Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-21
A Plea for Conversation.

There seems to be growing tendency on
the part of many PEOPLE at the present
time to disregard conversation. This is
painfully apparent in some homes where we
would naturally look for different state OF
things. In too many places it has become
the fashion, when few friends are invited
IN "to spend the evening"" to ignore the
pleasure and profit derivable from an inter
change of ideas, and thrust senseless game
upon company of intelligent men and wo
men. This state of things is not confined
to our young people, but extends to those OF
mature years. 1t is natural that children
should wish for amusement OF trifliDg
character, but adults ought to be able to
say with the apostle, "When | became
man l put away childish things" The
hope of the fathers is in the children.
What can we expect of the young people
of this day If no effort be made to discour-
age them from continually engaging in
such frivolous games as carpet balls, dom
inoes, parcheesi, authors, etc., adj nduSedm
usq,le That intense love of amusement,
which is one of the characteristics of the
present age, finds partial qualification in
excessive indulgence in games. Indeed,
one is almost inclined to think that CONVEX
saton in many quarters is rapidly becoming
a lost art, and l am led to ask the question /:
"Whither are we drifting 7" The mind
grows by what it feeds on. In nine cases
out of ten, on the part Of those who devote
themselves to these nonsensical games,
there will be no desire for anything better
If we constantly neglect to cultivate our
minds we can hope for nothing but intel
lectual inferiority and inability to converse
with ease and elegance. What is more en-
joyable than brilliant, witty conversation,
enlivened by an occasional pun and spark
ling repartee ? 1t is true that we cannot
all excel in this delightful accomplishment,
any more than we can all excel in any
branch of learning or business, but we can,
at least, use the talents we have, whether
they be one. two, or five. Is is said that
the celebrated Samuel johnson for long
time looked upon conversation as the chief
amusement. He told Sir Joshua Reynolds
that he had always made it rule to talk
as well as he could. "He had thus OBJ
tanned mastery over his weapons, which
made him one of the most accomplished OF
conversational gladiators." A great re-
sponsibility is laid upon us of improving
the mind. We should ascertain its various
faculties and susceptibilities, and earnestly
strive to make as much progress as possible.
OF people who habitually omit to improve
their minds it has been well said: "Thus
multitudes live and die, as truly strangers
to themselves as to countries Of which they
have heard the name, but which human foot
has never trodden." 1t was not intended
that we should hide our light under a
bushel. A ready talker may not have any
better natural ability than one who is slow
of Speech" but on account of being able to
express his thoughts in an ineligible and
forceful style, is looked upon as belonging
to the aristocracy of intellect" while the
other is relegated to the region of intellec
tual mediocrity.
Though conversation in its better part,
May be esteemed gift, and not an art,
Yet much depends, as in the tiler's toll
On culture and the sowing Of the soil.