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

work and their worries. Most OF them
have to work hard in some way OF
other, and need relaxation.
The preliminary stages OF conversa-
ton offer the principal dificulty,3"the
dread of silence makes us mute. The
weather seems 10 have perennial in
, terest. Why may not one treasure a
few bits of stories apropos OF that
much-worn topic, tt be brought out
upon occasion? For instance, some one
speaks OF the variability Of the weather,
whereupon one might tell OF the lady
whose physician advised for her change
of climate. why, doctor, you forget
that I am a New York woman, | never
have anything but changesi" was her
rejoinder. At least it is better than
mere acquiescence, and when people
have laughed together, the ice is bro
ken. 1t is possible to have at ones
tongues end some trihing things OF in
terest on various subjects, but the sup
ply needs frequent renewal
There are moments when the embar-
rassment OF silence is relieved by the
knowledge that nothing but the veriest
commonplace are expected. When a
hostess has paired her guests before a
dinner, and each man seeks the woman
assigned to him, he usually says, Il
believe that l ann to have the pleasure
OF taking you in to dinner" and she
nas but to bow aud smile while accept
ing his arm, and may say In a voice Of
perfunetory politeness, Il am very
glad" or il she wish to be very com
pljmentary, may venture, Il am fortu-
nate"
1t Is usually the man who takes the
initiative and the woman who bears the
burden of the conversation On the
way to the dining-room they may i'm
prove the occasion or not, as they
please. There is sometimes an awk-
ward pause at the beginning of the
meai, before the company seem to have
adapted themselves to their surround
ings and to each other. A hostess
blessed with tact will know how to set
the ball rolling, perhaps with some
thing OF interest treasured fef the oeca-
sion,
Each person at table should endeavor
to make himself or herself agreeable
to both n~eighbors. as opportunity
serves. Genera conversation is only
possible where there are a few present.
talk is usually then at its best and
brightest. One with very humble pow
ers. in the %colloquial Of
thought, and when kindled by SYM
patty with the subject discussed, sur
prises himself not less than others by
:~tnsuspected eioquence. Those who
have the reputation Of being good talk
ers must be careful not to o~vershadow
others, if they would give pleasure. "A
fluent talker is apt to be over-eager 10
say what he has in mind, and his con-
Ver5aticn often becomes a monologue.
A professional talker is a professional
bore.
At table one should not engross ones
neighbor by conversation, however,
charming, so that he is unable to satisfy
his appetite in some measure to appre-
ciate what his hostess has been at pains
to provide. Courtesy excludes the in
PRODUCTION of all subjects calculated toi
excite heated argument, unpleasant
discussion, or anything that may be OBJ
noxious to any one present.
Upon the return of the men to the
drawing-room to rejoin the ladies there
is sometimes an awkward moment. A
suggestive opening nay be to carry on
the central idea OF the talk just con
j cluded in the dining-room. A man
may say, we have been having a most
interesting discussion since you left
u.s." and the lady may ask, What have
you men been talking about that called
forth such spontaneous laughter" It
is unnecessary to add that genetlmen
do not discuss in the neighborhood Of
ladies matters that could not be re-
peated in their hearing, and it Is a rule
that should work botn ways.
The famous Madame Recamier said
that she always found two words
sufiiced to make her guests feel their
welcome. Upon their arrival she ex-
claimed AT last!" and when they took
ieave, she said Already" If taken
literally, we should deprecate the fiat
terry. Flattery is insincere praise, and
wrongs him that gives and him that
takes" 1t is sometimes kinder to ac-
cept a compliment than to parry it.
One may say Thank you,i 1t is pleasant
to be seen through such kind (or par
tial) eyes," or, perhaps, 1T Is a comfort
to know that friendship is partly blind
as we'll as the NEUROLOGICAL boy" or any
nonsense that serves to show that one
| appreciates the spirit that prompted
the kind expressions, however wide of
the truth. The frequent repetition Of
the name Of the person addressed holds
a subtle compliment, implying more
complete concentration of the speakers
thought upon his or her personality.
De Quincy says, More is done for
the benefit Of conversation by the sim
pie magic. OF good manne than by all
varieties OF intellectual power" 1t is
the sympathetic and responsive listen
ers that call forth the best efforts of
a talker. For such are reserved his
choicest stories, his finest thoughts. A
kindling Of the face, a flash of the ye,
a ready smile, act as Inspiration, and
interest shown in the conversation Of
others stimulates and WHITES their
thought.
TO a good listener the difident will
say what they think and the verbose
will think what they say.
There is nothing more trying than
to find that ones conversation is receiv-
ing but a divided attention, and moth
ing more rude than for a person to pick
up a book or paper and look over it
while pretending to listen to what one
is saying.
In our whimsical language, accuracy
is largely a matter of custom. We
instantly assign a low place to those
who are guilty OF grammatical errors.
hut we classify one as lacking in re-