The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-10-06
THE ART OF CONVERSATIONS.

There 10 one defect In Amsriean educe.
tion. or rather in American character. and
that is, our young people do not learn "a
converse we'll. They think Athsy aet--
when reused they are sloquent- but they
seldom converse we'll The boy d taught
to declaim-to store his mind with thoss
ideas that will instruct and stsh, lmovs
the multitude-but very rarely to con.
verse with ease and eloquencs. .Ths girs
is disciplined to sing ana play and dance
and sit gracefully She 10 even prspxred
for those womanly duties shs mast Der.
form in after life---dutiss Of nursery and
household. Her moral powers ars cult
vated likewise in this country, 20 that shg
becomes useful, benevolent smiahae bs-
ing. But she is not taught to eoaysrss.
.Shs can talk enough, !" says the crussy
old bachelor. "prsy do not tssct her, e.
any greatsrdegree. the use Of her toagus.~
Talking is not converting. There g ne
deficiency in the former with oar eirls.
To talk, and to talk wsll, are very di1ss-
ent. The latter requires sase, tact III.
confidence, good sense, . well conducsee
education. . desire to please, ,sad N AMI
able temper. a "a = S-'A
In neither sex should conversation bv
high flown. declamstory, q. .aboys the con-
dition Of the hearers. The voice shoalG
be modulatsd to the subjsst, and never
raised to an oratoricsl pitch. The styls'
should be easy. natural, plAysal q thsas-
easion require It. with no strainsd and Ia,
fetched attempts At Wit Or glitter.
There are occasioss when The sser
essence Of entertaining and sucesssfhl co..
versation consists In being : good liatuee..
and in drswing ont others ppon thsse Sop~
les about which you know they can i6fnisk
information. We have aid, before thXS
the great secret Of pieasing consjsts, q
making others pleased with tksnsaltoxs
II is 90 IN conversations. TO .Be. : good
listener 10 one Of the secrets Of eonyerSa<
tional power. tits said that Dxhisl web
ster remarked that he never was n any
sensible mans company quarter Of -
hour but what he learnt something. He.
had the tact Of drawing them ont on Sab,s'
jects with which they were familias. an&
in this way, gained information himself
and made others pleased with hin. - s',. :
When girls think too much of thsit
beauty, they are very apt 70 forget thai
the powers Of conversation ars needed. @
please. Beauty may strike ssvsss blow
upon the heart, but it requires ;cony yGfsa-
tional powers to follow up the blow ald
render it effective. A plain woman Who
converses well will soon cause the want *
beauty to be forgotten BY her powers a.
entertainment. Madame Dc Stael Ho1.
stein was an exceedingly plain woman. bus
such were her conversational talents, that
Byron declared she could talk down her
face in quarter Of an hour, and Be fsIt
to be positively beautiful 'iys ns4'
But the question occurs, how csn thit
power be acquired! 1t needs some native
confidence and much food judgment 10
lay the foundation for it.. Instructors esa
create 1t, BY always requiring their pupils
to give the ideas Of their lessons in thsfr,
own language, and not In the words q
the text book. Parents, too. can early
soegin to encourage their children 10 con.
verse on sensible topics BY calling out,
their opinions. All should learn 70 con,
! verse; - Hartford Coursnk ;s.t,..S;s ,.; +. &,