DON'T WHISPER IN COMPANY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 201, 18 August 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

DON'T WHISPER IN COMPANY.

WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT. There are people who talk too little and others who chatter too much Opmuons are divided as to which is the greater evil. There arc times when a chatterbox may be a blessing and the shy conversatonalist a great bore. But whether you are that rarity "a good listener," or whether you are dubbed a chatterbox, there are certain rules of conversation which etiquette demands that w e Don't whisper in company, we were told as children, but a good many grown-ups need reminding of this rule. For two people to whisper puts the third person into an unpleasant position, and is distinct! yunkind and illmannered. Many an inexperienced Jack and Jill •gets judged unfairly by their conversation in company. Jill, f or instance, speaks of her "gentleman*' friend and sees a superior smile on the faces of wiser women The misuse of those two words ' lady and "gentleman" has proved a stumbJ ng block to many. HOW TO ADDRESS A FRENCHMAN. *i/'^J I £ n V a lad *''"' is one of the riddles of etiquetts. But Jack and Jill should remember this. Anions our friends it is taken for granted that our acquaintances are ladies and gentlemen, as the world uses these word? and there is no need to mention the tact. It is far better to speak of a •man friend" or a "woman friend," whether we belong to high or low grades of soeety.

A mistress ment ; ons to her servant that "a gentleman will call and is to be shown into the drawing-room," but she doesn't dream of telling another caller that she .« expecting a "gentleman friend." , We talk of our friends as men and women among equals, but call then ladies and gentlemen when speaking towhat soc:i»ty dubs our social inferiors. Now tak* that other conversatonat error-tho too frequent repetition of .« person s name. Suppose you have to converse with a person of rank. Don't interlard every sentence with the title of that person. It should be int.ad'ueed now and again, just to show that wo recognise it. but this must be dona discreetly.

A\ hen we use Doctor or General we must make use of the surname also lor instance, "What do you think. doctor Dash?" is correct. Only oil friends car. omit the surname ~ Strangely enough, the tables ars turned when conversing with foreigners. A Frenchman is addressed °as •Monsieur,' whether he) ears a professional military o r offic'al title, and a frenchwoman is called! "Madame" whether she .is a duchess or a dress™aser - To omit the "Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle" in convocation with French people would label us jn their eyes as ill-bred. SIMPLE RULES TO FOLLOW. When you are introduced to a stranger be sure to grasp the name aright. It is a rule of conversation n Society not to take liberties with another's name. It must be spe!t*ind pronounced as its possessor has decreed, not as wc think it ought to bo. Some people, possessing a smatteimg of other tongues, think themselves clover if they bring In phrases from their knowledge into ordinary conversation, whereas, in reality, "they are only showing (ignorance. "Never use a foreign word when an English one will do," is a rule worth remembering. There are some foreign words or phrases which have become part and pare*! of our language, but not a great many. Exaggerated language, slang and scandal, a loud voice, too manv puns'. and talking "above the heads"of our listeners," are things to be avoidedThey do.not belong to tho ail of con versatmn. Finally, there arc two rules which everyone must bear in mind: Don't monopolise tho conversation, and

Don't interrupt. The latter becomes a temptation when somebody forgets tho former rult. but we have to remember that rudeness in ono person never excuses ill-breeding in another.