, 1874-04-05
TALKING.
How People Talk, and What
They Talk About.

They Talk About.
| It Is true that animals can communicate with
each other, and that the denizens Of the air have
language OF their own; but only human beings
can tat It is incredible that the whistling calls
and trilng responses OF two latelg-lntroduced
canarles should DO the interchangipg of theu
past histories nor did the most grotesque imag-
ination ever conceive that two dogs, sitting de-
murely opposite each other, and 1oiling cut their
red tongues, were gossiping the secrets Of their
respective masters. The inestimabfe privilege
OF dilating upon your own affairs, and speculat-
ing upon your neighbours business is bestowed
only upon human beings. Perhaps, az the low
est order Of talher, we ought to consider first
THE MALE GOSSIP.
This species Is to be found everywhere On
street-corners; and, in small towns, its habitat
Ia beside the stove OF flourishins grocery in
winter, and in summer it may bo found in q
chair tilted back on the "tavern "piazza, or
swinging it's legs on an empty dry-goods box On
the main straet. From these commanding
points the Male Gossip surveys the
passers-by, and has eonae remarks apropos Of
whatever comes in view. He knows all abou {
the 1oVe-n1atters OF every young lady in town.
He knows all the domestic secrets Of every
housewife. He is an oracle about tho affairs of
all the men. No business-def fa1catiou, or en-
bezzlement, or failure, takes him by surprise.
In fact, nothing in the way OF human weaknes q
or crime seems to astonish OK grioyo him. His
only sensation appears to be one OF triumph as
he mods his head and ejaculatcs, o. told you
so =" knew it all the time " etc. He knows
something detrimental OF ridiculous about every
one in the town: and nothing can so disgust ono
with himself and his fellow-b -beiugs as ali hours
companionship with tue Male Goaaip. Unlike the
feminine gossip, he employs no
AIDS TO TALKING.
He lounges on his dry-goods box or in his
tilted chair, or stands with his back to tho
fonce and luis elbows thrust back among the
pockets, and makes no pretense to any employ
ment. The feminine vendor Of news has her
knitting in hcr pocket when she runs into her
nelghbors for cali, or she makes feint OF
carrying dish, empty or full, as an excuse for
five minutes erIand. She stays two hours, Sit
ting on the edge Of her chair, or standing door,
knob in hand. It is q curious contradiction
in women, that, while they lift up their voices in
wailing protest that their work is never done,
not one in = hundred ct them will cit down with
folded hands for friendly chat. Even the
young Indy who never does stitch of useful
sowing for herself has piece OF canvas with
OF in squares, upon it, which she produces when
she desires . conversational stimulus. How
many lover has fuued and fretted at the "fan-
CT work" which engaged his companions eyes
and hands, aud admired tho industry which util-
ized even the hours Of idle courtship. He had
born Of idlenes8.
The best time to purEue the
STUDY OF CHARACTER
is while tho subject ls talking. It is true that
there are some porfectiy-trained faces, which,
to the uninitiatod, seem US e1pressionless as q
plaster cast. To the daily observer OF euch q
face in all it's various changes, however, there is
no change more intelliglbla than the very blank
its owner approaches some important topic. To
the keeneye OF affection, no change on famil-
lar face can long remain unread. Then, too as
one grows older, lie insenaiblY begins to classify
people By the facial expressions, and the similar
ity of theirg gestures. There arc the men who have
their eyebrows raised to the middle Of their
foreheads, and whose conversation never leads
to anything definite; and their lives are full as
indefinite as their talk. Those are the men who,
with the best intentions in the world, never get
along in it. There are the gentle-mannered
men, with long boards, and habit Of strokinS
them down softly and slowly when they talk.
Vary pleasant men they are, and very much liked
By the ladies'; but they never make any money,
enyied the first year or two, are very much ptied
afterwards. Then there are the men Of SILENT
rock-lilse o|ratlnacr, who have little tell-tale
muscle il ,r jaws, whose unconscious work
ing betrays them to close observer. Every
body knows tho aggressive men, who
shake their heads detiantlv, and nod them de-
ciaiva1y. and five moments commonplace con-
verse with whom will Leave ono as uncomf forta-
BILE rs cat with her fur all rubbed tho wrong
way. One enters into converse with such man
very much rs he would into povIer-factory.
Considering how much talkihg is done, it may
be we'll to think
WHAT We TALK ABOUT.
Generally the speaker chooses topic in which |
he himself is ntarestod regardless OF his llsten-
ers tastes. 4 talented lady-lecturer was heard |
20 complain that, while fresh from her European /
travels, she met, at an evenings reception. an |
eminent Professor, who, regardless Of the fact |
:hat her spinsterhood would probably debar her
;a.+ from feeling any deep interest M in The the
most minute and prolonged account
It the passage Of his eldest born through the
measles. Who can ever forget tho hours spent
n listening to the proilx recita1s OF some widow |
omebody with personal "reminiscences OF the
lear departed? This style OF conversation is
trying to lovers They are dying to |
make condolences and talk about the adoredone, |
md, at the very outset, they bring down flood
# reoolleotions, and they have to wrigg1e and
Ugh, and listen to these Ehostly "reminiscences |
i love With 8 graFestone about it, when they |
anne, in the joy Of their egotisu, to pr2te Of
owe OF to-day. Surely it Was wise as well aB
'itty man who defined bore az one who pcr-
lists in talking to YOU about his affairs when
Oh want to talk to him about yours.
IL WAS stated OF the SiameHe Twins that tbey |
cry yseldom talked with each other. What could
beg have to talk about !? Could anybody hold
discourse with himself? 1t is the difference
a experience. tastes, and feelings, that gives
onrersation its spice. There ia story that,
70 prlsoners being confined in one cell, they
ecounted their lives the first year; the second
ear they couhded their most secret oxpe-
ences and the third year wera silent They
al talked themselves out. OF course the story
annot be voucEad for. It ia simply adduced as
warning to bridal couples contemplating the
ow fashionable two weeks seclueion.
WITcH- HAZEL
MeD|0cR!TY MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN
GEnIuS7