Connecticut western news., 1888-08-08
Table Talk.

To be able to say the right thing at the right time is gift bestowed by nat ure upon but few persons. It is, how ever, attainable in greater or less de- gree by all. Nowhere is the tact and adaptability of ones words to the occa- sion put to severer test than at the din ng-table. Conversation there has double weight, effecting the physical as and be merry" has in it's hackneyed em- brace an important physiological law. The habitua1ly cheerful, happy hearted dinner has no dyspeptic alarums to an swer. Light, gay banter and trivial bric-a-brac of talk are nowhere so ex- cusable, nor quite so fitting as at meal time
 The household that makes practice of having jolly season at eating-time will always be found to live with less friction and more real enjoyment than that one where victuals are muched in stolid silence by all. I would venture soda biscuit, pie crust, and rich cakes in the system of the jolly eater with less fear than I should trust the strictest di- etetic foods in the stomach of mourn full discontent and flaw-fnder.
 The cares of life time may seem often to spread over the day from en- tertaining 8 magnifed cloud at break fast with no counter current of bandin- age or comfort or cheer to scatter the storm into spray. There is, in fact, seldom dining-room that is not mis- sion<ield for some ones deftness at turning the talk into agreeable, sunny channels.
 It is not pleasant, and not often proft- able for guest, nor is it advisable for members of the family, to spend the dinner hour in discussing the food that is being put to a legitimate purpose. A lady presiding at her own table has been known to make her cooking, her methods, successes or experiments with one and another ingredient, the pivot on which she balanced almost the en- tire conversation of the meal. To fol low such course is to cultivate profi- gate habit of conversation and to foster criticisms that might be better be- slowed. Food finds it's ultimatum of use in ministering to physical needs 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, frivolousness, or loss. Many boy and girl receives golden nuggets of information and insight into the cur rent affairs of the day from entertaining conversations which parents lead dur ing the meal hours.
 A company of busy people, once boarding together, and having little time for reading or study, undertook 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 the selection of 8 thoughtful character; at noon each brought some item from the business world, current event, scientific fact, literary or art note, or some observation of his own; and at the tea table, anec- dotes, funny happenings of the day, stray witty sayings, and all enlivening talk were in order. The plan quite effectually secured its most desired end, which was the prevention of "shop talk, !" that most tiring theme among those al- ready wearied with their work.
 Somewhat more amusing than the ex- perience of this club was the outcome of similar scheme inaugurated by 8 table of college students. For time each member displayed his or her familiarity with the learned and wise by reciting quotation from their writings at the supper table. "Wftticisms scin- tillated" and "a genial flow of spirits" resulted, but one evening the associa- tion of ideas became too wildly out of correspondence when part of the company repeated, verse by verse, Gray's "Elegy in Country Church Yard" The remaining members groaned most perceptibly, and tea-table sentiments for time were with them at discount .-Good Housekeeping.