The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-07-03
CONVERSATION AT MEALS
Make the Dining Room Bright and AttrA0
tivo-Tho Art OF Conversing. 3


" s9
OF all the rooms in home the din.
ing-room should be the most cheerful,
not only as to furnishing and lighting,
but for tho conversation which should
be carried on there. Hero the family
meet for the first time in the morning
at the breakfast table, and, Is this is
the family rendezvous, each member
of the household should consider it
his or her duty to contribute share
to the conversation, and not seem to
be wholly absorbed in individual
thoughts.
This is the opportunity tomake plans
for the day. before the members Of the
family separate for their various duties
and pleasures, and one should be UNI
selfish enough to enter into the spirit Of
each others plans, even il it does not
exactly suit ones mood, and when they
meet at dinner they can recount their
various experiences. h 4
know of some women who come to
the breakfast table in shabby wrappers
looking SO gloomy and disconnected
that it would seem as if they were de-
termined to represent the woman spok-
en- of by Sydney Smith, who had
made up her mind in the morning to
be discontinued all day, and nothing
could dissuade her from being so.
When there is a large family, each
with different characteristics, it would
seem rs il each might choose for )
motto, If only during meals, 'Look
Cheerful, y so that, even if one did not
feel so he or she would not dampon the
spirits of the others.
think the worst epithet that can be
applied to 2 person is that he or she
is wet blanket" And certainly
we all know of some persons who,
when they appear among us, seem only
to lessen our pleasures instead of in
creasing them. 81
So, above all things, let us be cheer
full at breakfast, in our prettiest toilets,
and make ourselves as attractive as
possible. The morning is new, the day
fresh, and we should try to be in accord
with our surroundings.
There are some persons who make a
specially of preparing their converse
ton for the dinner table by reserving
bits of news and stories which they
have heard during the day. This is an
excellent plan, as . dinner should
be looked forward to as ga feast Of
reason and q flow of soul, = as well as
an occasion for satisfying ones appe-
tite.
There is difference between feeding
and dining, .s ..a.3.
True, one often gets tired of the
same old topics, and when ona leads )
quiet life and nothing new ever hap
pens, or no outsider appears with . bit
Of gossip to be discussed over. the din
ner table, one is apt to become ! little
soured and serious; but one must think
OF some new method Of entertaining the
family, and thereby be entertained
themselves.
Reading few paragraphs from the
papers, or the last novel or from
some book Of travels, and then taking
the lead IN the conversation and in.
Producing these familiar topics, is :
good way to vary the monotony OF .
family meal.
A fad this season at ladies' lunch
cons has been the proposition of a toast
by the hostess, and the surprising Of
one Of her friends by requesting her to
respond to it.
This is certainly a novel plan to in.
terest roomful of women, and Ger
tainly would make an agreeable d.
version and give an opportunity to
practice the art Of ready speaking and
@cultivating extemporaneous wit.
AS women so often NOWADAYS have
to take up the cudgels Of war and sup
port themselves, itseems quite proper
/ that they should be schooled little in
the art OF speech-making.
Among fashionable people it is Gus
tomary to appear at dinner in full
evening dress, which gives the occasion
very festive appearance. OF course
there are q great many families who
are not fashionable and who cannot
afford such elaborate dinner gowns.
and would not care for them even IL
they could; bnt it is well to make some
change in ones dress, as it freshens
the mind as well as the body. Men
like to lay aside their business cares
with their business suit, and enter into
different world, as it were, by putting
on evening clothes.
Of course men adapt their converse
ton to their surroundings, and it GER
tainly must be q fact that they bring
some cheerfulness into the family, Is
their advent is eagerly looked for.
But where there are no men there
might be : few smiles, and women
should try to be as agreeable to each
other Is they are supposed to be TO the
opposite sex.
Conversation is also an. aid 10 di-