THE ART OF CONVERSATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 11

THE ART OF CONVERSATION.

It is universally acknowledged that tho art of conversation has declined. ihe .great talkers of old days," says Lady Dorothy Nevill, in'her "Memoirs, bold of speech and ruthlessly outspoken at times, wore especially deft in making use of banter, a weapon of which when necessary, thev availed themselves with terrible .effect" This banter, let it be understood, was quite a different thing from the "chaff" of to-day, which in most cases is little more than silly comment on personal peculiarities or-criti-cism of a very primitive and obvious kind, which sometimes sinks to the level of childish teasing-so; different a thing from a true war of wits. . ■ A good maxim which should never be forgotten is, that to chnlfi anyono up to such a point that tho victim, loses his temper places the assailant in a very awkward and uncomfortable position, whilst demonstrating his complete, mental inefficiency'in that particular line in which he has been attempting to indulge. It should never be forgotten, that one angry or even irritated "individual will completely spoil a'dinner-party or luncheon.