TO speech /;
but nevertheless, IL is highly reprehensible.
A kindred vice IL the habit Of using slang
instead of using the legitimate phraseology
which our language has in such abundance
for common expression Putting The relig'
ious part Of tho question out oil view, nciihcr
swearing or using slang m0y be very grave
offence but ii is quito apparent that ooth are
violations oi that idea of the elegant and the
pure, which exists as n standard in well cul-
iivatcd minds. refined nature does not
think in excavations, nor feel in cant; there
fore il does not use them in speech, even 0
the most careless murnenis. The rude nature
however, is exactly the reverse; aud from
It's speech you may Judge H.. While these
nrc eminent marks ui mn untniorcd nature,
the habit of bcfiing. which bcscts many per.
SONS ~ ordinary discourse, ~ an equal proof
Of an untu orcd mind. The undcrbrcd man
Is pcrpetnn'ly beiting--it seems To mo ns II
be wanted reasoning powers. aud therefore
lie seeks Ia prove every trivial allie ega'ion, and
every chance adopted argument with a bet
THUS is an expedicnt, however. which no m
twnsI person thinks Of resorting 10. A com.
psny of well Informed and sensible mon will
entertain each other with easy conversation,
for q whole evening, aud amidst lighter mai
ters, settle many questions In morals aud ia