The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-09
Egotism in Conversation.

Eg0tiSm In conversation.
This leads us to hazard a remark
about those who are prone to talk about
themselves and their own experiences.
Goldsmith, who "wrote like an angel
and talked like poor poll" has been
referred to above as an instance. But
is it not often the case that there is more
egotism of the really selfish kind in
those who speak detractingly about
others and make no reference to them
selves, than about those who speak
charitably about themselves and others?
Some Of the most generous hearted men
one meets with talk good deal about
themselves, and some of the meanest
and most self-absorbed never say "l'
in company if they can help it. 1t is the
same way with authors. Those who
esteem their own productions, most
highly are often those who never allude
to them; while those, of whom Thack-
cray was one, who are apt to talk about
Their last book are often impelled to do
so by the nervous misgiving, the depre-
clatorv criticism with which they regard
their own work The worst egotist is
not the man who is on good terms with
himself and Graves kindly encourage
ment and recognition, but the man who
thinks seorn and is envious of the mer.
its of others
This leads US further to make pass
ing allusion to those whom every one
must have met who are not exactly talk
shoppers because they unwittingly repel
conversation at the outset. They frown
man down while they think they en-
courage him by their attention. Their
cold, unsympathetic politeness, like
penury, freezes the genial current OF
the soul. Then they blame the man
they snub and eye with such impassive
narrowness of gaze, for not being
''clubable'' and companionable. The
late Rev. DR.. Orville Dewey, in his adj
miraple "Autobiogra1A just pub
lished. tells us that q bah Quincy
took him one day to Jon the Pres
ident of the United Sta John Quincy
Adams. DR.. Dewey waya modest man,
whose conversation was delightful, but
who required encouragement He
waited for the President to speak and
the President waited for him. At the
end of ten minutes he bowed himself
out of the Presidential presence in con-
fusion and dismay. Neither of them
had uttered word. Silence is conta-
gious not less than talking and even
Conversation Sharp" or Converse
ton Robinson" would have been "shut
up if his first approaches to converse.
ton had been received in solemn 81
lence.
Many warm and lasting friendships
have begun with casual conversation.
William Wilberforce chose 0riel for his
sons, because he was delighted with a
stage coach companion whom he found
to be DIR. Hawkins, the provost of that
college. The source of inspiration to
the talker is the countenance of the lis
tener The cynic and sneerer represses
ones sociability at the outset. Many
shallow-pated talkers, who mistake
sueers and inuendos for an excellent
humor, begin by making butt of the
man they wish to draw out, and for that
reason they never draw him out and he
remains content to look at them from
his shell.
Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, in his IA
nous diary characterizes two of his fel
low bishops as unpleasant in converse.
ton. One of them, he says, had most
appropriative mind and would even tell
A story as his own to the very person
who had originally told it to him. o.
the other he says that it is very difficult
| TO keep up a conversation with such 8
man as the Archbishop of York, because
his opinion of himself is so great that he
can not allow for the possibility OF any
one yenturing to differ from him, and,
therefore, he goes on repeating with
fresh emphasis his own opinions.
Addison's dictum. that conversation
can only go on comfortably between
| two persons and that the two must be
friends is worth thinking about. Every
one must have noticed that the inter.
vention of third person in converse.
ton oftener confounds than assists the
expression of views of the other two
Cicero, it is true, introduces Cato, the
Censor as discoursing on Old Age witt
Caius Lalius and PubLius Scipio Africa.
nus. but the DE Senectute' is really S
treatise, rather than dialogue; beside
in imaginary conversations, like
Friends in Council" the speakers are
only chessmen in the hands of the au
thor, who can move and manage a:
many as he pleases and make them say
what he pleases. In real, earnest con
versation two are sufficient company
| -BrooFign Eagle,