The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-30
The Art Of Conversation.

To excel in conversation" says a
sensible writer, sc one must not be striv-
ing to say good things; to say one good
thing one must say many bad and more
Indifferent ones" It is much to be re-
gretted, since conversation Is the charm
of society, that there are so few good
takers in the world, when there are so
many orators. Most men can harangue,
every little village can boast of a score
of fourth of July orators, each of whom,
with the field to himself, can hold forth
by the hour together, sensible and elo-
quently, at least acceptably; while the
same men in the drawing room would
be completely silent, or monOpolize the
floor in delivering a dissertation.
The art of keeping up the interest of
social discussions by short. brilliant
sallies, lively repartees, apt illustrations
and graceful illusions is exceedingly
rare it is attained only by long prac-
tice. The southern nations of Europe,
particularly the French. are adopts in
eminently social art; but they are trained
to it from early infancy. The moment
a French boy can speak his expressions
of language are carefully watched and
corrected. He is made to select judi
ciously between nearly Synonymous cpl
bIO5S anu bo Ho grows u b1Ac hdOAb
becomes II second nature to him, beget-
ting confidence, fuency and elegance
of speech. Nor does the Frencbman,
the italian, the Spaniard or the Greek,
speak with his lips alone his eyes, his
limbs, his features, are all animation,
and the "action-action, action" de-
manded by the master of oratory as its
Alpha and Omega, is readily and con-
stantly employed.
It might be thought that the fuency
of the languages of southern Europe
alone accounted for this facility, had
there not been brilliant examples of
conversational excellence in England,
in spite of the acknowledged harshness
of the Saxon tongue. Sheridan owed
much of the renowDed-much personal
fascination to his brilliant conversation.
But with him it was not carried to the
extent of a second nature he suffered
under the difficulty expressed at the
commencement of this article. He was
constantly laboring to excel. His rep
utation as a wit compelled him to make
these efforts and he thus prepared his
brilliant sayings beforehand, and until
an opportunity occurred to introduce,
or rather to "work them in, " he sat 81
lent and anxious.
1t Is related OF SQeF10aQ B1aI an &C
quaintance of his, knowing his habit,
piIfered one of his conversation cards, :"
on which the heads of his anecdotes and
witicisms were written down previous to
being delivered at a brilliant party.
Having mastered this programme the
malicious wag went to the party little
before Sheridan, and related all his
good things, so that when the wit him
self arrived he was mortified and as
founded at the coldness and Indifference
with which all his sallies were received,
and at being told that all his bran new
stories were affairs of at least an hour
old Theodore Hook was far happier
than Sheridan in society; a running fire
of puns, witicisTl and humor sustained
the spirit of his talk and rendered him
irresistible. But he possessed the rare
gift of improvisation.
''The soul of conversation, says
Hazlitt, ''is sympathy" Authors should
converse chiefly with authors, and their
talk should be chiefly of books. No
man can get above his pursuit IN life;
it is getting above himself, which is i'm
possible. In general it shines only by
reflection. You must take your cue
from your company-must rise as they
rise, and sink as they fall. You must
see that your good things, knowing al
IusiOns. are not h1ng away like the
pearls in the 8daPe.