Gossip in literature--Gossip comes from being of one kindred under God--Gossip and the misanthrope--Personal history of people we know and people we don't know--Gossip of books of biography--Interest in others gives fellowship and warmth to life--Essential difference between slander and innocent gossip--The psychology of the slanderer--The apocryphal slanderer--"Talking behind another's back"--Personal chat the current coin of conversation 63
Guests' talk during the quarter of an hour before dinner--What guests may talk about--Talking to one's dinner-companion--Guests' duty to host and hostess--The dominant note in table-talk--General and _tête-à-tête_ conversation between guests--The raconteur at dinner 89
The amalgam for combining guests--Hosts' talk during the quarter of an hour before dinner--Seating guests to enhance conversation--Number of guests for the best conversation--Directing the conversation at dinner--Drawing guests out--Signaling for conversation--General and _tête-à-tête_ conversation--Putting strangers at ease--Steering talk away from offensive topics--The gracious host and hostess--An ideal dinner party 111
Its deadening effect on conversation--Habitual interruption--Nervous interruption--Glib talkers--Interrupting by over-accuracy--Interruptions outside the conversation-circle--Children and their interruption--Good talk at table--Anecdotes of children's appreciation of good conversation--The hostess who is "Mistress of herself tho China fall" 133
POWER OF FITNESS, TACT, AND NICETY IN BUSINESS WORDS.
Why cultivating the social instinct adds strength to business persuasion--Secret of the ability to use tactful and vivid words in business--Essential training necessary to the nice use of words--Business success depends upon nicety and tact more than on any quality of force 161
Conversation is reciprocal--Good conversationalists cannot talk to the best advantage without confederates--As in whist it is the combination which effects what a single whist-playing genius cannot accomplish--Good conversation does not mark a distinction among subjects; It denotes a difference in talkability--The different degrees of talkability--Imperturbable glibness impedes good conversation--Ease with which one may improve one's conversational powers 175