Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-08
PUT FAN TO GOOD USE.
Made it Valuable in Carrying on Cor
versation.

He was a sOldierly- looking man with
a gray imperial and nearly white hair,
and he looked proudly after the tall
girl with the clear gray, eyes as she
quilted the supper-room. He drew an
honest puff on his cigar, allowing the
ash to accumulate, and turned to the
young man at his side. Yes" he
said, she is fine girl. a fine girl. in
deed and l don't say this because she
happens TO be my daughter. l believe
I am too much of a soldier to be silly
sentimental, even on the subject of my
own family. But this girl is a good
one, my boy. She is an all-'rOund good
girl. She can dance all night and be
fresh in the morning. l appreciate
good dancing, although / do not do
much of it myself now. 1t was part of
my education at the Point. just us drill
and tactics and putting my shoes be-
side my bed at night We're parts. Then,
she can row Il boat and bowl, and en-
brOider centerpiece for a table with
any girl of my or her acquaintance.
She is an all-'round good girl
The tall young man murmured some
thing about the all-'rourd good girl be-
ing an entertaining converse tionalist.
The soldierly- man chuckled
untll il sounded like the spirit of good
humor finding expression. He pulled
till the ash on the cigar was danger
ousiy near the falling point, then said:
My boy if you swear never to tell her
I'll let you into the secret of her suIt
cess
The tall young man duly swore.
"She told me this herself" said the
nd I
pose l may tell it again. though you
mustn't let her know I've been preach
ing. When she came out Of school, a
year ago, to enter New York society,
she was an aIl-'round good girl. but
not quite such an all-'round good girl
as she is today. For example. she was
in danger of being embarrassed in con-
versation. At me end of her first re-
ception she confessed to her mother
that she was frightfully self-consoious,
ard. furthermore, at a loss to know
what to talk about That worried her
most-the lack of topics.
But she ovarcanie this defect almost
Immediately. I was delighted 10 listen
to such remarks as What "a brilliant
conversationalist your daughter is and
How well informed your daughter is
upon current topics, Colonel and the
like. One day ! got her in corner
and made her Tess up. How do you
dc ito l demanded. Then she told me
il was the fam.
THE FAM" repeated the young man
in wonder.
1.-THE fam said the older man. This
was the way she did it: She carried
very handsome fan of led vellum. Be
fore going to reception, tea or
ball, this young hopeful would read up
on the news of the day. she would
take the book of the week, digest 1t
and make mental notes. She would
read the art news. She would read the
theatrical news. She would read the
foreign news. She has a good'memory,
and the HELM given by single line.
written on the fan, was sufficient 10
Sc her going at an entertaining gait.
Wien she had exhausted one topic, |
she would. apparently idly, flick the
fan till she came to another suggestion. |
In this way she was able to attain such |
a reputation for conversation. And. as
the marks are easily erased with |
rubber, the fan is good for as much OF |
the season as she cares to employ IT,
It's a great scheme. but don't you tell
her informed on her. or she'll be writ
ing suggestions for curtain lectures
and reading 'em off to me when we are
alone