The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-05-14
Conversation of Women,


In the art Of CONVERSATION, WOMAN,
IT rot ehe queen and victor, is the law
giver, says Ralph Waldo Emerson in
one OF his essays. If every one re.
called his experience he might find the
best IN the speech of superior women
which was better than song, and
carried ingenuity, character; wise
counsel, and affection as easyil as the
wit with which it WIS adorned. They
are not only wise themselves; they
make us wise. No one can be a mas
ter in convers alton who has not learn
ed much from women; their presence
and inspiration are essential to it's suc-
cess. Steele said of his mistress that
ito have loved her was liberal edu-
cation" Shenstone gave no bad ac-
count of his Influence in his descrip-
ton Of the Frenchwoman: "There is
a quality in which no woman in the
world can compete with hsr-it is the
power Of Intellectual irritation. She
will draw wit out OF a fool. She
strikes with such address the chords
OF selt-love that she gives unexpected
yigor and agility to fancy, and electri-
ties body that appears non electric. :"
Coleridge esteems cultivated women
as the depositaries and guardians of
''English undefiled:" and Luther COM
mends that accomplishment Of 'pure
German" speech Of his wife. Nine.
de Stael; by the unanimous consent of
all who knew her, was the most extra
ordinary cOnverser that was known in
her time, and it was time full of en-
inent men and women; she knew all dis
tinguished persons in letters or society
in England, Germany and italy, as
we'll as in France, though she said,
with characteristic nationality, ''Con-
versatiop, like talent, exists only in
Frarce.' Nine. de Stael valued moth
ing but conversation. When they
showed her the beautiful Lake Leman,
she exclaimed: "Oh. for the gutter Of
the Rue de Bac!' the streets in Paris
in which her house stood. And she
said one day seriously to NJ. Mole, If
it were not for respect to human opin-
ions | would not open my window to
see the bay of Naples for the first time;
whilst would go five hundred leagues
to talk with a man of genius whom l
had not SEEM" 81. Beuve tells us of
the privileged circle of Coppet, that,
after making an excursion one day,
the party returned in two coaches from
CRANBERRY to AK on the way to Cop
pet. The last coach had many rueful
accidents to relate-a terrific thunder
storm, shocking roads, and danger
and gloom to the whole company. Tho
party in the second coach, on arriving,
heard this story with SURPRISE; of
thundcrstorms, of sleeps, of mud, of
danger, they knew nothing; no, they
had forgotten earth, and breathed
purer air; such conversation between
Nine. de Stael and Nine. Recamier
and Benjamin Constant and Schlegel!
they were all in a state of delight.
The intoxication of the conversation
had made them insensible to any no.
tice of weather or rough roads. Mime.
de Jesse said, If 1 were queen, I
should command Nine. de Stael to talk
to me every day. Conversation fills
all gaps, supplies all deficiencies.
What good trait is that recorded of
Nine. de Maintenon. that, during din
nor, the servant slipped to her side.
''Please, madame, one anecdote more,
for there is no roast to-dav.''