The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-06
Conversation

resul, OF gifi highly cultivated BY varioo.
knowledge, irene,hened by deep and BAR
nest experiences, tharPened by contact wi,s
society. What q pleasure 10 listen TO such
music! Wha, can moro efFecipalIy move
aud influence the sou! BY this we do not
mean highly elaborated talk, but appropriate
rcinlillaling, slevating, original and 10 the
best sense beautiful words, like fountain
with newly recurring forms Of manifcsla-
Iio6s, and ceasing when the observers lire.
The conversation which fell from the lips
of Fox, Burke, Or. Johnson, CoIeridge, and
other famous takers OF England was OF
snch interest as TO hold their listeners for
hours. Like other gifts, il should be culii>
vated. Jenny Lind, endowed with the gift
Of music, but Of what practical use unlsss
cultivated More attention should be paid
10 this branch in onr schools and colleges.
As it is there are comparatively lew pro-
fe'sors that give it any special attention and
moi unfrequentIy the best students are the
mos, awkward in conversation.
This 10 mol as il should be. Not long
rincs we knew lady, who from her posi-
iioD had the means of eoi great good.
This liulo woman could not say three con-
secuIive words TO influence, or make better
the least person within her reach, and stiii
we are told that she was splendid scholar.
II was an assertion that we tried to believe.
but sias, she was sadly deficient in the use
of words if indeed she really had ideas.
Conversation is The exponent ofthe mind.
Some spin their mind like tops; others
move down the current Of conversation like
iulIIaeen saipe; others shower briIianu
like meteors with occasional lightning
flash; and sliIl others that go on like mule
in a rtesd-miD, never stopping.
man usually talks best upon that sub
ect which he hest understands, and ia
which he ha, ceniered strongest interest,
provided he has not become a victim Of
morbid excitement upon that subject. That
conversation is NEST effective upon the
minds of other. which mos: perfectly inrer-
prets The thoughts of lhe soul or whatever
subject is considered. The straightforward,
honest relation of The aumbIesi creature Of
The earth may have power TO touch and ia
Huence the heart o. the hishe,; AID most
cultivated
Men great in action are often silent in
company. Their power impeis them in
o her drsc ion lhan thsif ioague. Tas 10
also rqnally irne OF those eminent in any
one department, OF scieace. Their brains are
100 thoroughly adapted TO filsnI study for
the full development of Language Authors
are not subsequently silent people sase on
rare and peculiarly favorable occasions.
Million could not converse; Butler was "bi'-
ing and snilen;' Dante was silent or iron cal;
Swifi nervous. Chsucer's silence was said
10 10 more agreeable than his conversation.
Junius was 30 very difident lie coald never
get beyond few preliminary words Des-
carries, Corneis, and Souihy slih and laci-
turn save with intimate friends.
! We would mol be The crow fishing for
evil. 1t is pleasant TO think of Leigh Hunt,
/ Carlyle, and others who were brilIian, and
! highly effective. Neither does on: own
country lack Tor good couyersaiionalists-
| charming men and women, some whose
names ars known 10 fame, not caring for re-
! nown outside cs The paradise lheT cali
home There are various styles oi conver-
saiion peculiar 10 dI1eren, people. Soms
people link their words to those of Others
by such general expressions a, "indeed,'
"oh, yes" "is it possible with kind of
susvity peculiar 10 certain Organizations
! Others are direct, abruptly making inteuc.
gallons and observations. Then there is
tcinlila,ing, epigrammstic style which
/ flies about The listeners like a rocket. Con-
verse with the man OF law, and his oPin-
ions are uttered orac1lar,y. His words are
chosen with adaptation 10 s.nse rather than
BOUND. He quotes only the ablest and ar-
ihorities. His purpose is 10 instruct and
convict rather than 10 amuse.
Talk with the merchant, and be will tell
you how he began lie with only sixpence,
how he got along, what he is now worth
with such satisfied, contsnted air tha, you
smile good-humo,edly, wondering if the
possession of money would make you hap
Py
Converse with one Of the fines, women II.
the country, the wife OF an sminen; mar,
and tho mother OF handsome son, and ac-
complished wel-drsssed Daughters, and sh-
reminds you momeRiafily Of what "the
Jndgs says" ""My son is at present in Eo-
robe" aud "My daughters are so much is
society,"" while another iells you, with
such conscious air, tina, "My celebrsted 70
and so is the author of that celebrated work
which is just now throwing wonderful
light on tho public mind,n Still another
will tell you of "My Laby," inst as though
there never was one before, and not likely
10 be another. All conversation Is more or
less contagious; consequently persons sooa