Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-12-29
Conversation Dying Out.

'What is becoming of converse
tion ?" inquiring minds are beginning
to ask. Is it to be classed among the
lost arts of which Wendell Philips
discourses? Certainly, society is ev-
cry day growing less and less capable
of conversation, more and more weari-
some to itself. Now, the strange thing
about this is that almost all Americans
are fluent takers; American women
are generally gifted with a fiuency far
whom they equally surpass in infor-
nation and intelligence. Why, then,
have we no conversational society
at least? Well, for one reason, because
society 1--WE are speaking now of New
York. is afflicted with a tetC q tete
practice, which seems absolutely to
prohibit general conversation. Take
social gathering of New Workers, at
which there are only six persons pres
ent, and what do you observe? Not
six persons engaged in conversation,
but three couples, distinct and sepa-
rate, each couple occupied in a tete q
tete. OF course, if the six people were
always three couples of lovers, this
would be delightful and if general
conversation suffered the lovers would
not much care. But these things do
not usually thus arrange themselves;
and there are very few people who can
carry on a long talk, tete q tete, with
out firing each other. Moreover, such
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
conversation. But let the six people
talk together, one throwing the ball
to his neighbOr, who filings it on in
his turn, and it is marvellous how
bright and animated becomes the con-
versation of even very ordinary per-
sons. 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 flasbingaround him
do not fire him with some ideas of his
own.
The splitting up of society into
couples is a peculiarity which must
strike a stranger very much in New
York. People absolutely will not talk
except in twos. A French lady, her.
self a mistress and lover of good con-
I NCAoetAOA- anu 1OA uAdug years q ACoA-
dent of New York, has assured US that
/ all her most strenuous and resolute
efforts to introduce the system of gen.
eral conversation in her own drawing
room, when only social few are pres
ent, have proved an absolute failure.
Even the experiment of gathering her
guests round circular table was un-
successful. They would remain silent,
or discourse in isolated couples. So
she gave up the effort at reform. In
the salon of her TcOuntry-woman, Mad
anne Recamier, the rule was rigid that
conversation must be general. Once,
young lady ventured on a remark in
low tone to a neighbor. Madame
Recamier, gently, but decisively, re-
buked the offender. Some pitying
friend came to the rescue, and pleaded
that Mademoiselle was probably too
modest to speak aloud in so distin-
guished a company. 'But surely she
is not too modest to listen, ;" the hostess
calmly replied. Now, we don't want
all the rigor of the beautiful Recamier's
rule; but q mild and modified ap-
plication of it would be great boon
to New YOrk.-NebulCE, ia January
! GALAXY.