Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
309
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness
·
Florence Hartley
161
It
seems
paradoxical
to
observe
that
the
art
of
listening
well
forms
a
part
of
the
duty
of
conversation.
To
give
up
the
whole
of
your
attention
to
the
person
who
addresses
himself
to
you,
is
sometimes
a
heavy
tax,
but
it
is
one
which
we
must
pay
for
the
privileges
of
social
life,
and
an
early
practice
will
render
it
an
almost
involuntary
act
of
good
breeding;
whilst
consideration
for
others
will
give
this
little
sacrifice
a
merit
and
a
charm.
To
listen
well
is
to
make
an
unconscious
advance
in
the
power
of
conversing.
In
listening
we
perceive
in
what
the
interest,
in
what
the
failure
of
others
consists;
we
become,
too,
aware
of
our
own
deficiencies,
without
having
them
taught
through
the
medium
of
humiliation.
We
find
ourselves
often
more
ignorant
than
we
could
have
supposed
possible.
We
learn,
by
a
very
moderate
attention
to
the
sort
of
topics
which
please,
to
form
a
style
of
our
own.
The
"art
of
conversation"
is
an
unpleasant
phrase.
The
power
of
conversing
well
is
least
agreeable
when
it
assumes
the
character
of
an
art.
In
listening,
a
well-bred
lady
will
gently
sympathize
with
the
speaker;
or,
if
needs
must
be,
differ,
as
gently.
Much
character
is
shown
in
the
act
of
listening.
Some
people
appear
to
be
in
a
violent
hurry
whilst
another
speaks;
they
hasten
on
the
person
who
addresses
them,
as
one
would
urge
on
a
horse--with
incessant
"Yes,
yes,
very
good--indeed--
proceed!"
Others
sit,
on
the
full
stare,
eyes
fixed
as
those
of
an
owl,
upon
the
speaker.
Others
will
receive
every
observation
with
a
little
hysterical
giggle.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
