The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-25
Conversational Power. or Great Men.

The late William Hazlitt q man gifted with great
powers Of observation and expression, of 0pin-
Ion that actors and authors not fitted, gene
rally speaking, to shine in conversation "Authors
ought to be read and not heard;" and IN to actors
they could not speak tragedies in the drawing ROOM
and their wit was likely to be comedy and farce at
a second hand The biography Of men Of lettors,
in a great measure, confirms this opinion; some Of
the greatest names in English and French litera.
ture, men who have filed books with an eloquenoe
and truth that defy oblivion, were mere mutes be-
fore their fellow-mcn. They had golden ingots.
which, In the privacy OF home, they could convert
into coin bearing an impress that would nsure uni
vcrsal currency; but they could not, the spur of
the moment. produce the farthings current IN the
market place. Descartcs, the famous mathemati.
clan and philosopher-Ia Fontainc, celebrated for
his witty iabes-and Button, the great naturalist
were all singularly deficient in the powers OF con-
vcrsation. Marmontcl. the novelist, was 90 dull in
society that his friend said Of him. after an inter-
view, al must 60 and read his tales, TO iecompcnse
myself for the WEAKNESS Of hearing him.
Az to Corncille the greatest draInatist Of France
he was completely lost In society-so absent and
embarrassed, thathc wrote of himself witty COUP
let. importing that he was never ineligible but
through the mouth Of another. Wit on paper seems
to be something widely different from chat play OF
words in conversation which, while it rparkies.
dies; for Charles H. the witticst monarch that ever
sat on the Englsh throne, was 20 charmed with the
humor of "Audibras." that he caused himself 70 b
introduced. in tho character of private gentleman
to Hutlcr. its author The witty king found the au.
thor very dull companion and was of opinion,
with many others, that 90 stupid fellow could
never have written clever a book. Addison,
whose classic elegance ofstylc has long been con-
sidercd the best model for young writers, was shy
and absent in society, preserving, even before q
tingls stranger. stiff and dignifed silence.
He was accustomed to say there could be no real
conversation but between two persons. friends
and that It was then thinking aloud Steel. Swift.
Pope and Congrevc, men possessing literary md
conversational powers of the highest ORDER allowed
him to have been delightful companion 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 of vivncity,
and went ON in noble strain Of thought and Ian.
guAge, to chain the attention Of every ono to
him. Goldsmith, on the contrary, a. described
by his contemporary writer's. appeared in company
to have no spark Of that genius which shone forth
30 brightly in his works. His address awk-
ward. his manner uncouth, his language unpol
ished; he hesitated in speaking, and was alwAys
himself. DR.. Johnson spoke of him inspired
idiot; yet the great essayist, though delivering
oracles to those around him in pompous phrases.
which have been happily described a. spoken in
the Johnsonese tongue, not entitled to be called
good converter.
Nearer to our own time we have had many au-
thors whose faculty told twice. Sheridan and The
odorc Hook fellows Of infinite Jest; they could
wit Of such quality that it makes their survivors
think 1--WE could have spared better men," Burma
was famous for his coiloquial powers; and Gait IL
reported to have been skilu the story tellers
Of the East in fixing the attention oil his auditors
on his prolonged variations. Coleridge was in the
habit of pouring forth brilliant unbrokcn mono
logues Of two three hours duration to listeners
20 enchanted that, like Adam, whose cars were
filled with the eloquence of an archange. they for
get call place, all seasons and their change" but
this was not conversation, and few might venture
to emulate that "old man eloquent with hopes Of
equal success.
Washington Irving. in the account he has given
OF his visit to Abbotsford says Of Sir Walter Scott
that his conversation was frank, hearty picturesque
and dramatic. He mover talked for effect or dis
play but from the flow Of his spirits, the stores OF
his memory, and the vigor Of his imagination. He
as good a'listener a talker appreciated
every thing that others said, however humble
might be their rank and prctensions, and was quick
to testify his perception OF any point in their dis
course. No ones concerns. no ones thoughts and
opinions, ones tastes and pleasures, seemed be-
meath him. He made himself 10 thoroughly the
companion of those with whom he happened to be
that they forgot, for time, his vast superiority,
and only recollectcd and wondered, when all was
over, that il was Scott with whom they had been on
such familiar terms, in whose ssccty they had felt
80 perfectly at ease Chambers's Journal,
: