Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-06


Thelatc William Hazlitt, a man gifted
with great powers of observation and ex-
preston, was of opinion that actors and au-
ihors were not fitted generally speaking,
to shine in conversation. "kuthors ought
to be read and not heard" and as to ac-
tors, they could not speak tragedies in tic
drawing room, and their wit was likely to
be comedy and farce at second hand
The biography Of men Of letters, in a great
measure, confirms, this opinion; some Of the
greatest names in English and French lit
erature, men who have filed books with
an eloqucnce and truth that .'efy oblivion,
were mere mutcs before theit fellow
They have golden ingots, which In the
privacy of home, they coult. convert into
coin bearing an impress thai would insure
universal currency; but they could not, on
the spur of ihe moment, produce the far
things current in the market place. De-
scartes, the famous mathematician and phi
losopher-La Fontaine, celebrated for his
witty fables-and Button, the great natur-
alist-were all singularly deficient in the
powers of conversation. Marmontel, the
novelist, wrs SO dull in society that his
friends said Of him, after an interview, II
must 60 on and read his tales, to rccompense
myself for the WEAKNESS Of hearing him"
As to Corncille, the greatest dramatst of
France, he was completely lost in society-
so absent and embarrassed, thathe wrote OF
himselfa witty couplet, importing that he
was never Ineligible but through the
mouth of another Wit on paper seems to
be something widely d.ferent from that
| play Of words in conversation which, while
i sparkies, dies; for Charles H., the with
est monarch that ever sat on the English
throne, was so charmed with the humor Of
"Hudibras," that he caused himself to be
introduced, in the character of a private
gentleman, TO Butler, its author. The wit
| ty king found the author very dull com
panion, and was of opinion, with many 9th
efs, that so stupida fellow could never
| have written SO clcvera book. Addison,
whose classic elegance Of style has long
been considered the best model for Young
writers, was shy and absent in society, pre-
serving. even before single stranger, stiff
and dignifed silence.
He was accustomed to say there could
| be no real conversation, but between two
persons, flicnds--and that it was theh tlluk-
ing aloud. Steel, Swift, Pope and Con
| greve, men possessing literary and ccnvcr-
sational powers ofthc highest order, allow
cd him to bave been delightful compan-
ion among intimates-and Young writes Of
him that ..he was rather mute in society on
some occasions, but when he began to be
company he was full ofvivacity, and went
on in a noble strain of thought and Ian
guagc, so as TO chain the attention of every
one to him" Goldsmith, on the contrary,
as described by his contemporary writers,
appeared in company to have no spa.k Of
that genius which shonc forth so brightly in
his works His address was awkward
his manner uncouth, his language unpollsh
ed; he hesitated in speaking, and was al.
ways unhappy if the conversation did moi
turn upon himself. DR.. johnson spoke oi
him as an inspired idiot; yet the great essay
ist, though delivering oraclcs to those a
round him in pompons phrases, which have
been happily described as spoken in The
1 Johnsonesc tongue, was not entitled to be
calei good converscr.
Nearer to our own time we have hac
many authors whose faculty told twice
Sheridan and Theodore Hook were fcl
lows of infinite Jest; they could set table II
+ a roar, and FIJI pages with pathos and wi
of such quality thatit makes their survi
vors think 'we could have spared bette
men" Burns was famous for his cohoquia
powers; and Gait is reported to have bee
as skilfnl as the story-tellers of the East i
fixing the attention Of his auditors on hi
prolonged narrations. Coleridge was i
the habit of pouring forth brilliant unbrc
: ken mouologues Of two or three hours du
ration to listeners SO enchanted that, hk
Adam, whose ears were filed with the e
ocaence of an archangel, they forget "a
place. all seasons and. ihe.r change" bt
> this is not conversation. and few might ver
ture to emulate that "old man eloquent
. with hope Of equal success.
n Washington Irving in the account he HI
4 gwen ofhis visit to Abbotsford, says Of 5
b Walter Scott, that his conversation ws
+ frank, hearty, picturesque, and dramati
e He never talked for effect or display, b.
: from the flow Of his spirits. the -cres Of b
n memory, and the vigor If his irhaginatio
Il He was as good listener as talker; a
/ prec.ated every thing that others sal
n however humble might be their rank ar
S pretensions, and was quick to testify h
6 pcrcer,jon Of ,ay. poip; III rheir discours