Thomas County cat., 1890-10-30
How to Talk Well

IL one might choose between bein
very handsome, with tolerable man
ners. and being plain, with fine, we
modulated voice and better manner
than ordinary, he would wisely prefe
the latter. We do not feel the charm
of well taught speech, because it is s.
seldom heard. But once felt it has
spell which fingers in the mind forever
The beauty of the face strikes the eye
the tone of the voice stirs the heart.
A fine voice, which does not mean /;
loud one by any means, is always dis
tinct one, which can be unerringl.
heard without effort of the speaker
An indistinct utterance is always /;
sign of mental or physical deficiency
which ought to be promptly mastered
And it takes very hard work often tt
get the better of this slovenly pronun
citation. Learn to speak. 1t is easier
when you come down in the morning
to grunt in answer to good morning
than to say the two words, but you
must not allow yourself this piggish
boorish habit of grunting in place OF
speech. Neither, John Alexander. must
you let your sleepy, dreamy, unsocial
temper control you so that you speak
in dull, thick tone at the back of the
throat, which is of all others the most
trying voice to understand.
Slow speech is an intolerable affront
to others and waste of time. went to
church yesterday and sat out sermon.
which wasted thirty five minutes of the
possible forty years l have yet to live,
listening to such novel and profound
remarks as these: animals are en-
dowed with life" Human beings have
reason" spoken in pOnderous way, as
if the speakers wits were wool gather
ing each sentence. You may believe
would not have wasted so much of nv
precious life waiting on such sluggish
mud flowing if the sexton had not seat.
ed me too far up the aisle to get out
without making procession of myself
before the congregation. You must
learn to talk to the point and with
celerity-that is, not chattering, but
with smooth, ready flow of language
without jerks or confusion.
TO speak sweetly, make the toilet of
your mouth and nose with care three
times day. There should be three
minutes after each meal given to per-
sonal care, rinsing the mouth, clearing
the throat and using the handkerchief,
which should then make its appearance
as seldom as possible. A habit of deep
breathing also clears the voice and gives
it fullness and softness at command.
What to say, and how to say it. is all
there is to the art OF conversation.
True, this is like saying that earth. air
and water are all there is to the world,
as is it were simple as bseswax. But it
something to know when you want to
begin to improve talk, and that is by
finding out just what you want to say.
The other day a very bright woman
asked me how she should write an ad.
vertisement for a merchant. / asked
her for an idea of what she wanted to
say, and the first sentence she uttered
was the announcement complete. 1t
was simple, concise, perfect. Happily
the forms of polite speech are laid down
for us-the good morning" for those
we meet with whom we are not init
mate, the show do you do" for friends
and neighbors.
People don't always feel themselves
the central interest in creation or wish
to talk about themselves. They are
rather complimented By talking about
their tastes rather that their affairs or
personal interests. You see the safe
topics can only be indicated by teach
ing yourself pretty decidedly what not
to say. Avoid questions if you can.
1t sounds better to say, Il hope you are
not tired with you long walks" or "you
must be tired with it." than to ask
"Are you tired?" or "Have you come
far?' Take everything creditable f.,r
granted of your companion. Don't ask
perforce, 'DO you like music ?" in a
crude way, but "YOu are musical
with the very faintest questioning in
flection, or "You play tennis, sup
pose?" And if your unhappy respond
ent does not understand either of these
things, do not make him any more un-
happy by pause or comment, but turn
to something pleasanter for him.
Learn all the forms of courteous and
complimentary speech, but use them
with distinction. You should know
when to say that you will be pleased to
accept courtesy or attention, when
you will be ''happy" to do the same,
and when you will be glad, in the open
heartedness of frank intimacy. Learn
the shades of civility; they give value
to intercourse and meaning to cordial
ity when it comes. Use the salt and
spice of conversation freely, but be
choice of your sugar, and above all,