Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-02-19
Conversational Powers.

The late William Hazlitt, a man gifted
with great powers Of observation and ex-
preston, was Of opinion that actors and
authors were not fitted, generally speak
Ing, to shine in conversation. "Authors
ought TO be read and not heard;" and as
actors, they could not speak tragedies ia
the driwing-room, and their wit was
likely to be comedy and farce at second
hand. The biography of men OF letters,
III great measure, confirms the opinion I;
some OF the greatest names III English
aud French literature, men who have
filled books with All eloquence and truth
that defy oblivion, were mutes before
their fellow-men. They had gold:1 in
gots, which, in the infancy of home, they
could not convert into coin bearing an
impress that wonld insure universal cur
iency; but they could not, on the spur
OF the moment; produce the tarthings
current in the market-place. Descarles,
the famous mathematician and phlloso-
pherj Lai0ntain, celebrated for his witty
fables; and Button the great naturalist,
were all singularly deficient in the powers
OF conversation. Harmontcl, the novel
ist, was so dull in society, that his friend
said of him, after an interview; 81 must
90 and read lis tales, to recompense my
self for the WEAKNESS of hearing him"
AS to Cornelle, the great dramatist Of
France, he was completely lost in socie-
ty-so absent and embarrassed, that he
wrote Of himself witty couplet, import
ing that he was never ineligible but
through the mouth Of another. Wit on
paper seems to be something widely dit
trrent rom that play of words in conver-
sation which, while it sparkles, dies for
Charles H., the wittiest monarch that
ever sat on the English throne, was so
charmed with the humor of Hudibras
that he caused himself TO be introduced,
in the character of a private gentleman,
to Butler, its author. The witty King
found the author very dull companion,
and was of opinion, with many Others,
that so stupid fellow could never have
written so clever a book. Addison,
whose classic elegance of style has long
been considered the best model for young
writers, was shy and absent in society,
preserving, even before a single stranger,
stiff and dIgnifed silence.
lie was accustomed TO say that there
could be no real conversation but between
two persons, friends and that it was
then thinking aloud. Steele, Swift, Pope,
aud Congreve-men possessing literary
and conversational powers Of the high
est order-allowed him TO be delight
tul companion among intimates and
Young writes Of him that che was rath-
er mute in society on some occasions, but
when he began to be company he was
full Of vivacily, and went on in noble
strain of thought and language so as to
chain the attention of every one to him."
Goldsmith, on the contrary, as described
by his tdtemporary writers, appeared in
company to have no spark of that gen,
ius which shone forth so brightly in his
works. His address was awkward, his
manner uncouth, his language unbollsh-
ed he hestated in speaking, and was
always unhappy if the conversation did
not turn upon himself. Dr. Johnson
spoke of him as an inspired idiot yet
the great essayist, though delivering ora
c. es to those around him in pompous
phrases which have been happily describ-
ed as spoken in the Johnsonese tongue,
was entitled to be called good conver-
ser.
Nearer TO our own time, we have had
many authors whose faculty told twice.
Sheridan and Theodore Hook were fel-
lows of infinite jest they could set
stable in roar" and fill pages with pa
thos and wit Of such quality that it
makes their survivors think 1--WE could
have spared better men"
Burns vas famous for his coll1quial
powers and Gait is reported to have
been as skillful as the story tellers of the
East in fixing the attention Of his audit
ors on his prolonged narrations.
Coleridgc was in the habit of pouring
forth brilliant, dnbroken monologues OF
two or three hours duration, to listeners
so enchanted, that, like Adam, whose
ears were filled with the elo9uence of an
afchangel, they forgot all 'plaees-all
seasons and their change = but this was
not all conversation, and few might ven
ture to emulate the "old man eloquent"
with hopes of equal success.
Washington Irving, in the account he
has given of his visit tO Abbotsford, says
of Sir Walter Scott that his conversation
was frank, healthy, picturesque, and dra-
matte, lie never talked for effect or dis
play, but from the flow of his spirits, the
stories OF his memory, and the vigOr OF
his Imagination. He was as good lis
tener as talker: appreciated every
thing that Others said, however humble
might be their rank and pretensions, and
was quick to testify his perception OF any
point in their discourse. No ones con-
Germs, no ones Thoughts and opinions, no
ones tastes and pleasures, seemed be-
Meath him. He made himself SO thor
oughly the companion OF those with
whom he happened to be, that they for.
got, for time, his vast superiority, and