Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-08
HOW TO TALK WELL.
An Interesting Chat with Boys and Girls
on the Art Of Conversation.

An Interesting Chat with Boys and Girls
on the Art Of Conversation.
II one might choose between being
very handsome, with tolerable man.
ners, and being plain, with q fine, well
modulated voice and better manners
than ordinary, he would wisely prefer
tho latter. We do not feel the charm
of well taught speech, because it Is SO
seldom heard. But once felt II has q
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 q
loud one by any means, Is always a dis
tinct one, which can be u~nerringly
heard without effort Of the speaker.
An indistinct utterance Is always q
sign Of mental or physical deficiency,
which ought to be promptly mastered.
And It takes very hard work often to
get the better of this slovenly pronun-
citation. Learn to speak. II Is easier
when you come down In the morning
to grunt In answer 10 good morning
than to say the two words, but you
must not allow yourself this piggiah,
boorish habit Of grunting In place Of
speech. Neither, John Alexander, must
you let your sleepy. dreamy, unsociL
temper control you 20 that You speak
In q dull. thick tone at the back Of the
throat, which d Of all others the most
trying voice to understand.
Slow speech Il IN intolerable affront
to Others and waste of time. I went to
church yesterday and sat out a sermon,
which wasted thirty-fve minutes Of the
possible forty years I 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 a ponderous way, as
IL the speakers wits were wool gather
ing each sentence. You may believe !
would not have wasted so much Of my
precious life waiting on such slug
gish mud flowing If the sexton had mol
seated NE too far up the aisle to get
out without making a 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 a 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, 40 U
it were simple as beeswax. But y Is
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. II
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 how 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 co%mplimented by talking about
their tastes rather than their affairs OF
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 your long walks" or you
must be tired with it," than to ask
Are you tiredf' or Have you come
far" Take everything creditable for
granted of your companion. Don't ask
perforce, do you like muster in a
crude way, but You are musical, Vt
with the very faintest questioning in.
Election, or You play tennis, | sup.
poser" And IL 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 a courtesy or attention, when
you will he happy to 10 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 il comes. Use the salt and
spice Of conversation freely, but be
choice Of your sugar, and. above all,
don't be oily, There ara peoDle NJ