The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31
CONVERSATION CLUE.
Chats on Conversation and Correspondence
and Other Thoughts of G. c. Interest.

A GOOD CoNVERsATIoSALIST.
DEAR c. C. FRIENDS: Though realizing my
inability to handle the subject. permit me a
few remarks upon what constitutes a good
conversatonalist.
First, do not talk too much. 1t seems that
some people must talk good share of the
time or they are not at ease. They seem
pressed by some inward emotion, and words
bubble up like a ril from a fountain. Their
thoughts come so rapidly that they cannot find
expression in so short time and their con-
yersation becomes senseleSs tumble OF words.
Every one says that lawyer needs good,
Quick tongue. That may all be well, but when
his tongue is quick he needs very slow tenn
per to correspond, which nearly all people who
have quick tongues do not possess. Take, for
instance, that ilustrious orator. Pericles who
10 all students of Grecian literature was d
central figure. He STORED his mind with good
and noble aspirations. aud never gave vent to
them unless the occasion called for it. He fol-
lowed the thoughts of that poet who said:
"speak gently if you speak at all.
Carve every word before you let it fall"
j have mentioned one extreme: now let me
touch upon the other talking too little
The great men moderate their speech; they
neither talk too much nor too little.
Those who talk too little seem either to lack
fitting thoughts, or they are without words to
express themselves 1t seems that we must
force from them by endless questions all they
say, for they wilEnot express themselves freely
upon any subject.
When Others are talking is il a show of
proper respect, or knowledge, TO break III upon
a sentence with some abrupt sentence or other?
! think you will agree with me that il is not
There is one part of conversation which
seems a heavy bar placed against the door of
good society. 1t is slang. sensible person
knows that slang is only vulgarity. aud chooses
other forms of expression in which to clothe
his thought.
Smoothness of speech is essential to good, in
teresting conversation. If cur words and SEN
fences spoken in well-modulated tone it
viii be a pleasure to listen to them. No one
should break forth like volcanic eruption or
the ear of his listeners.
Soft. smooth speech comes like beautiful
music 20 the ear OF one who has been accustomed
TO harsh, abrupt speech.
We feel more at home in our everyday
clothes than when we are dressed up So it is
with our language. When we are at home
pursuing our daily labors our conversation is
uncOHsciOusy better than when in society
There, should we become excited, we would
stammer and often use words of which we did
not know the meaning.
We must school ourselves TO overcome this
bashfulness and hesitation. Who ever saw
bashfnl, hesitating man who made good lec
turer, unless he had schooled himself to become
one?
Then, If our talk is silly and foolish, will we
ever have attentive listeners7 Not Hess they
are like the ones they are listening to. One
more point. Our conversation should be fitted
TO the OCCASION.
A great many people will talk of their family
affairs in public. Who wants TO listen to all
the triaiug happenings of another's family? 1t
seems egotistic TO always be talking about ones
self; and egotism, | am sure, is not polite
do not mean that We shall cram our minds
attending before a social gathering by reading
up all the social, political. and other topics of
the day. aud then astonisb our hearers by our
knowledge on that subject. We may find some
one who knows more of that subject than we do
will close by saying that the most graceful
cOnversationalist is one whose thoughts are
spontaneous. Contact with other minds broad
ems and develops our own, aud thus develops
our field of thought. Yours. Pro Patra-
Efie j. Hutchinson, Granger, Mimi.
C. c. CORRESPONDENCE.
recent article from the pen of our friend
Scribbler, on the misfortunes that befell one
maiden through c. G. correspondence brings to
| mind several similar cases in which sympathy
was sought by some Tilted lad or lassie And
| why, . why, all these broken hearts and wasted
| affections? Because these youthful people
| started out on the search matrimonial with a
| determi nation 10 find, like the proverbial spin
ster, Anyone, o Fate" and disregarding all
| rules of propriety engaged in correspondence
| with view to matrimony with persons at the
| other side OF the continent of whom they had
| not even a character recommend
Now, self-conceit being one Of humanity
greatest faults, it is safe to suppose that the un.
/ known correspondent presented quite a pen
portrait Of all that is good and noble to the un-
suspecting searcher. who. like silly fish, swal.
| lowed bait. hook aud all, aud after an exchange
| Of numerous vouminous eplstles, min hat ures
/ etc, which, be sure, were viewed by more than
| one pair OF eyes, the dreamer awoke at last to
| realize that Thou hast learned to love
| another" and was brokenhearted as @ natural
| consequence.
| Brother the heart had nothing 70 do with it
| The brain. controller of the affections had in
| this case been much abused by surfeit oil
novels and what this misguided person took
! for the grand passion was nothing more nor les.
than, according to Ysnkeeism, fool on the
| brain.
If it were not for the fraternal feeling
| which exists, and which must exist, in any or
| ganZation, we would say 10 these discarded
ones: Good enough. You chose to overstep
the simplest laws of propriety by entering int
such correspondence, and have received JUS
| reward.
But fraternity forbids, so we quell our wrath
as best we may and proffcr sympathy to thi,
member who has disgraced not only self bu
the entire organization. The story gets abroad