HOW TO BE A GOOD TALKER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 77, 2 April 1902, Page 2

HOW TO BE A GOOD TALKER.

If you would win laurels as a bright conversationalist, first impress your mind with the fact that it is not flow of .words that you need, but ability to direct conversation. You' must practise the part of stating a thought, keeping the talk general, or making the guest of honour the apparent leader. You must draw out the timid, avoid dangerous channels, and make every man and woman about you appear at his or her best, while your own efforts are confined to an occasional word to fill a gap. When you are trying to make a company a conversational success always avoid a rattling liveliness on your own part. Don't imagine that to be a clever woman1, you must be a wit If you are naturally witty, well and good; it will crop out occasionally. But if your wit is forced it will degenerate into mere affectation, and affectation is fatal.'. - Your main object is to make yourself interesting without being obtrusive — to keep yourself in the background whil.e you direct the general conversation. It is a wonderfully interesting accomplishment You learn to note the slightest change in facial expression. The quiver of an eyelid or the movement of a lip tells you a story. You see pleasure, anger, interest, or dislike where another detects no thought. Your own mind acts more quickly as you appreciate the unspoken thoughts of others. You have the pleasure of feeling that your acquirement is not wholly selfish, for it gives you the power to understand the reserved and to put the shy at their ease. Above all, don't talk too much. No matter how interesting your stories may be, they are not as a rule so interesting to ■another person as the stories he wants to tell. The skilful talker, like the really skilful diplomat, uses few words and makes them count—"Weekly Scotsman."