pe. Louise Chandler Moulton
enjoins one thing on women which they would do well to recollect, and
that is, "if they want a man to stay with them to make it evidently
and entirely easy for him to get away. There is something lawless and
rebellious in even the best of men; they hate doing things because
they are obliged."

Suitable Topics.

To render conversation agreeable, suitable topics for the company
present, if possible, must be chosen. Neither soar above the level of
their conversation, nor sink so far beneath it, as to lead them to
infer that you possess a very slight opinion of their merits.

In conversing, too many educated men fall into the error of talking
commonplaces to all women alike, as if "small talk," to the exclusion
of all weightier matters, were the only species of conversation suited
to a woman's ear. On the contrary, she is more often either hurt or
angered at your evident condescension, or, on the other hand, she
credits you with just the amount of knowledge that you have evinced in
your conversation with her.

In the search after suitable topics it is well to remember that all
are pleased by a display of interest in their especial affairs. Thus,
by leading the artist to talk of his pictures, the lady amateur of her
music, the _prima donna_ of her successes, the mother of her children,
the author of his book, you may rest assured that they will always
speak of you as a person of great discrimination and a very
interesting conversationalist. They in their turn, unless extremely
devoid of tact and eminently selfish, will display sufficient regard
for your feelings to give an opportunity for waxing eloquent on your
part over your own pet topics. Be very careful then not to fall into
that besetting fault of good talkers, a monologue, which is fatal to
all conversation.

Richard Steele gave a most desirable maxim for conversation when he
said: "I would establish one great rule in conversation, which is
this, that men should not talk to please themselves, but those that
hear them--adapting their words to the place where, the time when, and
the person to whom they are spoken."

Misuse of Quotations.

Do not use classical quotations before a woman unless you know that,
by virtue of a classical education on her own part, she is capable of
appreciating the point. Remember, too, that there are a great many men
who, not having enjoyed your educational advantages, are annoyed,
rather than edified