eless, one must
have a good groundwork of knowledge of books in order to avoid mistakes
such as poor Irene made in talking with young Corey.

Directions and suggestions for aiding young people to become agreeable
and pleasant conversers must necessarily be mainly negative. Taken for
granted that a young person possesses animation good sense,
intelligence, and a genuine interest in her companions and the world
around her; is observing, and can speak grammatically without
hesitating; knows the difference between "you and I" and "you and me"
(which I am sorry to say a great many young girls of my acquaintance do
not, for I constantly hear them saying, "He brought you and I a
bouquet," or, "You and me are invited to tea this evening"), she can
almost certainly be a pleasant and entertaining converser if she avoids
certain things, as, for instance:

1. She must avoid talking about herself, her exploits, her acquirements,
her entertainments, her beaux, etc. Especially should she avoid seeking
to make an impression by frequent mention of advantageous friends or
circumstances. The greatest observer and commentator upon manners that
ever wrote was Mr. Emerson. In one of his essays he says: "You shall not
enumerate your brilliant acquaintances, nor tell me by their titles what
books you have read. I am to infer that you keep good company by your
good manners and better information; and to infer your reading from the
wealth, and accuracy of your conversation."

2. She must avoid a loud tone of voice, and also avoid laughing too much
and too easily. To laugh aloud is a dangerous thing, unless all noise
and harshness have been cultivated out of the voice, as ought to be done
in every good school. The culture of the voice is one of the most
important elements in making a pleasant converser. American girls and
women are accused by cultivated foreigners of having loud, harsh,
strident voices; and there is too much truth in the accusation. Nor is
there any excuse for unpleasant, harsh, rough, nasal tones of voice in
these days when in every good school instruction is given in the
management of the voice for reading and conversation. The cause of
harshness and loudness is often mere carelessness on the part of young
people. But talking in too loud a tone is scarcely less unpleasant to
the listeners than the use of too low a tone, which is generally an
affectation.

3. She must avoid frequent attempts at wit; avoid punning, which is t