HOW TO BE CHARMING THOUGH PLAIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue V, 29 January 1898, Page 119

HOW TO BE CHARMING THOUGH PLAIN.

Many a girl has found to her sorrow that in spite of all her natural and acquired beauty, she almost invariably fails to attract attention in a company of young men and women, while another, with far fewer physical attractions, is lionised before her very eyes. This is mortifying in the extreme to any girl. and. most of all. to one who is conscious of a comely face and figure.

The whole secret of the trouble is that she is not interesting. Young men grow tired of just merely looking at a pretty girl. They want to be interested and entertained. Young women who expeet to enter society should seriously consider the matter of becoming interesting, for. while beauty is a great advantage, the ability to entertain counts for much more .

Said one young woman to another: ‘How I envy you your gift of entertaining! You always seem to have something bright and interesting to say. People gather around you at receptions and parties, and you are always in demand.'

‘My dear, it is perfectly simple.' she said. ’Anyone ran do it who possesses the average degree of intelligence. It is merely a matter of proper arrangement of one's forces. A general may have twice as many men as the opposite commander and be defeated, because they are not in the right place at the right time. Train your forces to be on call, my dear. If you want to be able to talk have something ready to talk about. That is the whole secret.

’As regards chatting with people in general, nothing is easier. You have two or three good newspapers every day. and as many or more good magazines every month. Those are amply sufficient to post you thoroughly regarding the topics that are of interest to people of your own set. Do not try to absorb and digest the entire contents at "one fell swoop.” Make a dozen different lists for different occasions. Of course they are the stock subjects, but they will serve to help you to acquire selfpossession. which is the princijial point, and before you know it you will find yourself expressing some original thought, that takes the topic out of the commonplace.

'For other occasions, other methods are desirable. Whenever you see a short witty verse or poem on social topics, learn it. Above all, get a supply of bright, stories committed to memory. A good way to memorise is to write the story you have heard or read, in brief, note fashion. Tell these stories briskly with no superfluous words to make people wonder when you are coming to the point. Stories about well-known people are always desirable, as they are likely to lx- apropos. That sort of thing always takes at a dinner or supper. ’After a while you will find that your carefully arranged topics will arrange themselves. You will instinctively note and remember the story or verse or bit of interesting or amusing gossip. ami it will almost iineonseiously come to your thought at the right moment.'