The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1914-04-02
SOME CHINESE VIEWS

Pleasant conversation AZ the din
ner table is always enjoyable and
q good talker IL always welcome but
often wonder why Americans. who
generally are so quick to improve
opportunity. and are noted for their
freedom from traditional convention.
alisms. do not make more system.
attic use OF the general love Of con.
versation Anyone who Is witty
conversationalists with large fund
Of anecdoie. is sure TO he asked by
every dinner host to help 10 enter.
tain the guests. but II the company
be large. the favorite can be enjoy
cd only by few, and those who are
too Gar away TO hear. or who are
Just near enough TO hear a part but
not all. are likely 10 he aggrieved
They cannot hear what is amusing
the rest. while the talk elsewhere
forbids their conversine as they
would II there we're no Interruptions
4 raconteur generally monopolizes
half the company. and leaves the 9th.
~ half out in the cold This might
be svoided II takers were engaged
Ia entertain the whole company dur
ing dinner. a. pianist- are now some
times engaged to play TO them after
dinner. or the entertainment might
sionsi reciter 10 REPRODUCE literary
gems. comic or otherwise ! am SURE
the result would bring more general
satisfaction to the guests than the
present method II leaving them Ia
entertain themselves. The Chinese
EMPLOY singing girls the Japanese
eeishss ,alt sing or dance The
ideal would here aesin seem to be-
an amalgamation Of East and West
Il h difficult for mixed crowd
to be- ALWAYS agreeable. even in N"
tho congeniai atmosphere Of good
feast unless the guests have been
selected with view 10 their opinions.
rather than 70 their social standing.
Place number of people who AVE
ideas In common. with difference
aronnd well spread table. and Their"
will be- no lack of good, earnest. In.
structiye conversation Most men
aud women can talk well. II they
have the right sort OF listeners n
the nearer is unsympathetic the best
talker becomes dumb. Hosts who
remember this viii always he appre
ciated.
As rule. dinner conversation
is seldom worth remembering. which
n a pity Man. the most sensible
Of all animals. more readily leans TO
nonsense than to rational discourse.
Perhaps the flow Of words may be- as
steady as the eastward ffow of the
YangtseKiang in my own country.
but the memory retains onlS rscol-
lection OF vague. undchned-what9
The conversation. like the aavors
provided by the cooks, has been
eyanescent. Why should not host.
esses make as much effort to stint
late the minds OF the guests. as they
DO to crafty their palates? What a
boon II would be to many a bai af..i
man. sitting next to lady wbcm
ae has nothing In common. II some
public entertainer during the dinner |
relieved him from the necessity q
always thinking as to what he should |
say next? How much more he could
enjoy the fine dinners his hostess
bas provided and. as for the lady
v hat number OF suppressed yawns
ihe might avoid. rotake'ereat pains
md spend IaTge sums 10 provide tas.
y food for people who cannot enjoy
1 because they have to talk 90 one
mother. seems pity. Let one man
alk 10 tho crowd. and leave them
eisure 20 at. Is my suggssin WI
ring Fang. In Harpsrs Magazine.