The Washington herald., 1916-12-15
The Best Accomplishment A
nv ORIsON SWEET MARDEN.


"'I win grant eacif of you one
wish,' .assented Fate to three women
said writer in magazine article.
"'I choose beauty, exclaimed the
youngest.
"'Givc me power, said another.
"fGive me low, persuasive voice,
the last murmured.
Each had her will. The beauty
of the first was ruined by an acci-
dent. The power of the second last
ed but one season. But the third
woman kept her talisman through a
long life, and from it came many
things. among them power"
If you have pleasing voice and
can talk well, every one with whom
you talk will be influenced by your
power. This will give yourself more
satisfaction and do more to help you
Twin your way in life than any other
social accomplishment.
A great many people are troubled
by not being able to find topics for
conversation. They are in the posi-
ton of Artemus Ward who, when
called upon to make a speech with
out chance to prepare, said. II have
| the gift of oratory, but haven't it
just now with me-" These people
have the gift of speech, but they have
nothing ready to say.
There is a good suggestion for
them in the advice which Long
fellow once gave to a young friend:
See some good picture-in nature, il
possible, or on a canvas-hear a
page of the best music, or read a
great poem every day. You will al
ways find free half hour for one or
the other. and at the end of the year
your mind will shine with such an
accumulation of jewels as will aston
ish even yourself"
Also good newspaper and some
of the best magazines; and, if you
live in city, 60 to a good play, an
opera or a concert, whenever you
can.
All these things will give you food
/ for thought and raw material for
conversation. Practice talking about
anything and everything you see and
hear and read, your experiences dur
ing the day, whatever interests you
or arouses your attention. There is
practically no limit to the topics OF
conversation available to the keen
observer, the intelligent reader and
thinker. Make use of these topics.
While conversation is not swap
ping stories," a practice much in
vogue among Americans, a fund OF
anecdotes, apt and to the point, are
a great aid in Frightening talk or in
illustrating a point one wishes to
make.
Lincoln was master of the art of
using anecdotes with the best effect.
He knew the value of hearty laugh
in melting reserve and putting those
he was talking to on a more intimate
and familiar footing. He put people
at ease with his stories and jokes,
and made them feel so completely
at home in his presence that they
opened up their mental treasures to
him without reserve. Strangers were
always glad to talk with him because
he was so cordial and quaint, and al
ways gave more than he got.
To make yourself interesting and
to hold attention, you must enter into
the life of the people you are con-
versing with, and touch them along
the lines of their interest. No matter
how much you may know about a
subject if it does not happen to in
terest those to whom you are talk
ing, your efforts will be largely lost.
The best conversationalists are al
ways tactful-interesting without Of
Tending. Neither do they stab people,
hurt their feelingsS or drag out their
family skeletons, TOR the sake OF MAX
ing a witty remark.
To listen courteously and give
others chance to express them
selves is as much a part of converse
ton as talking. The most popular
conversationalist is the one who
gives others chance to reply. To
be a good listener is a cardinal point
in good manners, and will win more
laurels than the most elaborate one
sided discourse. Indeed, the man or
woman who monopolizes the talk-a
monologue can't be called conversa-
tion-is the most dreaded of all bores.
Even ones best friend grows tire
some when the talk is one-sided;