The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-20
THE HOME.
Conversation.


Cultivate conversation. It stands
among the richest of home talents. and
is one of the requisites of social popular
ity. To descend to vulgar expressions,
the man who cannot talk is ,"out of It,"
while the fellow who has something to
say, no matter what it's intellectual val
ue, is decidedly Sin it," Not that super
fetal chatter about airy nothings is to be
encouraged Quite the contrary; but
the fact is quoted merely to impress
upon the mind that the man who has
something to say is the man who con-
trolls attention and possesses influence
Do not feel that because your ideas are
ordinary, and your language plain and
ungraceful, that it is your best course
to keep silence. No man or woman can
become a good conversationalist with
out first passing through a course OF
training. That training is found in
improving the small opportunities, in
rushing boldly into the arena of opinion
and discussion, even though you know
you will be disarmed, and that defeat is
inevita BILE. Hold fast to your courage. If
your opinions are honest and your argu-
ments genuine you wi II be listened to
with respectful interest. A few setbacks
must not dishearten you; they should
stimulate you to renewed efforts A
strong opponent, steadfastly met, will
harden your mental muscle and give you
confidence Keep up the fight and you
will soon find youself leader in thought
and influence.
The place to begin the cultivation of
ones taking powers is at home. Do not
sit at the table, like a spectre in self sat-
isfied gloom, in grim silence hug your
self in the cosiest corner of the library
fire.
Shake off your selfish reserve, and let
your conversation enrich the lives of
those who are unfortunate enough to
have to live with you. Has there not
been some event of the day that would
interest your family or some idea that
the others would enjoy? If not, for
heavens sake say something common
place, if that is the best you can da
After that better ideas will come to you,
or you will find that someone else has
a thought worth listeningf to. When
the ball is once started it will roll OF
itself You will be surprised to find out
how much is slowed away in the heads
of your son and daughter, or, if you are
an older brother, you will be forced to
confess that as far as brains are con-
cerned the little fellows no longer merit
your lofty disdain. When the bonds of
family sympathy and equality are once
established, when each learns to be at
once generous talker and an unselfish
listener, then will the family be the
fountain of greatest pleasure and deepest
interest, while, at the same time it fur
nishes that training which qualities the
man to strike out into a. broader world,
and to push his way to the fulfillment of
his 1ife's ambitions. Charles Emerson
Cook in Boston budget.
Tomato Salad.
This salad is novelty and was de-
scribed in one of the recent Boston Cook
ing School lectures. 1t is made from a
quart of tomatoes stewed and strained,
to which add teaspoonful of salt and
three-fourths of box of gelatine soaked
in one half cup of cold water and then
dissolved in one half cup of boiling
water.
Mould it into cups and serve on let.
tuce leaves. To prepare the lettuce
rinse it gently in cold water and then
hang in bag OF mosquito netting in
the ice chest to drain and chill. If
there is no time let the lettuce drain
wipe each leaf carefully for it takes but
few drops of water to spoil salad. For
the mayonnaise mix half teasponful
each of salt and mustard with a few
grains of cayenne one fourth teaspoonful
of powdered sugar. Add the yolks of
two raw eggs, then add slowly, and at
first drop by drop, one half cupful of oil
and a Tablespoonful each of lemon Juice
and vinegar. Remember that every
thing about this dressing must be ice
cold and do rot begin to make it until
everything has been chilled. Set the
bowl into q pan of ice water. After
enough oil has been added to thicken the
egg the remainder may be added faster.
alternating with little of the lemon
juice or vinegar.
II by some mistake the dressing should
curdle, take fresh egg yolk and add
the curdled mixture to it drop by DROP