Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-08-10
sALCTATIONS.

man sitting above me leaned forward and
said: "A wet, stormy day, sir" re-
piled, !" That needs no confirmation or
words to that effect, and the man, an en-.
tire stranger, was very angry. his face
flushed. and he said something insulting,
which pretended not to hear; indeed, l
was sorry l replied to him 50 abruptly
Tho circumstances led me to reflect up
on our different modes of salutation, in
beginning, or trying to begin, a converaa-
ton with strangers, as, we'll as with &C.
Many persons, the moment they meet
you, say "a line day." A rainy day."
8 A cold day." " A hot day." These ex-
pre,sions are stereotyped, and are used,
perhaps, because we do not know at the
moment what to Say. There are other
very. common salutations with strangers
< when FIRST introduced, and with ac9uain-
tances who have been long time separa-
ted" How do you do? How have you
been ~, A man can reply, he is very
we'll, or lie is i'll, but is he to begin with
a diary of his health since former meet
ing Of his friend The inquiry. general
ly means nothing. but if no reply is
made, it appears ill-natured, and to re-
ply is embarrassing. Another common
beginning Of a conversation. except
among intimate friends. is perplexing.
How do. you do? What is the news ?"
You can reply as to your health, but are
you to recite the contents Of the morning
paperI The question, ninety-nine times
in hundred, is asked from habit, (and !
think it a bad habit,) but yet some reply
must be made; and from stranger to a
stranger. it is embarrassing.
q With the best intentions, many good
people are like Jobs comforters. The
cleverest of comedians, the elder Mat
thews, used TO personate very fat Ger
man in love with lady. VINO promised to
marry him if be could bring himself
down to ordinary Dimensions He takes
to bread and water diet, and is contin-
ually asking his friends. " Do you diuk
am tinner?' Some thirty odd years
ago, | was daily growing ti'sner-indeed,
| babe fair to become second Calvin Ed.
son. My friends would say. " How pale
you look to-day!' You ought to take
care Of yourself" &c. The daily and
hourly repetition Of these intended to be
kind inquiries. nearly drove me frantic.
l knew we'll enough | was walking skel-
eton-fortunately, | had no organic dis
ease. l went abroad, no one expecting
my return alive-and got well. Men,
Never tell a person he looks ILL.,. If you
say with truth, 4" How we'll you look !" it
is always we'll received and this reminds
mo of a Frenchman | knew. who said
II feel that l am growing old, for when
ever any one addressing me says young
man, it pleases me"
And this subject Of age. (perhaps the
word most hated in our language is old,)
brings to mind an introduction and a
conversation as follows: Mr.. Smith is
presented to Mrs. Brown--a grandmother.
How do you do Mrs. Brown? You
have seen, madam, great many sum.
mers."
.'Yes, sir, was seventy zone my last
birth day."
Indeed. were you? Well, madam.
my grandmother, at your age, was one
morning found dead in her bed"
Poor Mrs. Brown, of course. was shocked,
and passed sleepless night in thinking
Of Mr.. Smiths grandmother. Il hope
l shall never see Mr.. Smith again, said
Mrs. Brown, after he had taken his de-
parture. y q #'>
10 return to the weather: Perhaps the
best way rs to say as little about it as we
can. If anything unusual and Of inter-
est can be said of the weather, can list
en- with pleasure, but confess to u sort
of irritation (veg wrong no doubt )at be.
addressed with, (" A rainy day, sir" sx
pecting me to reply. E,
u We nod to each other, we say, " Good
morning! ho,D are you p &C., to show
our wish to continue social intercourse