The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-23
Pleasant Voice Sign of
Charm, Writer Asserts

methods I know for improving your
speaking voice. It gives you an
opportunity to practice diction and
clear enunciation. You might even
try some of the time honored
tongue-twisters, such as Peter
Piper picked peck of purple pip
pins, or She sells sea shells"
If your conversation is limited to
trivalities about your own or your
neighbours daily life, it is time for
you to get some new interests. 1t
isn't necessary to read Shakespeare,
listen TO Bach and go to picture
galleries to be interesting.
There are interesting items about
every person you meet; in every
conversation you hear; in every
paper, magazine and book you read;
in fact. in every experience and
interest in your life. 1t is your
awareneSs of the fascinating things
about you and your ability to re-
count them that will make you a
good conversationalist.
One of the most interesting talk
ers I have ever known was bed
ridden. She never left her cottage
on the edge of our town, and sell
dom her room, but she had such
an avid interest in life that she
brought to every conversation a
lively play of anecdote and illumi-
mating comment.
Being a good conversationalist
implies being a good listener and
having the ability to draw others
out. Being a good listener is, in
the opinion of many persons, more
important to charm than being a
good talker.
Pretense Is Error
Another thing, you never have TO
pretend that you know something
you don't. You are sure to get into
deep water if you do. And you are
much more likely to charm behold
ers if you acknowledge your mex
perience and say, Wont you
please tell me about it?"
In the "Clinging Vine" play
that had a run on Broadway a
few seasons ago, the fashioned
grandmother tells her business
girl granddaughter that she needs
just three conversational adjuncts
to prove attractive to men: II
don't know" DO go on" and
Aren't you wonderful"
Suitors require, I think, consid-
erably more than these not-so-
simple phrases in these modern.
highly competitive days, but the
point made by the old gentlewom-
an is important in social inter-
course. You must really show an
interest in the other persons &C
Invites and interests, give him tor
herr chance to display knowl-
edge and air views And you have
to make them think that they are,
indeed, wonderful"
Irene Castles "Orphanage"
Irene Castle, the famous dancer
who introduced hairbobbing to re-
spectacle women, has to the nth de-
gree the faculty of drawing out
comparative strangers and letting
them entertain themselves by sim
ply letting them talk about things
that interest them. She almost
never discusses her own interests
not even her beloved dogs
If you were to call at her canine
orphanage in Deerfield. ILL.,, which
she has christened Orphans of
the Storm" you'll probably spend
your time talking about your own
favorite pooch and his tricks
rather than about the 200 dogs
she cares for in her institution.
Claudette Colbert is another
glamorous individual who has
way of making anybody she comes
in contact with feel that they are
important and wonderful" She
smiles a great deal, mods encour-
agingly and knows how to ask
leading questions. This charming
young actress is a simple, unaf-
fected person, with none of the airs
OF some popular stars. Her ia
vorite mode of travel, incidentally,
is on a tramp steamer where she
can wear old clothes, read plenty
OF books and not have to be social.