Talkability is not at all the same thing as eloquence.  The eloquent
man surprises, overwhelms, and sometimes paralyzes us by the display
of his power.  Great orators are seldom good talkers.  Oratory in
exercise is masterful and jealous, and intolerant of all
interruptions.  Oratory in preparation is silent, self-centred,
uncommunicative.  The painful truth of this remark may he seen in
the row of countenances along the president's table at a public
banquet about nine o'clock in the evening.  The bicycle-face seems
unconstrained and merry by comparison with the after-dinner-speech-
face.  The flow of table-talk is corked by the anxious conception of
post-prandial oratory.

Thackeray, in one of his ROUNDABOUT PAPERS, speaks of "the sin of
tall-talking," which, he says, "is the sin of schoolmasters,
governesses, critics, sermoners, and instructors of young or old
people."  But this is not in accord with my observation.  I should
say it was rather the sin of dilettanti who are ambitious of that
high-stepping accomplishment which is called "conversational
ability."

This has usually, to my mind, something set and artificial about it,
although in its most perfect form the art almost succeeds in
concealing itself.  But, at all events, ''conversation'' is talk in
evening dress, with perhaps a little powder and a touch of rouge.
'T is like one of those wise virgins who are said to look their best
by lamplight.  And doubtless this is an excellent thing, and not
without its advantages.  But for my part, commend me to one who
loses nothing by the early morning illumination,--one who brings all
her attractions with her when she comes down to breakfast,--she is a
very pleasant maid.

Talk is that form of human speech which is exempt from all duties,
foreign and domestic.  It is the nearest thing in the world to
thinking and feeling aloud.  It is necessarily not for publication,--
solely an evidence of good faith and mutual kindness.  You tell me
what you have seen and what you are thinking about, because you take
it for granted that it will interest and entertain me; and you
listen to my replies and the recital of my adventures and opinions,
because you know I like to tell them, and because you find something
in them, of one kind or another, that you care to hear.  It is a
nice game, with easy, simple rules, and endless possibilities of
variation.  And if we go into it with the right spirit, and play it
for love, without heavy stakes, the chances are that if we happen to
be fairly talkable people we shall have one of the best things in
the world,--a mighty good talk.