CONVERSATION HINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 4

CONVERSATION HINTS.

In the hot weather do not talk about the heat. Comment on the height which the mercury roaches, on the percentage of humidity and the general discomfort of the situation will aggravate your inconvenience, but not make you more comfortable. Do not dwell upon your ailments, nor tell the 'history of a present or past malady, or discuss this or the other position. Recommend neither allopathy, homeopathy, osteopathy, or any other department of healing to your neighbours. Permit them to choose for themselves tho medical science they prefer Eliminate references to surgical operations from your daily conversation. Do not talk about the impossibility of securing good help in the kitchen, nor entertain a caller by a description of the ill temper, incapability and unfaithfulness of your maid. No doubt the temptation to compare notes with other employers on this commonplace topic assails most of us, but it is an indiscretion and an invasion of good form to air such trials in the hearing of friends. Do not talk about the children, nor take pains to bring forward their clever sayings and doings for the admiration of indifferent strangers. Little children are original because they are in a now world, and they are charming because they have no self-consciousness. Parents usually make haste to rob them of spontaneity and make them forward by continual repetition of their bright sayings. "When are you going to talk about me?" a little girl said irritably after waiting in vain to hear mother and auntie relate tho last story about her to tho minister who was politely listening to all that they said. If you leave out of ordinary conversation queries and criticisms about the neighbours, chat about the servants, complaints of the weather, and descriptions of illness, what shall remain to be said? You will bo surprised to discover that there, are numbers of interesting and useful subjects left. A cultivated woman ought to rise above the trifling infelicities of the hour, and to think about affairs more, important than the superficial details that too