The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-01-15
THE CHAUTAUQUA CORNER.

SUGGESTIONS TO SOLITARY READERS.
The chapter "Colloqual English" brings
q gloom into the Corner 1t suggests somebody
to talk with!on other themes than housekeeping
and neighborhood affairs. The Occupant has no.
body. The household of which the Corner is a
part, is a silent 1t works hard. eats heartily,
sleeps long, and few words are interchanged. To
be sure the pastor comes in now-and.then and
prays. He is a solemn man with great respect for
his Office and quite unaware that the Occupant
would rather talk with, than listen to- him. The
neighbors who come in repeat the news, dispute a
little over the political situation. and wonder
whether wen have ''good goin' " this winter.
Then there is the schOol-teacher who does all the
talking himself. 1t is not promising situation
for improving conversational graces. Is it hope
less? By no means.
Those who have limited opportunities for con-
versation often blunder by thinking that only
certain topics are legitimate. They conceive the
idea that history. literature, science and art are
all that should be handled in conversation. Since
there is nobody for them to discuss the little they
know on these lines with, they keep silent and
grow glum over their lack of opportunity.
But this is an un-Chautauquan attitude. 1t is
with the weapons which we possess that Chautau.
qua bids us attain culture. 1t is attitude
which would prevent most of the world from ever
becoming ready takers and sympathetic listeners
1t is in making use of the material which is at
hand that the deepest art of conversation lies.
Simple incidents, everyday events, when
handled with sympathy and appreciation, can be
talked about in SO fresh and bright manner
that they deserve to be called conversation, and
the practice becomes a constant drill in ''Collo
quail English" In the same way the neghbor-
hood gossip. the minister's last sermon, the Sum-
day-school lesson, the new school maam. and the
best way to keep vegetables. may be made drill
in vivacity and correct expression.
And when this is done what then7 There is no
opportunity for helpful criticism. This work
which is SO useful in Local Circles how is it to be
carried on in a Corner2 The most useful criticism
which anybody experiences is self-criticsm. When
one is downright in earnest about self-improve-
ment. he will do all for himself. nearly ALL that
critical mates could do. More. he will find rich
hsld for criticism in the periodical press. One of
the most interesting scrap-books to be made is
from the slips. the abuses. and the blunders of
the hurried writer's. The newspaper corresponds
to table-talk in many particulars, and many of
their errors and peculiarites are common. If dis
erection is employed in collecting specimens one
can soon gather book full of errors and peculiar
tiles. which will afford amusement as well
as cultivate exactness and discrimination.
One method Of improving "Colloquial English"
which is but little practiced nowadays is writing
long and gossipy letters. narrating all the Incl
dents. the plans the hopes. the surroundings of
ones life. There is Corner but has such an
outlet. The freer and faster the writing, as
rule the more beneficial the practice.
The great hindrance to the Occupants becoming
master of good English style is after all the fail
ure to use all the opportunities at hand. The
thought that SO much more could have been done
with so much greater ease if the attempt had been
made in youth instead of middle age often over
rules the better sense. and periods of inertness
and encouragement follow. In everything it is
only by advancing from where we now are, that
we progress There is way of beginning at
some desired point ahead-The Chautauauan,