It might also be remarked that the possession of certain physical
gifts--such as the ability to wriggle one's ears or do the
"splits"--is in itself no "open sesame" to lasting social
success. "Slow and sure" is a good rule for the young man to
follow, and although he may somewhat enviously watch his more
brilliant colleagues as they gain momentary applause by their
ability to throw their thumbs out of joint or squirt water
through a hole in their front teeth, yet he may console himself
with the thought that "the race is not always to the swift" and
that "Rome was not built in a day." The gifts of this world have
been distributed fairly equally, and you may be sure that the
young girl who has been born a ventriloquist very likely is
totally unable to spell difficult words correctly or carry even a
simple tune. Ventriloquism, by the way, is also passing out as a
form of dinner party diversion, and it is no longer considered a
priceless accomplishment to be able to make a dog bark or a baby
cry under the hostess's chair.
CONVERSATION AT DINNER
Gradually, however, conversation--real conversation--is coming
into its own as the favorite pastime of dinner guests, and the
young man or lady who can keep the conversational "ball" rolling
is coming more and more into demand. Good conversationalists are,
I fear, born and not made--but by study and practise any
ambitious young man can probably acquire the technique, and, with
time, mould himself into the kind of person upon whom hostesses
depend for the success of their party.
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