The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-01-22
The Art of Conversation.
A VALUABLE LIST OF "Do NoTs."


Do not manifest impatience.
Do not engage in argument.
Do not interrupt another when speaking
Do not find fault, though you may
gently eriticise.
Do not talk of your private, personal
and family matters.
Do not appear to notice inaccuracies of
speech in others
Do not allow yourself to lose temPor or
speak excitedly.
Do not allude to the unfortunate pecu
liarities Of any one present
DO not always commence conversation
by allusion to the weather.
Do not, when narratIng an incident,
continually say "yon see," lyon know"
etc.
Do not intrude professional or other
topics that the company generally cannot
take an interest in.
Do not talk loud. A firm, clear, distinct
yet mild, gentle musical voice has great
power.
Do not be absent minded. requiring the
speaker to repeat what has been said that
you may understand.
Do not speak disrespectfully of personal
appearance when any one present may have
some defects.
Do not try to force yourself into the
confidence of others. If they give their
confidence never betray it.
Do not use profanity, vulgar terms.
slang phrases, words of double meaning, or
language that will bring the blush to any
one.
Do not intersperse your language with
foreign words and high sounding terms.
1t shows affectation, and will draw ridicule
upon you.
Do not carry on conversation with
another in company about matters which
the general company knows nothing Of
It is almost as impolite as to whisper.
Do not allow yourself to speak i'll of the
absent one il it can be avoided; the day
may come when some friend will be needed
to defend you in your absence.
Do not speak with contempt and ridlcule
of the locality where you may be visiting.
Find something to truthfully praise and
| commend; thus make yourself agreeable
| Do not make pretense of gentility, nor
parade the fact that you are the decendent
of any notable family You must pass for
just what you are, and must stand on your
own merit.
Do not contradict In making correc.
tion say, 81 beg your pardon, but had an
impression that it was SO and so." Be
careful in contradicting as you may be
wrong yourself.
Do not lavish in your praise of various
members of your own family when speak
ing to strangers; the person to whom you
are speaking NAV know some faults that
you do not.
Do not make parade of being acquain-
ted with distinguished or wealthy people,
or having been to college, or having visited
foreign lands All this is no evidence OF
real genuine worth on your own part.
Do not attempt to pry into the private
affairs of others by asking what their pro-
its are, what things cost, whether Melissa
had beau. and why Amandn never got
married? And such questions as are likely
to meet with rebuke.
Do not take it upon yourself to admonish
comparative strangers on religious topics
the person to whom you speak may have
decided convictions of his own in opposi
tion to yours, and your overzeal may seem
to them an impertinence.
| Do not aspire to be a great story teller
an inveterate teller Of long stories becomes
very tireeome To tell one or two short
new, witty, stories, appropriate to the oc
casion, is about all one person should
af1ict on the company:
Do not fatter; in doing so you embar
rass those upon whom you bestow praise
as they may not wish to offend you b
repelling it, and yet they realize that
they accept it they merit your contempt
You might, however. commend their worl
whenever it can be truthfully be don
but do not -hestow praise where it is NO
merited.