Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-13
ABOUT TALKING.
Intelligent Conversation Declared
TO be q Lost Art.

talk in the last Appleton's
Journal-about society this time,
and especially its conversational
element. They inquire into the
reason why modern talk is mainly
dull, frivolous and poor. "0restes"
holds it to be the result Of "half
education, a want Of noble motives,
and the decay of enthusiasm" He
might have added, the absence of
responsive sympathy and Of a gen.
uine interest in our fellow-beings
outside of their immediate relation
to self. A French woman, with no
education to speak Of, will make
herself an interesting companion
simply by the interest she evidently
takes in yourself-the real friendly
interest in what you are Sayingand
doing, in your feelings and affairs,
which she will discuss with enthu-
siasm. She will be quick to catch
clues of thought, and will under
stand meanings and shades Of mean
ing with swift and subtle intuition.
Such woman makes pleasant
conversationalist, even when uncul-
tivated. When she speaks Of her.
self it is with such naive frankness
and charming grace that her talk
does not seem egotistioal.
"Orestes further accounts for
the poverty of modern converse
ton by the decay of politeness.
Nobody listens nowadays; no
body has time, unless it be those
very unusually gifted people who
can be eloquent without Grating, or
witty without hurting anybody's
feelings, or vivacious without being
loquacious. We may all know a
few such people-but oh! so very
few"
Then he rejoices that the day Of
monologue is gone, and thinks that
modern society "could not stand
Macaulay or Sydney Smith" He
is perfectly right about Macaulay,
but surely even the money-loving,
self-abSorbed modern could not fine
If in him To he bored bv such q fine
spirit as Sydney Smiths. Such
brilliant perception, such rapid
transition of thought, such delicious
humor-swift, sudden, spontaneous
as child's laugh-would surely
find appreciation, though as a ma
ton we are destitute of a fine senst
of humor, and only comprehend
broad caricature. If we could pu
more comedy into our every-da,
social intercourse, We would bt
vastly more agreeable as a people
and would less often be compelled
to fall back upon little mean gossip
or upon comments upon tina
thread-bare subject, the weather, il
order to save ourselves from yawn
ing silence or stupid staring int
each others faces.
"0restes suggests sameness a
another reason for the dullness Q
modern talk. Instead Of converse
ton being can orchestra in whic.
all the instruments take part"
is .stringed fiddle on whicl
everybody twangs. l think on
one string at present is char
(, times" Awhile back, it was th
. irrepressible colored individual
his propensity to dodge the hoe an
glorify his vocation Of voter an
Oftice-holder.
"It is an iron age" says 0reste
at has few raptures-little of tn
stately, respectful courtesy of ol
times. 1t is all Tom, Dick an
Harry. 1t is the fashion to hay
. no feeling-to be dull, uninterestel
and to the nature unfortunate
: freighted with some feeling, it is a
! insensible age in which to live,
4 think"
. In the course Of the sprightl
naturally evolved discussion
Orestes'" female interlocutor h
her i" say" about the men that W
I, men talk about. She says:
"They talk much about the me
they care little for; when q womi
y can talk about a man, you may
= sure that her fancy is perha
touched, but not her heart. W
nan tolLY of course of the abgtrg