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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1877)
i I I 6. &&&dmam. 1142 0 Street. NCAkN. NEBB THE HESPERIAN STUDENT. wO (Jul non rroflclt, Deficit. un 0 vn VOL. VI. JUNE, 1877. NO. 0. A FEW THOUGHTS ON CON VERSA-TJON. "Wo have never yet been able to satisfy ourselves positively as to the exact time when conversation was first made use of in the communication of thought between dillcrent individuals. If history be true, we may infer that conversation was first employed by Adam in his courtship of Mother Eve. Their language was un. doubtedly without any very extensive grammar, and their vocabulary was prob ably limited ; but, as very little tongue talk and a good deal of eye talk will carry on a courtship successfully, wo may con elude that "Adam, tho goodliest mnn of wen ulnco born ni Bontt, tho fulrest of her dntiglitcrs, Kvo," as Milton describes the happy pair, got along very well in this first grand court ship, even if their vocabulary contained, us some authorit' mantains, only about seven or eight simple, monosyllabic words. How Adam could have proposed intelligibly to Eve is a mystery to me. Just imagine this lordly man pouring out his full heart in such endearing senti ments as a baa lo; and Eve, with cheeks Hushed with " Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue," whispering in return 0 hou. It may be, however, that conversations of similar intent have taken pluce since tho time of Adam with no better display of rhetoric even than this. But we will leave the discussion as to the probable or igin of conversation, and proceed to point out some of the necessary requisites for making it pleasant and profitable. One of the first things to be observed in conversation is moderation. Scaliger de scribes Ramus as "a river of words, and a drop of intellect." The same observa lion might be made of muny conversa tionalistb. They have a very ready com mand of language, and their conversation, like a liver, flows on and on without check or exhaustion. "From morning till might," like Miss Lillie of the old poem, thev "chatter and talk without ceas ing." Seutiments and thoughts instead of being brought out and vivified by con versution, are swallowed up in it, until as Scaliger remarks they become intellect ually but a "drop." Tho man who talks much, rarely commands so great respect for his opinions, and attention to what he may say, as the more model ate talker. "Washington never spoke in conversation or assembly without having carefully weighed his thought beforehand. Tho consequence was, that whenever lie did speak, lie commanded the closest atten tion of his auditors. Obscure and euphuistical expressions should be avoided in general conversation.
