The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-03
Is Victim Of Too
 Much Hurry
ey LULA lYpIa HoYT

Anton Lang of the Passion Play, said to me after witnessing the little 18th Century Christmas plays I took part in this Christmas:
 "It is unusa1 to find such an at mospherc of peace in New York; every one is in such hurry and so nervous"
 This remark may at first thought seem to have no. bearing on the sub ject' of this article, but as matter of fact this condition is perhaps more responsible, than anything else for the decline of conversation as m art and recreation. In the minds of most peo- pie it is a waste of time to sit quietly and talk. It is an absolute fact that one hesitates to invite most people to dinner unless one is going to offer them bridge, nah jong or some other game, or take them to the theater or some place where they can sit in smoky noisy atmosphere and struggle around a crowded dance floor. Is not this unquestionably a result of the hectic speed and craving for excitement of the present day and the lack of con- centration and rest in most peoples lives!
 This idea that we are wasting our time unless actually "doing something" seems to prevail in people of all ages, old and young alike. Yet it would seem that the various popular forms of amusement are the greatest waste of time in the world, and that if we have become dependent on them we are pretty badly off mentally and emotion ally. VT
 Dancing is excellent exercise, but the brain needs evcercise as well as the muscles of the body, and the two best forms of exercise and development for the brain are reading and conver- sation on interesting and stimulating subjects.
 When I mention reading in con- nection with conversation I do not mean that reading should be used for purposes of quotation. The individual who is forced to fill his conversation with quotations is very boring. But ii we read intelligently we will derive food for thought and our brains will be. kept alive. There are some people who can talk intelligently on. one sub Ject, but this does not mean that they are good conversationalists. Generally such people are not interested in the opinion of others and rather like to indulge in monologue.
 once heard some one compare con yersation to the Italian game Moral in which one player lifts his hand with so many fingers extended and the other matches or misses the number as the case may be, with his own. Or to use more trite descrip- tion it is like throwing aball. You throw 1t, the other person catches it and returns it. We may find ourselves Tn contact with the most brilliant brain imaginable but if that brain receives no response from ours it might as well be q dull one. No one can converse with a blank wall. Dr. Johnson once said that the success of wit depended on the aptitude of others to receive impressions. We can all appreciate the truth of this statement in regard to conversation, as well as wit,
 Could there be anything more en- tertaining and delightful than the salons held on the continent and in England in days gone by? To go to the house of some charming woman, fine social position, sure of meeting informally the writers, musicians, ar lists. statesmen, in fact, all the per sonalities of the time. There was was no planning or organization of these evenings. The hostess was at home certain day each week and people came and went as they pleased. The personality of the hostess was of course important, for these people did not go to any and every. house; but after she had once established her power to attract people of interest to her house she needed to offer them no further inducement or entertainment self. -'e
 Needless to say, as the only recom- mendation necessary to make one a welcome guest at these salots was intelligence, talent or an originality or some sort, there were many heated arguments and discussions among people with conflicting theories and opinions. But as an, intelligent dis cussion can never be anything hut stimulating and creative, many bril- liant sayings and epigrams sprang rom the arguments. A young author and artist could always be sure of gaming information and incentive in sucn company; where can he or she go today to. find it?
 can hear someone saying on read ing the foregoing:
 Well, that's all very well for the brilliant people of the world bnt what of you and me and the others of ordinary intelligence? Why shonId we want to go out and sit and talk on probably dull subjects with probably dull people?" 4
 My answer. to that is that Go not believe that people were really any more intelligent two or three. genera tions ago than they are today. It- is purely and simply a question of mem tai laziness-cf being unwilling to exert ourselves mentally or to live with s certain amount of calm and concen. trauon necessary to development.