Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-09-30

DR.. Holland in scribner for October.

enjoy society, and have a genuine desire
to serve and praise We have all seen
the talker who talks for his own purpose,
or talks to please himself He is the
weil-known characteristic talking bore.
The talker who gets himself up for show,
who plans his conversations for an even
ing, and Grams for them, becomes intol-
cradle. He lectures; he does not con-
verse for there is no power Of talker
so delightful rs that of exciting others
to talk, and listening to what his own
inspiring and suggestive utterances have
called forth. Genuine social sympathy
and Il hearty desire to please others are
necessary to produce such Il talker ms
this, and no other is tolerable Social
sympathy is natural gift, and there is
Il combination of other gifts which CON
sttute what may be called esprit, that
are very essential to good talker.-
This combination includes Individuality,
tact and wit-the talents, aptitudes, and
peculiar characteristic charm which en-
able n man to use the materials of con-
versation in an engaging way, entirely
his own; for every good talker has his
own way of saving good things, as we'll
of managing conversation based on his
esprit.
Yet 1t Is true that there are no good
takers who depend upon their natural
gifts and such material as they get in
the usual interchanges of society. For
the materials of conversation we must
draw upon knowledge. No man can
be a thoroughly good talker who does
not know great deal. Social sympathy
and "the gift Of CAB" go but u short way
toward producing good conversation,
| though we hear u great deal Of this kind
Of talk among the young, Sound and
exact knowledge is the very basis of
good conversation. TO know great
many things well is to have in hand the
best and most reliable materials of good
conversation. There Is nothing like
abundance and cXactucSs Of knowledge
with which to furnish u talkcr. Next
to this, perhaps, is familiarity with po-
lite literature. The faculty of quoting
from the best authors Is very desirable
one. Facts are valuable, and thoughts
perhaps are quite as valuable, especially
rs they are more stimulating to the con-
yersation Of group. The talker who
deals alone in facts Is quite likely to have
the talk all to himself, while the man
who Is familiar with thoughts and ideas,
rs he has found them embodied In liter
allure, becomes stimulator of thought
and conversation In those around him.
Familiarity with knowledge aud with
the products Of literary art cannot be
tooMuch insisted ON rs the furniture of
good conversation.
Beyond this, the good talkcr must be
familiar with the current thought and
events OF the time There should he no
movement In politics, religion and socle-
~ that the good mkcr is not familiar
with, Indeed, the man who undertakes
to talk ut all must know what Is upper
most IN mems minds, aud be- able to add
to the general fund of thought and
knowledge, and respond TO the popular
inquiry aud the popular disposition Of
discussion. The man who undertakes
to be II good mlker should never be
caught mapping, concerning any current
topic Of immediate public interest.
How to carry aud survey superiority
Of knowledge and culture without NJ
pesrlng to be pcdantic, how to talk ont
of abundant stores Of Information and
familiarity with opinion without Seem
ing to preach, ~ Colcridge was accused
of doing, belongs, with the ability to |
talk we'll, to "thc art of conversations"
1t has seemed to US that If Young people
could only sec how shallow and silly !
very much of their talk Il. and must
necessarily be-, 50 long ~ they lack the
materials of conversation, they would |
take more paius with their study would |
devote themselves more to the best
books, aud that, ut least, they would ac-
qtlrc and maintain more familiarity ]
with important current events. 10 |
know something IA the best cure for
nelghborhOod gossip, for talk about
dress, aud for ten thousand irlyoitcs
aud silllncsses ofsoclety, Besides, good |
talker needs IN audience to understand
aud respond to him, and where IA he to
find one " there Is not abundant culture