Year: 1868

Of all drawing room accomplishments, small
talk IS not only the most necessary, but, while
seemingly so easy of acquisition, is in reality
among the most difficult The most necessary,
because, however man may excuse himself
from singing, or dancing, or playing the piano,
or acting in charades, or winding wOrsted, he
can scarcely avoid talking in society; and un-
less he be able to converse fiuently in the dia-
lect which society has made its own, he is apt
to be set down for dummy or a bOre-a suffi-
clently unpleasant alternative. Its difficulty
becomes, on slight reflection, equally apparent
10 talk really well about anything is no Ordi
nary achievement, but to talk really we'll about
nothing requires infinitely greater. 1t is mis-
take to suppose that nlnnieS excel in small talk
In this, as in every other accomplishment
brains are sure sooner or later to tell. OF
course they must not Obtrude but hidden, like
the manager of puppet show, must leave on
the mind of the gratified hearera certain vague
suggestion Of nearness and influence which she
would find it impossible to analyze, even with
keener analytic sense than most women pos
sess. We use their feminine pronoun advised
ly; for OF course it is only between men and
women that small talk ever attains it's perfec-
tion-perhaps it would be more accurate to saw
only in the mouth of man talking to women.-
Women, in their intercourse with one another,
use something which nearly resembles, but
which is not small talk The essence of small
talk is but trfling, and though the subjects
which women discuss with women may seem
to our lofty masculine inspection very trihing
indeed, yet from circumstances they derive a
great and not altogether Fictitious importance
Details of dress and fashion, the shade of rib
bon, the turn OF a hair, become matters of very
serious moment when we reflect how greatly
they influence the end which every proper.
minded girl sets for herself as the one great
aim of existence-the attainment of a desirable
pdri. An ill-ftting gown may frighten off a
possible lover, an unbecoming color may revolt
| presumptive spouse. With men it is the
same for a different reason. Their pursuits
are usually Of so engrossing nature as to leave
little leisure and less inclination for indulgence
in the lighter graces of conversation. Their
talk is often Idle and proftless enough, but
when it is not too grave it is commonly too
coarse for small talk, which should be dainty,
delicate, glowing, and evanescent as a bubble
on champagne. 1t is only men Of cultivation
and intellect united with esprit that ever reach
this perfection, and they only when inspired by
! feminine beauty, vivacity and grace. Under
| the fostering light and warmth of laughing
eyes and lovely lips, blooms into full fruitior
the converse which, say what you will, at once
best grati6es and suits the tastidious ear oi
| Society; nonsense, it is true, pure and unadul
| terated, but nonsense infused with wit, sug.
gestve, but never more than suggestive, ot
ideas, rradiated with. fancy, tremulous with
tenderness, wreathed with caress Fortunate
the man who Is master of such small talk


happier still the woman who hears it | Home


ly John Wilkes knew very well what he wal


about when he boasted that the handsomes


dandy in town had only half hours start o.


him; and Mirabeau, with his face of a tige


with the smallpox, was made most irresisti


bic squire of danes by such brilliancy of smal


talk as only Frenchman may hope to com


pass.


Only good general talker can be gooC


small talker; but what are commonly calleC


tn, best takers are necessarily most profcien


in small talk. For this man should be abl


not only to talk, but to converse, two thing
which are by no means synonymous. johnson