Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-05-06
Conversation.

Dear, tidy housewife do not put every
thiLg away. Leave us few things ly-
ing around loose. We have but mo-
ment; that handy newspaper is good
thing. We pick it up, single para
graph strikes the eye; it is a seed thought
that grows in our minds, and brings
forth more fruit than many carefully
wOrded column. 1t may furnish an
idea with which you may entertain a
breakfast table. Throw it in, then, with
all the adrOitness and grace of which
you are capable, not didactically, the
pOmpOsity, awkwardness and sOlemnity
of which are frightful, but rather as
suggestive remark. Conversation should
be suggestive and original, fresh and
sprightly, not One-sided, always being
divided between two or more, and thus
deriving a variety of individuality.
We cannot think that the art of con-
versing is difficult to acquire. 1t re-
quires observation to know what is ap-
prOpriate; it is the unfit word that
makes us regret the golden silence that
was broken. 1t requires good humOr,
else some ones feelings will be hurt,
when retOrt or sullen silence may en-
sue. 1t requires generous regard for
others, else it will not be pleasing and
so will fail to engage them. 1t requires
intelligence to furnish subject matter,
or to discuss what is furnished by 9TH
ers, and it requires between the persons
engaged some ideas in common, with
out which there could be no interchange.
1t would not be possible to lay down a
series of rules to enable people to con-
verse. 1t is an art learned by practice
and observation. Any one may learn to
be an agreeable and pleasing, if not
brilliant talker, but not without trying
to please. Conversation is a self acquir-
ed art. 1t is one of those rare accom-
plishments that we admire in our elders
for few very young persons talk well.
The inexperienced youth is too apt. to
mistake sound for sense, and has ten
dency to verbOsity and flowers of rhetor
ic which the experience of age dispen-
SEES with. Simplicity is one of the
charms of conversation.
Few people, apprehend, talk-like
the heroes and herOines of nOvels-para-
graphs at time. No; the sallies of
good takers are more like lightning
flashes. They do not lead you over a
foot with "a lantern; they reveal the
torrent to you and leave you to your own
devices. 1t is evident that conversation
fills field of intellectual culture wholly
its own. We should, therefore, not ne
glect the cultivation. Lord Bacon, in
his essay on Studies" says: Reading
makes full man, writing an exact man,
conversation ready man."
Read, think, in order that you may
have some genius of thought to cast in
to the common treasury of ideas when
mind meets mind. Study the art of an
nd al
vincialisms; none but an llliterate and
chastand correct vocabulary from YOU
reading and from your dictionary. Mex
to the Bible. the dictionary is to be ap-
pealed to for understanding, prOnuncia
ton and spelling. Hear good speaker
and correct your pronunciation an
grammatical arrangement. True, Thu
Is but the scaffOlding; ideas are tn
structure; but do we not think in words?
If our vocabulary be meagre, can our
ideas be prOfuse?
While each one must bear the burden
of his own work in acquiring the art of
conversation. yet teachers can help to
an elegant polished style. Parents
can discourage gossip and censorl0us-
ness, prohibit disputes and Introduce
proper topics. Better talk about julius
Caesar or Alexander the Great.
Read the newspapers; they tell how
the pulse of the world is beating. Read
books of solid worth, standard authors;
nothing can supply their place; they con-
tain the best thoughts of the greatest
thinkers, expressed in the most elegant
style.
Do not put your books too far away;
have them handy, sort of pickup
work, like your knitting. Do not have
your library in some remote corner. Let
your books look at you as the faces of
your children, your fireside companions
Make scrap-bOOks; Gull ideas. If you
have only time to read a paragraph, haye
where you can read them--thOse short
complete striking and vigorous thoughts
that we read at a glance, like the car
tOOns of Presbyterian Banner.