Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-30

touch from one topic to another IN |
friendly correspondence; always scrupu- !
lousy correct even when Eayest. yet ms
unconscious OF grammatical restriction |
as the summer swallow Is Of the laws
of aviation. In letter writing as now
hcre else language obeys tho slightest
and the swiftest turns OF thought md
feeling. Covet. and by all means culti- |
vate, the grace Of good letter writing. To
It's ingratiating charm many a one owes
a. good entree that Is a chance to show
what further good there Ia In one, and
In the end a good position. n good circle
OF friends. even a good husband a good
wife
An accomplishment which IL not In
such constant service as those already
referred TO but one which Is highly use
ful. is tho ability to take an effective
part In public meetings. This might be
to preside over such meetings. TO servo
as chairman, or moderator. or toast
master. To do this successfully one
needs TO know few simple parlnmcn-
tary rules. to he able TO keep n clear
head amid entanglements OF motions, ard
10 maintain sympathetic but Impartial
attitude toward all parties and inter
ests involved. But In tho multiplicity
Of opportunities afforded by fraternity
and organization and general college
meetings. students seldom fail 70 yet
an adequate training In this function.
A word or two respecting after-dinner
speaking. The ndvice usually given to
nspirants In this direction is to cultivate
the art Of saving something that Is Of no
consequence hut saving is smar,ly. I
hog leave to improve on this and To en-
ioln: "endeavor to shy something OF
real. II possible m very great conse-
quonce hut say II lightly and graceful
~" There arc mon VINO can he hired
for after-'lirner perforn,nnccs--''raco con-
tours"-end they amuso us--and we re-
ward them with hand-Clapping and guf-
flaws. Rut thov are not the speakers we
care most to hear even in our remi-
somnolert post-prandisl mood We pre-
Ter those VINO VIII give us something that
is pleasant TO hear ana good to remem-
Der gooh enough 70 reproduce Mt our
own domestic prhhdiai BOARD could
rot netter Illustrate inns thhn by recall
Ing the speeches. mace III 'he 'han1plain
banquet IN "rr own gNh'has'um-than
"hlch nave never 'Ear" ne''er' me
matter or every sn"ech was awning
brt trivial. II was sond' or interest ma
floral. internationai' Cosmopolitan But
everything was toucheo hghtiy' grace
fuliN. often 1oc"iar'N' VET never with sac
rihce or dignity or good taste. NV 40
vice to young man VINO aspires 70 ex-
cell IN ms dihicu't art--hs Know it
70 he IN ACCORDANCE Win INC prectlce
o. me most accomplished a'ter-''nner
speakers-'s always prepare Four?ei'
with all possible care Tor your anttci-
pated part; you are then safe against
total faiiure-Hou can eat hno dlSost ana
listen in Gnetness. Hut ne on the alert
10 eaten the suggestions winch naE come
70 VOW at the un1e ana from preceding
speakers ana IN nine instances oNt oi
ten YOU VIII not make the speech You
had prepared but hetter one born OF
the inspiration which the occasion has
brought TO YOU
| Put I must not close this necessarily
| incomplete list Of scholarly accomplish
ments without Including one or two
which concern themselves with ,he more
| distinctly aesthetic side Of i:e-for
every educated person ought to acquire
some such accomplishments-and for two
reasons. partly on his own account
that he may do justice to himself in this
| important and too neglected side of his
nature and partly as q social obligation
! Every educated person ought to have
at east one social accomplishment. some
| gift. or faculty. or attainment by which
he or she may contribute 10 the pleas
ure or profit of the social group to which
they belong. Few things are more NOR
tifying than to find ones self ignored
set aside. counted ont by reason of hav
| Ing nothing to add TO the common flInr
of social enjoyment. Scholarly accomp
''shments partakng Of this nature thos'
In which highly educated persons have
special advantages. might be, music OF
high character, vocal or instrumental
dramatic invention or skill; clevernes.
with pencil. or crayon, or brush; tn,
ability 10 read well with spirit ant
force. without elocut!onary affectation-
any superiority which hulnanizes the mar
or woman and for the time sinks III,
lawyer. the parson, the teacher, in tn
social chaTmer But 1t must be a super
iority. that is II must be something Il
which the person who makes the offer
Ing has given such special effort as t.
make him or her really an expert Fo
instance any one Is an appreciated con
trbutor to good company who know
more than any one else about some sub
fect which happens 70 bc Of special IN
terest. II might be birds, or precious
stones. or engrav'nEs. or heraldry. @
volapuk or aviation; II might be on
who has travelled In unwonted places
or one who has seen more than other
In wonted places: one who can quote
required passage. or explain an nllus
sion. or locate reference. Tho on