The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-18

The art of conversation should be ranked
among the slime arts" Very few are very
superior conversatonalists. 1t requires more
study and attention than one would at first
suppose Judging from the amountof talk
done, we would suppose out of all engaged
in it there would be more persons who are
excellent in conversation. They do lot of
talking, but fail to converse. A person
should be well informed, at least, upon the
current topics of the day and upon the sub
ject or subjects the talk is about. This in
formation should not be given in a pstroni.
zing way or of self superiority, as teacher
expounds to his scholars, nor with the mo-
tive to shine at festival or in company.
What you say, and the manner of saying it
will shine for you. Some start a story, the
drift of which you cannot see till toward
as pollawag grows into a frog. The art of
saying little things is of no small import
ance; they can be dressed in pleasant garb
and made congenial. Brusque things can be
PiSoCutCu III hu dtlihtl'C lhohucI, pul " q
should never be over.y argumentative pro-
found, contentiuos, brusque or capricious, in
company. 1t is not an arena to show off
mental gladiatorship; how much we have
think even. To be natural does not imply
buffoonery or buffeting They are a very
poor kind of naturalness. A boor is to be
deprecated. A pleasant humor is always
welcome, but no wit at anybody's expense
Subjects that are unpalatable should always
be discarded; and many subjects are sp.ken
of at table that are unrefined and sug-
gestive of thoughts far from agreeable. Ton
les sometimes are introduced al much out
of place as the dress of a ballroom at fu
neral. The companies we get into from time
to time require in us versatility. We cannot
be exactly the same in all companies, and
one evenings company may take one or two
or three Moods Conformity to the
mood and the occasion is requisite
The art of saying things easily, naturally,
2ttractively, requires ability, experience
and observation. There are no de fined rules
as to sayi ing things attractively at the time
said any more than there are rules for paint
ing the sunshine. 1t must be an inherent
quality or faculty. The art of continuing {
topic progressively without deviations or in
| terp0lations is no small one. Some tel
things as they would build, stake and ride
fence, or as drunken m,n reels they wan
der What We think strongly We can ex
press clearly. Don't do all the cpnversng
Show Difference to Others. 1t shows yol
think they have ideas also. There is a
much art in listening as in talking. To b.
good listener is no small accomplishm hme Mt
1t doesn't imply ignorance or nitriorily OF
your part, and at the same time you ma
gain information. A good conversatioualis
is good listener. 1t is an essential part G
his creed. A good listener should give a,
tention toa compeer, assuredly to a superi
or. 1t also shows deerence to company. "
should always be well informed. We shoulC
ii possible, enter company with first-clA,
set of fexuberant feelings, with the avowe
purpose of giving and r, ,ceving erjoymen
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