THE IDEAL CONVERSATION.
[Miss Emily Faithfull, in the Ladies' Pictorial, suggests that girls should always learn up some contribution to make to the family conversation at table.]
Miss Faithfull, let me send a line
Of most sincere congratulation
On your magnificent design
To raise the tone of conversation;
The plan you kindly recommend
Rejoices many a careful mother,
And, for the future, we intend,
As runs the phrase, "To use no other."
At breakfast-time we used to talk
On topics commonplace together,
Designed a picnic, planned a walk,
And even criticised the weather;
We gossiped in an idle way,
And made in turn our several guesses
About the age of Mrs. A.,
The price of Lady X.'s dresses.
But now, according to your scheme,
Each carefully-instructed maiden
Discourses on a worthy theme,
And comes with fact and figures laden;
To-day, for instance, Muriel gave
Some gems from Cicero's orations,
While Maud reviewed, in language grave,
The Lower Tertiary Formations.
And Kate—the mischief-making Kate
Who formerly would merely prattle—
Described, in accents most sedate,
The use of cavalry in battle.
In fact, by this most noble plan,
Which on your kind advice we're using,
Our conversation never can
Deserve your censure as amusing!