The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-25
English Takers.

Fifteen months ago a writer who
wished to eXemplify conversation at its
best would have very probably selected
the instance of Mr.. Mathew Arnold,
who combined in singular harmony the
various elements which 90 to make
good company urbanity, courtesy,
liveliness, quick sympathy, eagerness
to learn, readiness to impart, keen in
terest in the worlds works and WAYS,
and natural and never-failing humor,
as genial as it was pungent. His
browning glory was that he could be a
man of the world without being frivo-
lOus, and man of letters without be-
ing pedantic. No image except that of
torrent can convey the notion of Mr..
GladstOne's conversations its rapidity,
its volume, its splash and dash, its fire.
quent beauty, its striking effects, the
amount of varied matter which it brings
with it, the hopelessness of trying to
resist it, the unexpectednes of its on
rush, the subdued but fertilized condi-
ton of the subjected area which it
leaves behind. But for conversation
strictly so-called, Mr.. Gladstone has no
taste. He asks questions when he
wants information, and answers them
copiously when asked by others. But
of give-and- take, of meeting you half
way, and of paying you back in your
own conversational coin, he has no
notion. AS story teller Lord Gran
vile is unsurpassed. He has been
everywhere and known every one. He
has warmed both hands before the
fire of life," and has happy knack of
imparting its genial warmth to those
around him. Another politician who
exceis in conversation is Sir George
Trevelyan. He is, of course, from the
necessities of his position, man of the
world and politician, but the true man
in Sir George Trevelyan is the historian
The biographer, the man of letters.
Whenever he touches historical or
literary theme, Sir Georges whole being
seems to undergo a transformation.
Mr.. Morley's leading characteristic is
certain dignified austerity of de-
meanor which repels familiarity and
tends to keep conversation on high
level. But each time one meets him
there is less formality and less restraint,
and the grave courtesy, which never
fails, is soon touched with friendliness
and frank good humor in a singularly
attractive fashion. He talks not much
but remarkably well. His sentences
are deliberate, clear cut, often eloquent.
His quotations are apt and original.
Lord Salisbury goes so little into gen.
eral society that his qualities as talker
are not Familiarity known. Yet no one
can listen, even casually, to his CONVEX.
sation without appropriating the fine
manner, full both of dignity and cour-
tesy, the perfect freedom from POM
posity, Formally and self-assertion, and
the dash Of cynicism which modities,
though it never masks, the flavor of his
tun. Very distinctly of to-day is the
conversation of Mr.. Labouchere. Even
our country cousins are aware that the
member for Northampton is less an
ornament of general society than the
oracle of an initiated circle. The smok-
ing room of the house of commons is
his shrine, and there, poised in an
American rocking-chair, and delicately
toying with cigarette, he unlocks the
varied treasures of his well-stored men,
DRY and enunciates the far-reaching
principles of his mild philosophy. All
lONClo VI HOOd ahu SOONi
fellowship must deplore alike the cause
and the consequences of Sir Robert
Peels disappearance from London. Sir
Roberts most salient feature as talker
is his lovely voice, deep, flexible, me-
lodious, and pronounced by Mr.. Glad
stone-no mean judge of such matters
to be the finest organ he has ever
heard in parliament. And the voice,
admirable in itself, is the vehicle of
conversation which is worthy of it.
The society of London offers no more
striking or interesting figure than that
of Robert Browning. 1t may safely be
alleged that no one meeting him for the
first time and unfurnished with a clue
would guess his vocation. He might
be diplomatist, a statesman, a discov-