ssful in the launching
of _debutantes_ in society, always gives this advice to her _proteges_,
"Talk, talk. It does not matter much what you say, but chatter away
lightly and gayly. Nothing embarrasses and bores the average man so
much as a girl who has to be entertained."

There is a helpful suggestion in this advice. The way to learn to talk
is to talk. The temptation for people who are unaccustomed to society,
and who feel diffident, is to say nothing themselves and listen to what
others say.

Good talkers are always sought after in society. Everybody wants to
invite Mrs. So-and-So to dinners or receptions because she is such a
good talker. She entertains. She may have many defects, but people
enjoy her society because she can talk well.

Conversation, if used as an educator, is a tremendous power developer;
but talking without thinking, without an effort to express oneself with
clearness, conciseness, or efficiency, mere chattering, or gossiping,
the average society small talk, will never get hold of the best thing
in a man. It lies too deep for such superficial effort.

Thousands of young people who envy such of their mates as are getting
on faster than they are keep on wasting their precious evenings and
their half-holidays, saying nothing but the most frivolous, frothy,
senseless things--things which do not rise to the level of humor, but
the foolish, silly talk which demoralizes one's ambition, lowers one's
ideals and all the standards of life, because it begets habits of
superficial and senseless thinking. On the streets, on the cars, and
in public places, loud, coarse voices are heard in light, flippant,
slipshod speech, in coarse slang expressions. "You're talking through
your hat"; "Search me"; "You just bet"; "Well, that's the limit"; "I
hate that man; he gets on my nerves," and a score of other such
vulgarities we often hear.

Nothing else will indicate your fineness or coarseness of culture, your
breeding or lack of it, so quickly as your conversation. It will tell
your whole life's story. What you say, and how you say it, will betray
all your secrets, will give the world your true measure.

There is no accomplishment, no attainment which you can use so
constantly and effectively, which will give so much pleasure to your
friends, as fine conversation. There is no doubt that the gift of
language was intended to be a much greater accomplishment than the
majority of us have ever made of i