CONVERSATION v. QUESTIONING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11889, 12 May 1899, Page 6

CONVERSATION v. QUESTIONING.

, TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—“ Inquirer's ” letter in the “ Lyttel-tou-Times” of May 6 reminded me irresistibly of an obsolete book called by some such, name as The Polite Conversationalist,” and designed for the use of an Englishman at a German watering-place. The English sentences are arranged on one side of the page, with the German translation on the opposite side. The Englishman opens the ..ball somewhat as follows ;—“I wish you good morning', sir!’ “I beg your pardon, sir?” queries the Germam “I said that it is a good morning - , sir. Have you drunk tli© waters this morning?” “Yes, sir,; I have just done so. How is your rheumatism this morning?” “I am much better, sir, I thank you. May I venture to hope that your bronchitis. . . ?” and so on for interminable columns. From the ton© of his letter, as well as by his unfortunate choice of a pseudonym, “ Inquirer ’’ shows that this also is bis own method of entering upon and continuing what he euphemistically terms “conversation.” Ye gods and little fishes! What would the genial George Augustus Sala or Robert Louis Stevenson have said to such a definition ! One cannot help feeling profound pity for those people whose mental indigence is so extreme as to leave them no other means of indulging in the small change of conversation save by “'Question and Answer,” a method that is about as »enjoyable and as soothing to the nerves of most victims as a visit to the dentist’s operating chair would be. “Inquirer” asks with would-be sarcasm for a list of subjects suitable for conversation. The writer of “ Ladies’ Gossip ” does not undertake to supply such. “He or she ” merely pointed out that questioning is 'ah intrusion and a, rudeness, save when intimate: friendship and sympathy make it permissible.—l am, etc., LADIES’ GOSSIP.