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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.
