The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-02
Convcrsntfon.

IL lS- SOucWuab slug uldC uOW low per-
sons there are who are ready and inter-
esting conversationalists. This is per-
haps owing to the fact that there is too
little pains taken with our young folks to
induce the habit of thinking over what
they see, hear and read, and then put
ting their thoughts into language that
will interest.
Our young people read but little that
is really improving, or not being trained
to put even that little to good service,
tLeir conversation is generally made up
of trihes and light nonsense, very close
ly resembling the froth on bumper Of
champagne-sparklin but extremely
light. They graduate early in the light
persihage common in general society,
and rs rule seem to think it all that is
necessary to entitle them to high honors
as entertaining and even witty person
ages, and their gay spirits and merry
hearts make their rather silly trash pass
current for more than it is worth.
But of an evening, when out in COM
pany, quietly listen to the elders those
who do not dance-and what is the gen
eral tone? Servants, little moroccan of
scandal, or that never ending subject
of interest to some parents, the smart
sayings and doings of their remarka-
BILE children, and the weather, com
prise about all the topics under discus
sion, with rare exceptions. Occasionally
you will meet with lady who has
read and is not afraid of being thought
q blue stocking, will discuss the
works she has read, and can form and
give you an opinion upon their merits
and demerits, which she has not taken
from review; or who, loving the drama
enough to have close acquaintance with
Shakespeare, Beaumont, Goldsmith,
Fletcher, and others of their ilk, is quite
capable of approaching agood play and
of criticising it when badly played, as
good plays too often are. But these la-
dies are rare ares, somewhat like oases
on that great desert of society, where
the light and glitter, like the mirage the
thirsty traveller sees, is ever promising
not give. Mere talkativeness is not q
sign that the speaker is capable of utter
ing anything worth the hearing or re-
Numbering. Sometimes it would be
we'll if 'bridle could be put upon the
tongue" of those who talk too freely, or
if what they said could be forgotten as
soon as said, for it is too often mischiev-
Gus in its nature, talking they know
not why, and care not what" or who is
wounded by it. They do not converse,
but babble. Some one has said that NO
one can be brilliant In conversation who
is not caustic and little given to scan
dial. This is not true, for one of the
most delightful conversationalists we
have ever met, never spoke an ill-natured
word, or made an uncharitable remark.
There is no doubt that q close, obsery-
ant, fluent cynic does make IN hours
conversation glide rapidly by, but you
tire of the toneso one-sided that it will
not acknowledge to any thing good under
the sun, and you turn with eagerncss to
the gentler nature that though not
30 sparkling, perhaps, is more just. and
may be as witty.
It isa singular fact that many who
write easily cannot converse with pleas
ure, either to themselves Or to their lis
teners. Give them pen, ink and paper,
and their thoughts flow rapidly jest,
quip, and rcpartee, gush with delicious
freeness memory throws open her well
lined chambers, and culls out every ra-
dient gem that will enhance the beauty
Of the subject they are handling. Fancy
like willing hand maid, stands on the
qui rire, to throw in all the bright
sparkles necdcd-reason, with her solid
beauties, IS at hef slue, eager to do tnty,
and eloquence and wit will guide the
pen. But place the same persons in
company, and nine times out OF ten, ail
these faculties play them false, and they
stutter and stammer through some dis
connected, unmeuning or stiltcd speech,
whose obscurity brings the blush to
their cheek rs they think it over after
wards. Coleridge, ono of the most no.
ted conversationalists, or rather monol-
ogists Of the literary world, is said to
have almost lost the ability to write well,
before the development OF his grand
conversational powers, and after they
were so strongly marked he wrote little
or nothing.
The persons who cnn listen we'll, and
yet who can offer ready suggestions,
throwing in hero and there remark
that will bring out all tho capability OF
those around, are often deemed interest
ing takers, when in reality tho secret