Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-07-13
CONVERSATION.
WRITTEN FOR THE MONITOR. |

IoOilSn ana ttllllng conversation
which prevails in the various inter-
course of social life, even among the
middling and higher circles of socie-
ty, and especially in convivial asso-
Citations. The ribaldry and vul-
garity, the folly and nonsense, with
many of the degrading methods of
"killing time," and the laughter of
fools which toe frequently dlstin-
guish such association, are disgrace
to our civilized condition, and to our
moral and intellectual nature. With
out supposing we can lay aside cheer {.
fulness and rational mirth, the lively
smile or even the loud laugh, it is
surely conceivable that more ra-
tional and improving turn might be
given to general conversation than
what is frequently exemplifed in our
social intercourses. And what can
we suppose better calculated to ac-
complish this end, than the occasion
al introduction of topics connected
with science and general knowledge,
when all, or the greater part, are
qualified to take share in the gener-
al conversation? 1t would tend to
stimulate the mental faculties to sug-
gest useful hints, to diffuse general
information, to improve science and
art, to excite the ignorant to increase
in knowledge, to present interesting
objects Of contemplation to enliven
the spirits, and thus TO afford
source of rational enjoyment. It
would also tend to prevent those
shameful excesses, noisy tumults,
and scenes of intemperance, which
so frequently terminate our festive
entertainment. For want of qualifi-
cation for such conversation, cards,
dice. childish questions and amuse-
ment, gossiping chit-chat, and tales
of scandal are generally resorted to, in
order to consume the hours allotted
to social enjoyment. And how mel
ancholy the reflection, that rational
beings capable of investigating the
laws and phenomena of the universe,
and prosecuting the exalted range
of thought. and who are destined to
exist in other worlds, throughout
endless duration, should be impelled
to resort to such degrading
expedients, to while away the social
hours. Domestic enjoyment may
likewise be heightened and improved
by the studies to which we have ad-
verted. For want Of qualification for
rational conversation, spirit of list
lessness and indifference frequently
insinuates itself into the intercourses
of families, and between married in
dividuals, which sometimes degener-
ate into fretfulness and lmpatience,
and even into jars, contentious, and
violent alteration, in which case there
can never exist any high degree of
affection or domestic enjoyment.
1t is surely not unreasonable to
suppose that were the minds of per-
sons in the married state possessed
of a certain portion of knowledge,
and endowed with a relish for ration
al investigation not only would such
disagreeable effects be prevented,
but variety of positive enjoyments,
would be introduced. Substantial
knowledge, which leads to the proper
exercise of the mental powers, has a
tendency to meliorate the temper,
and to prevent those ebulltions of
passion, which are the results of vul-
garity and ignorance. By invigorat-
ing the mind, it prevents it from
sinking into peevishness and insan-
ity. 1t affords subjects for interest
ing conversation, and augments af-
fection by the reciprocal interchang-
es of sentiment and feeling, and the
mutual communication of instruction
and entertainment. And in cases
where malignant passions are ready
to burst forth, rational arguments will
have more powerful influence in ar
resting their progress, in cultivated
minds, than in those individuals in
whose constitution animal feeling pre-
dominates and reason has lost it's as
tendency. AS an enlightened mind is
generally the seat of noble and liber-
al sentiment-in those cases where
the parties belong to different relig-
ious sects, there is more probability
of harmony and mutual forbearance
being displayed, when persons take
an enlarged view of the scenes of the
creation and the revelation of the
Creator, than can be expected in the
case of those whose faculties are i'm
mersed in the mists of superstition
and ignorance. How delightful an
enjoyment is it, after the hustle of
business and the labors of the day
are over, when a married couple can
set down at each corner of the fire,
and with mutual relish and interest,
read volume of history or of popu-
lar philosophy, and talk of the moral
government of the world, the ar
rangements of the Creator, and the
wonders of the universe such inter-
esting conversation and exercises be-
get mutual esteem, enliven the af-
fection, and produce friendship
lasting as our existence, and which
no untoward incidents can ever eff
fectually impair.
Mrs. NANCY ALLEN.
Ayoung lady asked gentleman why he