Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-31
CONVERSATION DYING OUT.

w hat Is becoming OF conversation
inQuiring minds are beginning to ask.
Is it to be classed among the lost arts
of which Wendell Philips diseourses?
Certainly, society is every day grow
ing less and less capab Bile of converse
tion, more and more wearisome to it
self. Now, the strange thing about
this is that almost oil Americans are
fluent takers; American women are
generally gifted with huency far sur
passing that Of French women, whom
they equally surpass in information
and intelligence. Why, then, have
we no conveTsation-in society at
least? Well, fer one reason, because
society Eve are speaking now of New
York Is afflicted with tete tete prae-
tice, which seems absolutely to pro.
hibit general conversation. Take a
social gathering Of New Workers, at
ghIeh there are only six persons pres
ent, and what do you observer Not
six persons engaged In conversation,
out three couples, distinct and sepa-
rate, each couple occupied in a tete a
tete. Of course, If the six people were
,hree couples of lovers this would be
delightful; and ii general conversa-
tion suffered the lovers would not
much care. But these things do not
usually thus arrange themselves; aud
there are very few people who can car
~ on long talk, tete a tcte, without
nring each other. Moreover, such q
dialogue makes it necessary that there
shall be no pause. You know that the
moment your partner stops you must
go on; and an iron necessity Of this
kind is the death of all true conversa-
lion. But let the six people talk to-
gether, one throwing the ball to his
neighbor, who fiDgs it on In his turn,
and 1t is marvellous how bright and
animated becomes the conversation of
even very ordinary persons. No one
feels that he must speak at a certain
moment whether he likes it or not;
and he must be very dull indeed if the
ideas flashing around him do not fire
him with some ideas of his own,
The splitting up of society into
couples is a peouliarity which must
strike a stranger very much IN New
York, People absolutely will not talk
ex sept in tWos. A French lady, her
self a mistress and a lover of good
conversation, and for many years res
Ident of New York, has assured US
Judt al uGE AIOoh Strenuous ana feSO-
lutte efforts to introduce the system OF
general conversation In her own draw
ingroom, when only a social few are
present, have proved an absolute fail
ure. Even the experiment ol gather.
ing her guests round a circular table
was unsuccessful They would remain
silent, or discourse in isolated couples.
So she gave up the effort at reform
In the salon of her countryWOman.
Madame Recamier, the rule was rigid
that conversation must be general
Once, young lady ventured on re-
mark in a low tone to a neighbor.
Madame Recamier gently, but decisive
ly rebuked the offender. Some plying
friend came to the rescue, and pleaded
that MademOiselle was probably too
modest to speak aloud in so distinuish-
ed a company, But surely she is not
too modest 70 listeD," the hostess
calmly replied. Now, we don't want
ali tic rigOr Of the Beautiful Re-
camier's rule; but a mild aud modif-
ed application Of it would be a great
January Galaay-