New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-26
THE ART OF CONVERSATION.
a LECTURE BY MRS. wITHERsPOON AT
THE WALDORF YESTERDAY.
THE BRIGHT AND WITTY WOMAN" DECLARES
THE LECTURER. NOT MERELY

THE BRIGHT AND WITTY WOMAN DECLARES
THE LECTURER NOT MERELY
SHINES. But REIGNs."
1.-The Art OF Conversation was the subject
chosen by Mrs Withcrspoon for her lecture at The
Waldorf yesterday. The speaker asserted that n
society the bright and witty does not merely
shine she reigns. and is a goddess. before whom
genius delights TO burn it's incense. In illustrate
ing this reference was made TO the brilliant women
OF the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries VINO
beanie famous not for their beauty but for their
Wit and conversational gifts.
Nine De Stael was beautiful but was fasei-
mating at forty-fve years of age. Nine. Recamier
was in the height OF her glory at fifty. and Nine
du Dcnand at eighty. though blind. was considefHd
by Horace Walpoe to be the most fascinating
in France. From her Talleyrand acknoVi =
edged he acquired the gift OF conversation.
Nine Rambouillet and Nine. de Noailles belohg'u
10 this lustrous coterie OF French women. Lazy
Blcssington. Hannah More and George Eliot lake
high rank among English women who possessed
this rare art
This gift does not manifest itself in early life.
said the lecturer unless one mistakes hippah'F
and pertnoss for wit. but 1t is the result OF years
of study. travel and intercourse with the most cur
iivatcd people.
There Is no high society who're conversation l.
not the chief attraction. When society was made
famous at Paris 1t not the card table. not the
banquet and ball that were sought by cultlN" ed
people but the salon. where conversation was III
rected by gifted women. Success In conversation
depends as much upon the disposition as upon me
brain and many women have gained their social
prestige by tact and goodnature I'm conversation
The lecturer thinks women should become better
acquainted with politics. such knowledge would De-
come a powerful instrument in their hands with
which to interest men. and she cited the cases OF
the famous Greek and Roman women VINO hah III
fuonced the political fate OF their countries
among the requisites for conversationaist
are tact sympathy and kindness. ease OF manner
freedom from cgo;ism and affecta'ion. and gen
cral 1esir, 20 please even though 1t should In
volve much sclf-dena.. II il always disco"'-
ieous 10 divert abruptly conversation into he"
channels" remarked Mrs. Witherspoon nut the
tactful and intelligent woman can always redJcc
the horrors Of tedious and cXhausting talker'
There can he no animated conversation with pni
dissent but thiS must be disguised by the AN
guag, or courtosy It mist also Ice partially en-
hollisbed and is truths exaggerated. for one VINO
is absolutely literal IN his talk can spoil the tn
iovmeut OF "a whole table fun OF men OF esprit.
'Gayelv without Vulgarity. non mot, a coihic
story point and originality. and above all. I'm tSi-
nation give springs to wit and wings TO genus.
because all true feelings have degree OF ihod-
Nrs Witherspoon is 10 give n course OF lectn'es
in BROOKLYN and Philadelphia and she VIII sovh
commence her draWinC-room taiks IN some Oh '"e
exclusive families Of this city -.
Among prominent women present 'S,,luaH W !
Mrs William Whitney. Mrs. Levi +. Morton Z hd
he Misses Morton.