The herald., 1897-10-13

sationalists Of the past. notably those OF
the eighteenth century, ae represented
by DR.. johnson and the brilliant coterie
who surrounded him. Men who once
entertained society with monologues OF
an hour or two in length would be lis
tened to nowadays as lecturers, but not
as conversauonalists Conversation is
the music of the mind, but speech is not
conversation.
The mind should be trained to hold
the thoughts gained from others ana
conversatio should be replete with
ethical IDEAS as in this way life may
be Influenced.
The speaker dwelt on the trivial things,
that are too often the subject of con-
versation among women, which is an
outgrowth of the long years of repres-
sion and suppression. when they were
cot expected to be heard in conversa-
ton. Women are gifted with a GER
tain quickness Of perception and in
tuition. Every one of natures endow-
ments is capable of Improvement; the
most original gifts must be cultivated.
to bring them to perfection.
Mrs. M. E. Robertson of Council
Grove, Kan, opensd the discussion h,
few pertinent remarks, calling alten-
tion. particularly to the cultivation of
this gift in children by the training they
are now receiving in the public schools.
Mrs Blackman thought one of the Sc
crets of beirg a fine talker was the
faculty of adaptation. and one of the
faults the tiresome repetition of stock
if not slang phrases. Mrs Haines
called attention to the advance women
do IN, 1ictc v,t ha
past century measured by the standard
of conversations carried, or by them as
characters in old time novels. Mrs
Galpir closed the discussion with her
usual clear cut incisive ideas. To be
entertaining, she said, we must avoid
personalities, must not talk of our
selves Too often we speak of the
things that annoy and depress us. Ego
ism is a blight to any mind We are
coming to be very lazy as a social or
ganism We must be entertained. and,
are in danger of losing the beautiful old
time custocn of coming together for an
interchange of ideas, for strength of
soul and mind.
Mrs May Gibbons Williams varied,
the program with an aria from az Itai-
ian opera. exquisitely rendered.
INSTITUTIONS AND HOMES
Mrs. Emra T. Stephens read the last
paper of the afternoon, entitled, "Irsti-
tutions ard Homes" The paper was
a reply to an article by DR.. Henry Smith
Williams in late number Of the North
American Review.
DR.. Williams painted a lugubrious pic
ture of the condition of public it.stitu-
tions for the care of orphan and depend
emit children and the dreary fate of
those whose lot is cast in them. He
advocates their abolishment and the
adoption of the Australian system of
placing the children in families, paying
ST. so per week for their ma isltenance and
care.
The paper was replete with Mrs.
Stephens characteristic practicability
and common sense, backed by an ex-
perience of sixteen years as president
of the Los Angeles Protestant orphan
age. In that time 1900 children have
been admitted to the home and but is
deaths have occurred, and four of
these were hopeless cases when received
She gave extended information on the
superior care given the children. men,-
tally, physically and morally, and while
favoring institutions for the helpless,
she conceded that the home was much
the best place, provided the proper
home can be found.
Mrs. Hewett, treasurer of the orphan
age; DR. Harvey and Mrs. Dr. Murphy
followed in discussion and corroborated
the facts stated in the paper.