TALKING.*
" CONVERSATION is not a verbal nor vocal contest," says Mr. Kleiser in a happy definition, " but a mutual meeting of minds. It is not a monologue, but a reciprocal exchange of ideas." In his advice to those who wish to participate successfully in such" meeting of minds" he lays down principles that are probably already fairly well known in theory, but as they are generally neglected in practice it is useful to be reminded of them : " Courtesy . . . is the fundamental basis of good conver- sation " ; " It is in bad taste to interrupt a speaker " ; " Never allow yourself to monopolize a conversation " ; " Do not be always setting other people right " ; " Resist the desire to be prominent " ; and soon. We are, however, a little inclined to quarrel with Mr. Xleiser when ha says that there should be no " talk for mere talking's sake," and that " when there is nothing worth while to say, the best substitute is silence." It is an axiom generally accepted, but it is not so sound as it appears. We all know those occasions when politeness or circumstances oblige us to talk when we have nothing whatever to talk about. Superior people affect to despise "small talk," but unless, like Thoreau, we can retire to some Walden, a considerable part of our conversational lives is concerned with this trifling. If Mr. Kleiser had given us some hints on "how to talk brilliantly about nothing," it would have been a valuable addition to his excellent book. We had thought that story-telling was taboo in good conversation, but Mr. Kleiser claims that it has" its legitimate and appropriate use." As an example of the effective story he quotes the following. An old coloured man was brought up before a country Judge. " Jethro," said the Judge, " you are accused of stealing General Johnson's chickens. Have you any witnesses ? "
• Talks on Talking. By Grenville Leiser. London : Funk and Wagnalla [30. Gal. net.]
No, Sah," old Jethro answered haughtily, "I hab not, Sah. I never steal chickens befo' witnesses." We are glad to note that Mr. Kleiser puts in a plea for "a more thorough cultivation of the speaking voice." " There is a duty devolving upon every one to cultivate beauty of vocal utterance and diction." A large part of Mr. Kleiscr's book is devoted to advice to would-be publio speakers, and includes " A Talk to Preachers." Readers will also be interested in the chapter on "Talking in Salesman- ship," which puts the young man behind the counter in rather a new light as a graduate in the art of persuasive conversation.
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