Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-05-13
5fis;e,ellany.
Conversation Dying Out.

NOhNChsNtAu ~ LIB oss>s
"What is becoming Of conversation 2
inquiring minds are beginning to ask
Is it TO be classed among the lost arts Of
which Wendell Philips discourses ? Ger
tainly, society is every day growing less
and less capable Of conversation, more
and more wearisome to ITSELF Now, the
strange thing about this is that almost all
Americans are fluent takers; American
women are generally gifted with fluency
far surprising that of French women,
whom they equally surpass in informa-
ton 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 afiict-
ed with tete tete practice, which seems
absolutely TO prohibit general converse
ton. Take social gathering of New
Workers, at which there are only six per-
sons present, and what do you observe?
Not six persons engaged in conversation
but three couples, distinct and separate,
each couple occupied in tete tete. Of
course, if the six people were always
three couples Of lovers this would be de-
lightful; and if general conversation suf-
fered the lovers would not much care
But these things do not usually thus ar
range themselves; and the very few pee
pie who can carry on long talk tete
tete, without firing each other. More
over, 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 CONVEX
sation. But let the six people talk to-
gether, one throwing ball to his neigh
Dor, who filings it on in his turn, and it is
marvellous how bright and animated be-
comes the conversation of even very or
binary persons. No one feels that he
must speak at certain moment wheth-
er 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 coup
les is popularity which must strike
stranger very much in New York. Peo-
pie absolutely will not talk except in
twos. A French lady, herself mistress
and lover of good conversation, and
for many years resident of New York,
has assured us that all her most strenu-
GUS and resolute efforts to introduce the
system of general conversation in her
own drawing-room, when only social
few are present, have proved an absolute
failure. Even the experiment of gath
ering her guests round circular table
was unsuccessful. They would remain
silent, or discourse in isolated couples
So she gave up the effort at reform. In
the saloon of her countrywoman, Mad
anne Recamier, the rule was rigid that
conversation must be general. Once, a
young lady ventured on a remark in a
low tone to neighbor. Madame Reca-
mser gently, but decisively, rebuked the
offender. Some plying friend came to
the rescue, and pleaded that Mademoi-
selle was probably too modest to speak
aloud in SO distinguished company
. But surely she is not to modest to lis
ten,' the hostess calmly replied. Now
we don't want all the rigor of the beau
tiful Recamier's rule but mild and
modified application of it would be a
great boon to New York GALAXY.