The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-05-31
Table Talk.

L - it dREC az 81 iiiS II-til blllI2 al
the right time is Il gift bestowed by ma
ture upon but few persons. 1t is, how
ever, attainable in 4 greater or less de-
gree bv all. Nowhere is the tact and
adaptability of ones words to the oc-
casi0n put to seycrer test than at the
dining-table. Conversation there has
"a double weight, affecting the physical
as well as the social man. Eat. drink
and be merry has in its hackneyed
embrace an important physiological
law. The habitually cheerful, happy
hearted diner has nodyspeptic alarums
to answer. Light, gay banter, and tri-
vial bric-a-brac Of talk are nowhere so
eXcusable, nor quite so fitting as at
meal time.
The household that make practice
of having a jolly season at eating time
VIII always be found to live with less
friction and more real enjoyment than
that one where yictuals are munched in
stolid silence by all. ] would venture
sod biscuits, pie-crust and rich cakes in
the system of We Jolly eater with less
fear than | should trust the strictest di
etectic foods in the stomach Of amOurn-
full discomfort and haw-findeT.
The cares of Il life time may seem of
ten to spread over day from enter
tanning a magnitied cloud at breakfast
with no counter current Of badinage or
comfort or cheer to scatter the storm
into spray. There is, in fact, seldom a
dining-room that is not mission field
for some ones deftness at turning the
talk into agreeable, sunny channels.
1t is not pleasant, and not often prof
table for a guest, nor is it advisable
for members Of the family, to spend
the dinner hour in discussing the food
that is being put to legitimate pur-
pose. 4 lady presiding at her own ta-
bic has been known to make her cook
ing. her methods, successes or expert
ments with one and another in"redi-
ent. the pivot OH which she balanced
almost the entire conversation of the
meal. To follow such Il course is to
cultivate a proiii@atc habit Of CONVEX
satiOn and to foster criticisms that
might be better bestowed. Food finds
It's ultimatum of use in ministering to
physical need, and is out of its sphere
when made leading topic of frequent
table talk.
Every day table talk can be guided
as the members Of the family may
elect, into profit, friyolousness, or loss.
Many a boy and girl receives golden
nuggets Of information and insight in
to the current affairs OF the day from
entertaining conversations which pa
rents lead during the meal hours.
4 company of busy people, once
boarding together, and having little
time for reading or study. undertook a
light method Of turning to profit the
three times daily that they met round
the dining table. They chose to greet
one another at breakfast each with a
scripture text or other selection of a
thoughtful character; at noon each
brought some item from the business
world, q current event, scientific fact,
literary or art note or some observation
Of his own: and at the tea table, ancc-
dotes, funny happenings of the day,
stray witty sayings and all enlivening
talk were in order. The plan quite ef-
fectUally secured its most desired end,
which was the prevention Of .shop
talk, that most tjriG@ theme among
those already wearied with their work.
Somewhat more amusing than the
experience Of this club was the outcome
OF a similar scheme inaugUrated by the
table Of college students. For a time
each member displayed his or her IA
mili&ritv with the learned and wise by
recitiug a quotation from their writings
at the supper table. "Witticisms scin-
tillatcd' and "a genial flow Of spirits"
resulted, but one evening the aSsOcia-
ton Of ideas became too wildly out Of
corresp spondcuce when part of the
company repeated verse by verse,