The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-08
Signs of the
Times

.rgucutial or OF some more I'M
purtant thing that has hung in ones
mind for long period OF time. And
that is Just what happened the past
week--th!s mere statement. one Of
Tulsa's hospitable matrons who has
.aken time by the forclock and
.n1nght IL wise thing go entertain
I'M her home this early in the season,
having her friends with her soon AFT
sr they had returned from their
GUNNER wanderings, hungry for
home entertainment, flaming of
that delightful hospitality with
which Tulsa hosts are amply on
dlwei. gave n dinner party recently.
I'M rllnoinp over her guest list after
each one had been invited, she re-
marked 70 her husband. IT believe
,yp have guests this evening who like
cards and there are others who do
not play She had arranged for an
informal evening without carls. In
speaking OF this afterward 10 a Nlcnd
she remarked. IL was rather trou-
bied In spirit about It. l had in mind
ono gentleman and his wife whom
] rather thought among the others
who too, did not care for cards, that
they would think / had n tame ove-
uirg. Imagine my great pleasure
and relief when tho evening of tho
evenings came and this gentleman
said TO me, L have had n delightful
time and / am so glad you did not
make me piay cards aii evening"
And now, the matter OF the more
important theme that has hung in
ones mind for a long time. Where
has flown TO that wonderful art
that lost art OF conversation? do
We think OF IL ever? The cavaliers
and grandoes or the past were fully
panOplied in the artistic grace of
conversation. They knew how to
speak, when 20 stop. how TO listen.
above all, grace, how to listen.
They were lingulsts and could inter-
line their English with that delicate
bit OF French or Spanish that gave
added color TO their statement. Their
lnfleNion and modulation in voice
was just as II should be. Where, in
deed, has gone that lost art Of con-
yersation? or the old school re-
gme, some are left tRnd we love TO
hear them talk. Do the new schools
teach Il? Is there an effort to res
urrect this grace Of all graces in So
clety?
An evening among ladies' and gem
tlemen, we feel inclined TO gather
our coloring from the past with it's
speak In terms used when knight
hood was In flower. A time when
society was a stickler for those con-
yentional requisites that made you
eligible for the inner sphere or. IL
you were without these precious pos
sessions, you found yourself In the
negligible class. Men and women
were coached early in life and reared
within that environment whore grace
OF conversation and sparkling re-
partee were essentials. Imagine q
more perfect evening spent with
charming hosts than an after dinner
season with congenial company
when conversation flows In interest
ing avenues. people observing pure
ethics In polite talk. but. heaven
forbid, avoiding stilted conversation.
To be able to strike the happy mcdi-
um and observe tho difference be-
tween the molten gold of the real
article and that meringue on the pie
that Is SO very superficial one re-
members the story Oft told OF the
woman who made the wager going
down the receiving line that she
could say any foolish thing, One
remembers after paying respects TO
the hosts that she said to the next
in line, My husband died today in
tho bathtub, and her v!s-a-vis said.
"Oh, how wonderful" The same eN-
perience followed With each one.
There Is a great difference and after
all Il Ii the altogether natural per-
son who is able to keep that puise
that lifts one above the mediocre
and helps them In close touch with
the ethical and beautiful. SO when
one thinks OF hostess arranging Tor
an evening OF pleasure, especially
her guests are to be men and women,
she need not, II the old regime still
holds true, ever feel lost for enter
tainment for them II real conver-
satlonalists are assembled.
The world. Is called progressive
We know II Is progressing but there
Is an ever changing current in most
OF llfe's experiences or some
changing things, in which the old IL
better than the new, we grow heavy
hearted. oh, there are so many
changes we thinE OF as things fit
IKE butterflies through our brain,
out In soclety's ways, we will keep
close touch. There IL this art OF po-
Hte conversation. How many moth
ers coach their children? How
many mothers are able To make
ihelr young folk understand the mis-
chlet brewing in allowing the COM
mon slang OF today, born Of the gut
Ter and the slums to be a part OF
their sparkling repartee," quite the
thing In the parlor or the ballroom.
IL Is In keeping with the Jazz music
OF today and worse till, the dance
OF the hour.
Don't call us old fashioned because
%o talk thls way. 1t is not old
fashioned 10 abhor the coarse and
l'stasteful and those things that
nave entered the life OF society to-
aay and especially tho society OF
our young people that are impo-
ne. We would indeed, raise that
Iower-laden barrier OF beauty TO
save them from hemselyes--that
barrier OF courtly etiquette that was
me beauty OF society when Dolly
madison was In the White House,
when Arlington, the home OF Robert
r. Lee on the potomac, was otter the
scene OF gayety and gallant gentle
men paid homeage TO queenly and
.ovely women. II was beautiful. in
mat day, and we speak authorYa-
'lVely, II IL the sign OF decadSnt
age II II Is a lost art and 40 longer
used. Alvey with abhorrer custom
mat does enslave the young folh OF
To-Day and even makes the elderly
ciass inclined to indulge, III not In
sang In q more intimate association
or NOnyefaatlan We mouId raaSur,