Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-15

NV v
AS conversation bears SO important
q part in social intercourse that SOM
attempt toward it is made whenever
we meet our fellows, it is strange that
we are not all more proficient.
1t his been suggested that we ave
reason to be grateful that we have a
few conversational formulate, to be
used under certain circumstances, such
ae How do you do?" Goodbye, !"
"Thank you" you are very kind, y
II should be delighted" Fancy the
mental strain, if. instead of these, we
had to invent some new combination of
words to suit each occasion!
The charm of agreeable CONVERSE
tion is appreciated by all. while its
cultivation is within tie rcacii OF
each, and we may be our own tutors
Nothing so quickly opens ~hospitahlo
doors, and in it's influence it may be
ar evangel.
One of its essentials is a well-modu-
lated voice, which always seems a dis
tinguishing mark of gentlehood. Much
has been said about Il high-pitched
voices, but it will bear reiteration,
since il is in our power to change
them. All feel the charm of the softly
musical voices of Englisbwomeli.
They are like some sweet-toned bell,
while a few among us recall the ear
piercing fife." A gentleman, upon
escaping from the iniietion OF such an
one, quoted to his friend
And silence like a o%oultice comes
To heal the blows of sound"
We should aim, too, to speak our
language in its purity-"English undo
fled"'-'and with clear, elean-cut
enunciation. There is a cosmopolitan
language spoken among educated peo-
pie everywhere,-"their speech betray-
eth them" By it we Judge their eul-
ture, their refinement. their social po-
sition. Provinclalisms and slang are
not less a revelation of the absence OF
these advantages. The subject sug-
gests Coleridge's w%ell-known story o.
the stranger at a dinner who passed
for a dignifed and worthy parsonage
until his pleasure at the excellence OF
the dumplings caused him to break the
silence that had won him the re2uta-
Zion of wisdom, by exclaiming:
"Them's the jockeys for me-" No
matter what his moral character.
whether saint or hero, his mental
calibre, his rusticity of breeding stood
confessed. In cases less extreme tie
influence would be as conclusive. None
should be able to tell by accent or in
donation from what part of the eoun-
try we come.
The French know their language so
thoroughly that they use 1t with the
precision and sensitiYeness with which
o cultivated musician plays upon his
instrument. Fne1ish is more eomnre-
hensive, and we'll selected it can ftIy
express any mood and meet every re-
ouirement. but few of us know its re-
sources and have them at command.
fnteIt1ining conversation is net
alone denendent upon 2 well-etored
mind, @ ready wit. or broad III 'ture.
rt lays under contribution quilt es of
y seart as we'll as head. and should re-
veal sincerity. symnathy. and sim
plicity. We must feel an irter-s. in
our subject before we cen inspire it
in others, and enthusiasm is con
tagious. when it is sincere. It gives
animation to the face vivacity to the
manner. and has a thoucht-conpelling
power that aids AUenoy Of EXPRESSION.
This and the gushing exubcr2nce that
speaks only in eupcrlatlycs are many
miles %asunder."
Sympathy and adartabi1ity are
created in a measure by the desire 10
please; but one must he sensitive to
the mood Of ones audience. and quick
to perceive when some one else wishes
to speak. There are takers who.
metaphorically, take TIE bit between
their teeth and run away with the sub
ject. When they finally cease. NJ one
has anything to say. desrairins OF op-
portunity. Unsel1shness lies at the
roofHN syrnnathv.
Without simplicity. no conversation
has charm. The moment We perceive
that it is labored. or that the SPEAKER
seems to calculate tho effect o. his
words, II unnecessary mention is made
of desirable :ccuaintances, or there is
a display'of attainments or mock-inno-
cent Wanting Of advantages. that mo-
ment do we see through the pose,
and feel only contempt for the affecta-
ton and pretence. Truth has a mar
vellous power OF making itself felt in
spite OF what is said. Self-c9nscious-
ness it but egotism under a less severe
name, and self must be forgotten be-
fore we can add 70 our speech the
grace and dignity OF simplicity.
The subjects Of interesting CONVERSE
ton are, of course, multiplied by in
creased knowledge Of books, of the