The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-10-29
The Art of Conversation.

"To excel in conversation, says
sensible writer, tone must not be striV-
ing to say good things to say one good
thing one must say many bad and more
indifferent ones" 1t il much to be re-
pretted, since conversation is the charm
OF society, that ther are 80 few good
takers in the world, when there are so
many orators. Most men can harangue,
every little village can boast of score
of fourth of July orators, each OF whom,
with the field to himself, can hold forth
by the hour together, sensible and elo-
ouently, at least acceptably while the
same men in the drawing room would
be completely silent, or monopolize the
floor in delivering 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. Tho southern nations OF Europe,
particularly the French, are adopts ID
eminently social art; but they are trained
to it from early infancy. The moment
French boy can speak his expressions
of language are carefully watched aud
corrected. He is made to select judi
ciously between nearly synonymous epi,
thets and as he grows up this habit
becomes II second nature to him, beget'
ting confidence, huency and elegance
, Of specch. Nor does the Frenchman
tho italian, the Spaniard or the Greek
:. speak with his lips alone his eyes, III
limbs, his features, are all anlmation
and the "actiOn--actlon, action de
u manded by the master of oratory as 1t
!, Alpha and Omega, is readily and con
stantly employed.
=, 1t might be thought that the iluenc
" of the languages Of southern Europ
y !, alone accounted for this facility, ha
l. there not been brilliant examples Q
. conversational excellence in England
y in spite of the acknowledged harshnef
u of the Saxon tongue. Sheridan owe
much of the renowned-much persons
m fascination to his brilliant conversation
10 But with him it was not carried to IL
So ss extent of second nature he suitert
Ao under the difficulty expressed at IL
., commencement of this article. lie WI
m is constantly aboring to excel. Ills re-
i1 !1 utation rs a wit compelled him to mai
~ ~ these efforts and he thus prepared h
ho brilliant sayings beforehand, and uni
an opportunity occurred to introduc
or rather to "work thom in, he sat
%. lent and anxious.
or II il related of Sheridan that nm g
III, ouaintance of his, knowing his hab
la' II, differed one Of his Conversation card'
no on which the heads of his anecdotes a
we witicisms were written down previous
a. being delivered ut a brilliant par'
l'G Having mastered this programme t
!. malicious wag went to the party lit
u VS. before Sheridan, and related all
- good things 30 that when the wit nj
;;ny self arrived he WAS mortified ana
ION founded at the coldness and lndlllerei
p'y with which all his sallies We're recelV
=, and Mt being told that all his bran Il
iho stories were affairs OF ut least an M
YER old Theodore Hook was lar hapE
m 'moi- than Sheridan in society; running
'he of INNS. witicisrl and humor sustal
~1s ''Hs the spirit of his tnlk and rendered
yoe irresistible. But he possessed the
y a Gift of improvisation. =,
ies' 'sThe soul of conversation,
.pg, q, Hazlitt, sis sympathy" Authors sho
p1 converse chiefly with authors, and u
,li Lau talk should be chiefly of books
i' nle' man can get above his pursuit in l
; lhR; it is getting above himself, which Is
ioo 'nna possible. In general 1T shines only
ssrs 1 reflection. You must take your
aii ~ from your company-mnst rise as
~ III rise, and sink as they fall. fon II
!, ing, SEQ that your good things, knowing
,uaa Ia lusions, are not flung away liko
wv" nenrls in the ndAgo.