The Press., 1892-03-10
CONVERSATION A LOST ART.
People Nowadays Appear to Meet to D.
 Almost Everything but Talk.

People Nowadays Appear to Meet to Do
 Almost Everything but Talk.
 When any number of persons wish to combine for social purposes nowadays they form club. The club, however. is by no means a social organization
 The pretext is some sorto mind culture. an arena for the discussion of some sub ject. Shakespeare's plays, Browning, Dante, the stage. indicate the simpler range of topics. Or if nothing better offers, the members set up man of straw and have shies at him, sort of in. tellectual game of Aunt Sallie.
 The town is honeycombed with such clubs. They are superseding dancing and the natural diversions of the young and conversation and cards of the more mature. The common pleasure in meet ing one another in good clothes and off duty no longer exists. Nor have the so- cial affiliations that used to be found in the church and in the mission school any remaining power of social cohesion.
 It is 8 curious development, and is nar turally in more vigorous state among people from other parts of the country who have come here to, live, and must find excuses for social organization out side those that exist in older and allied communities of people. An inherent craving to know and to commune about Plato or Renaissance art will furnish a pretext for social advances that no one can possibly mistake for bunlptfousness or any undue social aspiration. When a sufficient number of persons with d l-.- s+c ScSC
 tion takes place at intervals in one an others drawing rooms. This climbing of staircases, ascent of elevators, fa- miliarity with one another's surround ings and subsequent walters and cups of tea after the main business is concluded, furnish as solid and as quickly riveted bonds as are welded by society in any of it's older forms.
 The regret is that conversation. the politest, the most spiritual, evanescent, the most agreeable of all arts, has no greater chance in the mind culture clubs than elsewhere. Where discussion and information flourish the flame of conver- sation fickers and goes out Perhaps the speaker must rise to speak, or there is 8 moderator or president who clings to the main issue, or with great indiss cretion allows each person three minutes, watch in hand, perhaps, to say nothing. Or there may be thirty minute paper on 1.-The Influence of Russian Thought on the Accumulations of Wealth, which settles down over the assembled intel lects like pail and calls for maids with tea to the rescue. ., &e.. szx, !,
 Conversation has long since been driven from more fashionable gayeties where wit. wisdom and repartee are cut off at some vital, blood letting point: by the hostess signal to listen to the song or story of the professional entertaiher and where the guests think themselves happy if they are not forced into serried ranks of camp chairs. Conversation is no longer permitted except at the dinner table, and then the amateur or profes. sional story teller is apt to have the first fork, and seems only to precede the | jester yet to be found behind his mis. tress' chair. -.-. .--r.-~ ,,, Regret, however, is only faint sigh for the snows of last year. The wise person does not quarrel with whati is but accepts it as the outcome of circum stances, or the result of tendencies too wide reaching or too deep for us to grasp If we are all under the pressure of mind culture it is doubtless for some good end
 and if everywhere the more familiar wagging of our tongues is checked there are passages of scripture that will. arise 1 il explanation and consolation to the | silent member.-New York Evening Sun