The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-30

1t is not always the most glib talker
who is the most intelligent, nor is it
necessary that the great talker should
have fund of ideas. Some ST. Paul
women were talking about this the
other day and one woman remarked
that the gift of gab" as she called it.
was a talent in itself and had really
but little to do with mentality.
She told of young man whom she
had known years before who could
talk in the most entertaining manner
upon any subject from metaphysics to
carpet tacks, and with but a surface
knowledge of any of them. She said
he held forth before men who had for
gotten more than he ever knew, but
they were speeches. in the face of his
flow of words. He often got things
wrong and mispronounced words, but
there was charm about his converse
ton which seemed on the order of the
Spellbinder.
On the other hand, there are men
and women who have wonderful abil-
ity, great culture and much learning
who are utterly unable to express
themselves ably or to shine in CONVEX
sation. When this happens it is most
unfortunate, for it deprives tie world
of getting to know persons who are
worth knowing.
This was eXemplified at a charming
home in st. Paul where two men met
one evening, one of the glib order who
had not been anywhere, but had read
somewhat, the other man a traveller
and a scholar but totally unable to
clothe his thoughts in adequate ideas.
The conversation turned upon Mexico.
The man with the glib tongue held
forth at length about people and GUS
toms of Mexico, while the other sat in
open-mouthed establishment. For he
had been there and knew just how
IL tIro id
was true, and how much was evolved
from his inner consciousness. The man
who talked had never been to Mexico
but he had read little and imagined
the rest, and so convincing was he
that the man who had been there and
studied the native and his customs
did not dare contradict a word he said
And so it is. often, through life, as
in conversation, that it is the superb
cial and surface thinker or student
who carries off the prizes. The woman
spoken of above said she regarded the
mere art of conversation, even without
ideas behind it, as one of the greatest
talents in the world, though she ad
mitted that it often covered a multi
tude of sins in the way of a vacant
mind and superficial temperament.
A charming Philadelphia woman
who had been visiting in st. Paul for
several weeks talked most entertain
ingly at small luncheon given for
her recently about the ridiculous caste
lines drawn so tightly in Philadelphia.
One Of the guests asked her if it was
true, as reported, tn it meant social
death in Philadelphia to live north of
Chestnut street, and she replied that
the feeling was stronger than any one
outside of the che rmed circle could
realize. She said that all admitted,
when questioned, that it was absurd
and silly to allow ones self to be inf1u-
enced by the location of a persons
home, but this feeling about the north
and south was in the very blood of a
true Philadelphia and not to be edu-
Gated out of him.
Asked why this was so. she replied
that after the war many newly rich,
who had made their money doubtful
ly, settled north of Market street in
Philadelphia. and lived eXtravagantly.
attempting to carry things with high
hand, even lording it over the 'old
families" This was not to be tolerated
and after little time the entire neigh
borhood was taboOed by the old resi-
dents. For in the real aristocracy of
Philadelphia, and even now when
money is a potent factor everywhere,
this charming woman said it makes no
difference on the south side of Chest
nut street whether you have money
or not, just So your grandmother was
all right. 1t is ancestry that really
counts Better live on the south side
in two rooms with your grandmother's
portrait on the wall. than on the north
side in splendor and magnificence So
strong is this feeling that the north
part Of the city is rapidly being given
up to boarding houses, for persons
who build beautiful homes thera soon
come to know they have made = mis-
take which only getting away and try
ing to live down their short residence
there will efface
1t is doubtful if there is another city
in America where social conditions are
Just as they are in Philadelphia or
where lines are rigidly drawn accord
ing to the street upon which one re-
sides.
A literary Englishman, who is at the
moment in this country on a visit, has
been properly rebuked by one of the
literary magazines for a piece of pre-
sumption. The woman in question
Mrs. Elinor Glyn, who wrote "The
Visits of Elizabeth" and 1.-The Reflec-
tions of Ambrosine." has written a let
ter of protest to the publishers of her
books for also publishing a story call
ed "Elizabeth's Children" 1t is called
the latest of the Elizabeth stories" of
which it will be remembered that the
first was Elizabeth and Her German
Garden" Mrs. Glyn does not like it
because some one else has written an
Ellzabeth' book, and writes in a pet
ulant way, asking, why not James chill
dren or any one else's? The literary
magazine spoken of refers to this mat
ter and reminds the public that Mrs.
Glyn was not the author of elizabeth
and her German Garden" and yet she
pre-empted the name of Elizabeth. and
1t was undoubtedly upon the fame of
the first book-which appeared anony-
mously-that Mrs. Glyn made her sue
cess. Now, someone else trying the
same game. is rebuked by her for do
Ing the very thing which she did. The
literary magazine pertinently asks,
why not The Visits of Jane Mrs.
GIyn?"
The frankly immoral or immoral tone
of Mrs. Glyn's latest book, "Fhe Re-
Elections of Ambrosine," would to the
unprejudiced observer, seem as some