New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
AFTER DINNER.
AMERICANS LIKE TO TALK.

| AMERICANS LIKE TO TALK.
From Van Gryses New-York letter to The Gan y,,,.
Inc CUSTOM 1t appears, OF providing some mr., =.
entertainment n after large dinner grows apace AZ
whcrewth to amuse the great army OF lazy see1s.
Ia, grown with II. 'ssse
II ihls Is indeed the case we can only say that tn.
Angiomanlacs had better give up, and either 20 o"t
right to England or become simply commonplace M
fortunate Americans Nothing. In a small v NV
society. modern American hates after.dinncs
enter,a nment as he hates woman with mission
he does not talk well but, whatever his faults M
be. an inability to converse is not one Of them
to any number Of pretty girls and blooming mstrSus
who are, In their turn just anxious to talk as h IL
How often one has heard the unprejudiced Mton
remark, with careful politencss. that. while tAs
American girl was absolutely charming II apue6ssSs
that her education not quite so thorough a. M
this ASSERTION en sg9o are rsa' s q, da
oughy educated. They are superficial. They hhvs
idea with lghtnIngikc rapdity. fall into the way Of
thinking that their superficial knowledge on many suk
tects Is good equivalent for a thorough knowledge
A foreigner Is constantly dazzlcd BY the brIIancy
OF an american woman OF society. She flashes non
subject to subject with the light. firm touch Of one
who is master OF tie point under discussion. lier
comments are keen and sparkling. II there only
IA few ~ them, those few remarkably apt En-.
gaeng her deeper In conversation. passing from the
gay froth Of general talk In society. finds that he
knowledge Is scTaped very thin large area
She knows little about everything, not very much
abOnt anything. But her native wit. her sngIiarly
sharp understanding, her razor like keenness. enable
her to her little store Of learning with marvellous
success Her wit and her knowledge OF human nature
give her comments and ideas their brilliant shrewd
ness. She may not know books. but she knows men.
and she knows how to make them think she mas more
learning than she possesses and less cleveness.
II may be the pleasure which comes from exercising
talent in which the pOsscssor knows himself
ccssful that makes Americans "in society," 50 averse
to the form OF drawingroom entertainment which
puts an end to conversation For granting that tnsv
are superficial no onr can deny mat the ayeags
1t is great card among people who lead quiet. o.
stndious. labOrios, lives TO look upon the cgales
enough to curl their hair and powder their faces ana
design pretty dresses. and to hold that ACCOMPLISH
Msto Of ss S Of n the Ps er v
Immediately staight bows. and being able to wear
white and striped flannel snmmer'suts without having
fully aedSed pair Of these talk for time and,
though he may despse The subjects o. the c9aversas,on;
well trained deft In their manipulation OF the art OF
saving foolish tngi sfnT%n giv 3 harmesy anus
Ii is saying in New-Yorh society that grl Is
good to look in her first season. good to dance with
never waste their golden hours In conversation with
the debutantcs. Like epcures who leave the wine 70
mellow in the wood. they let the blushng bud pass
through three or preparatory seasons let society
mellow her till she evolves from the shy eradenss'
OF twenty to the accomplished smootne,' OF twenty.
five Then She has learned the AIT OF murmlring
platitudcs gracefully has learned the suppe posso
ties Of ,@d NAV be- as flexible and
eiastc as good suede glove has learned the value OF
saving some things and the wisdom OF leaving Others
nnsad. has learned how TO be amusing without being
sharp how to be witty without being crue-ha' learned
all this il she Is ever going TO-
vivacty and a fairly bright ard cultvatea man 70
have TO maintain silence throughout whole evening
w2"iS 1s and so do the buds
do the tall thin men, with lmnlachiate'y se,ung u''ss
suits and hair parted down i nnd nye with .no,t
shavcn fesh-tinted faces and boardnke snrt oosoms
aometImes happen. the SIN chinned senior Of HaF
ward who ha, been sitting during dinner next 20 me
hours talk with the stunning looking girl In red, vh)
sal on the opposite side Of the table. ..
The bud Of the first family may. on the other hand.
be- smothcring rage under her plnkand- white bodice
because she cannot get chance ior momen,s oon,
versaon With the man VINO Se on .e the e' wan
the wine and try to put their mutual dlsa iS,s
Into MA, Now se psno as
sing and third Is TO give some selections on .ne
cello what blow it will be to these four 9nd nreiS.
How they viii execrate that custom WHO" p'''~''
entertainment after dinner - ..,.,.
Indeed, far is the drawing room entertalnm =.
somewhat difficult when such things DO take place "
keep the audience stlll. The Young man and ~
Of balm or the maidens fan The ucnbrr
the ae sa1s try cr to the eGs ey and
their hearts long for the happy moment whe! II Is au
over and they can break OUT IKE wafer
Not only do they not want to be amused, but they
feel that IL Is pity their hostess has such singular
desire always have rrciting woman or piano.
playing man to come IN and absorb those pleasant
afterdinner hours. when one drinks black coffee rom
a tiny Moorish cup and then sits on the dlvan ana
talks about everything. Not much In the matter OF
the talk. perhaps. but charm In the manner OF IT,
the takers are worthy OF their breed.
So everywhere that members OF our Nation con.
crrcatc. We hear the cold structure that americans
talk too much and too loud Maybe We do. but We
cannot help II. And. after ALL ii gives US the ca;
paclty 10 amusc ourselves rather than bave hred
professionals In 30 Society then. as II usi
TO be understandable gathering together OF ncn ana
fashionable people To amtsc and entertain each otheF
with feasting dancing and conversation-s In me ,
f0urishng condition with us than with our fAsI,i
cousins We not yet mp 10 the French standaia'
where conversation is an art. and the hostess Is ADJ
by subtle OF words. Ia draw from all me guests
their brightest salies. their keenest comments we
are as yet In the selfish stage With Us j. very
man for himself and the devil take the hinderno,'.
We are Young as conversationalists. ard have me
bubbling viyncy OF youthall the thoughts crowdlh3
mn for uteInnce at once. We have not vet learned
the art OF each PLAYING for the others best. bus
where the art Is loved for itself then success IS GER
tain And some day American women viii taM as
wen as Madame du Defand. and listen as wen as
Madame Recamier. As for men. they are niWays
bound TO spend their surplus brains on theiF BUSINESS