Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-11-26
The Art Of Saying
Nothing Easily Promotes Success.

1t may seem strange to those who do
not approve of the babbling type of fpmi-
nlnlty that any public-spirited person
should want to teach women to talk.
Far better to teach them how to listen, -
says the bumptiOuS man. But the lnlmD-
tlouS and the taciturn women seldom
have the gift Of saying things gracefully.
whatever charms and graces they may
possess. And anyone with social expert
ellce must acknowledge that TO be able to
say nothing charmingly with the proper
infection and the appropriate smile and
pout certainly possesses valuable ac-
complishment
Conversation seems to be dead art.
SO Is letter writing. So are salons of the
ancient regime. Yet, well-meaning per
sons still try to talk and need hints to
help them out The old-time writer's gave
lists of subjects to avoid But a person
may avoid pitfalls and yet be a dull, pro-
Sy companion.
Good talking implies more than the
avoidance of long-winded stories, relig-
lous discussions and scandal The easy
conversationalist possesses the subtle wit
that not only estimates her own strength
but that of her companion. She knows
that If she throws the ball too hard or
TOO far out of straight line and her COM
panlon misses it, the fault is her own
She plays for the return and not entire
~ for her own score. The PLAYER who
scores off another and wins the game
has really spoiled everything, for it is the
end and aim of conversation to keep the
game going.
Say something. Anything is better
than nothing at Il dinner. Two strangers
are introduced in a drawing room two
minutes before dinner is announced.
They know nothing of each Others tastes
or characteristics. Il believe | am to
have the pleasure of taking you in says
the man. Il believe So murmurs the
woman. That is the checkmate, it leads
nowhere. And two souls, arm in arm.
cropping after each other in the dark as
ii were. walk into torture.
The opening of a conversation may be
quite ordinary; it need be no strain upon
the feeblest intellect. If man brilliant
ly observes How very cold it is today >
and his partner replies: "Oh. very"
there is no conversation. The man, if ne
be of the easily discouraged type, willis,
and the woman stammers Il common
place about it not being cold yesterday
On the other hand, if she answers
Yes, indeed, almost as cold as my native
state, Oregon" there is something to
about Oregon, if it is only the name.
Thus two alien souls may become inter-
ested in the WORKOUT subject of the
weather.
No hints or helps can make stupid peo-
pie talk brightly. but little common
sense may go far toward abOlishing those
painful silences, the terrors of weii-mean-
ing hoStesseS, which cause shy girls and
nervous men to wish they were dead
and buried rather than the guests at a
formal dinner.
Judicious chatter, after all, is the key
note 10 Il womans social success. but he
careful of going to extremes Just be-
cause your companion retains a gentle
manly silence it is no reason to suppose
YOU are dazzling him by an unusual bril-
fancy. He may be wondering if you
use nothing but talking cylinders and if
m0nolOgues are your favorte pastime.
But there is one fault--nay. crime
that one should flee as from the plague.
An inane giggle, which presupposes Il va
cant mind. Il is the death knel if your
friends be seekers after intelligence The
sharp. weird cackle that accompanies cv-
cry remark acts upon its hearers with
the rasp and corrugation of a double
edged saw. and one longs to be up and
doing deeds Of violence to smooth off
the edges of tortured soul.-philadel-
Dhia Inquirer.