Manners, Customs, Clothing
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The Art of Conversation & the Witty Sayings
I attended a talk by a conservative Catholic priest in which he mentioned studies made by American scientists alerting the audience against the use of cell phones by children, adolescents and young adults. These studies focused how the blue light from screens suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. In effect, the brain enters into a kind of non-stop pumping.
The speaker made a contrast between the excesses of speed to which today’s society is exposed with some bucolic paintings of the past when life was not so fast moving because persons were surrounded by objects and equipment that respected the organic speed of life.
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If they wanted to roast meat for a meal, for example, they had to load the oven with wood, then graduate its heat until the right moment would come to introduce the meat; after that, they would need to watch the stove carefully to be sure the heat stayed at the correct point. Those persons could never imagine using a microwave oven to roast a meat at a high speed for convenience and end with a dish without any flavor.
The speaker reminded us in passing of the great pleasure families would have in the evening after supper conversing around the fireplace or, more modestly, around the wood stove, where they would gather. The so-praised Art of Conversation of the 17th and 18th centuries had its origin in the unpretentious conversations of such families.
When the speaker mentioned this topic, my mind traveled back in time to the noble European ladies who became famous for maintaining the Art of Conversation in their salons. And since one pleasant subject often suggests another, I remembered the witty sayings of brilliant men in those salons that travelled through the social circles of good taste and the light joy such conversations caused that make relationships more gentile.
A ‘turkey’ in every person’s life
The first brilliant man who came to my mind was the early 19th century Boni de Castellane, or more formally Boniface de Castellane, a French noble of a very exquisite culture and good taste. He represented France as a diplomat in other countries and shone as a gentlemen in Parisian society.
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He was famous for the art of receiving his guests well in the pink marble palace that he built and nicknamed the Palais Rose. Here I mention one episode.
The wife of a very rich bourgeois who had climbed the political ladder often accompanied her husband to evening social affairs, but she would either remain quiet the whole evening or give monosyllabic responses when she was addressed. She was enormously shy. The rule of that worldly but brilliant society of the time demanded that no one should be excluded during a reception. All should feel well received and at ease.
Boni’s close friends proposed a challenge to him: If he were able to make that reticent lady speak in a relaxed way for a long time, they would give him a reward. Boni accepted and at the next reception the shy lady attended, he seated himself close to a group of ladies where the timid bourgeois lady had retired. Several times he addressed her but without success.
A waiter serving canapés came by and Boni noticed one appetizer that was stuffed with turkey. He exclaimed: “O la, la! Turkey! Delicious!”
As if by a miracle the timid lady asked him: “Sir, do you like turkey meat?” He turned his attention fully to the lady and responded: “Milady, it is among my preferred meats.”
Then, the lady became enthused and commented that her family raised turkeys and went on to give a long explanation about the techniques her family had developed to give the birds a better flavor. With this chance remark, Boni had induced the lady to speak and all were charmed and interested in what she had to say.
Even better than winning the bet, Boni and his friends came to the conclusion that every human being has a “turkey” somewhere in their lives that they become enthused over and want to share with the whole world.
Charming conversations
Now, let us go to some witty remarks.
Churchill was the greatest statesman of World War II. Later he wrote a history of the War. While writing, his son-in-law teasingly asked him: “Sir, who was the greatest statesman of the 20th century?”
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Churchill answered: “Mussolini.”
The young man, surprised, asked: “But why?”
Churchill: “Because he gave the order to kill his own son-in-law.” (cf. Conte Galeazzo Ciano affair)
Another example of the English statesman’s gift of repartee:
A woman who was a representative of the Labor Party became furious over one of Churchill’s speeches. Indignant, she said to him: “Sir, if I were your wife I would serve you a poisoned tea.” He responded: “Madam, if I were your husband, I would drink it.”
As we know, the symbol of Venice is the winged Lion. Once, an Austrian ambassador provoked a Venetian Doge by haughtily asking him: “But where in the world do the winged lions live?”
The Doge calmly answered: “In the same region where the two-headed eagles fly.” The symbol of the Austrian Empire was the two-headed eagle.
Receiving the heirs to the Russian Throne who were visiting the French Court at the end of the 18th century, Queen Marie Antoinette gave the Princess a lorgnon – a pair of glasses with a long handle – saying to her: “I noted that the Princess is, like me, short-sighted. Now they have invented these lenses that help us to see clearer. I think that they may help you.”
The Russian Princess responded: “Your Majesty, if they will help me to see you better, how could I not thank you?”
We cannot deny that some refinements of elevation in the treatment of others reached a plenitude and splendor in centuries past. This should give us the hope that such splendor will return and even exceed the past in the coming civilization of the Reign of Mary.
The speaker made a contrast between the excesses of speed to which today’s society is exposed with some bucolic paintings of the past when life was not so fast moving because persons were surrounded by objects and equipment that respected the organic speed of life.
A humble family gathers to converse & pass time,
“Home” by Haynes King
The speaker reminded us in passing of the great pleasure families would have in the evening after supper conversing around the fireplace or, more modestly, around the wood stove, where they would gather. The so-praised Art of Conversation of the 17th and 18th centuries had its origin in the unpretentious conversations of such families.
When the speaker mentioned this topic, my mind traveled back in time to the noble European ladies who became famous for maintaining the Art of Conversation in their salons. And since one pleasant subject often suggests another, I remembered the witty sayings of brilliant men in those salons that travelled through the social circles of good taste and the light joy such conversations caused that make relationships more gentile.
A ‘turkey’ in every person’s life
The first brilliant man who came to my mind was the early 19th century Boni de Castellane, or more formally Boniface de Castellane, a French noble of a very exquisite culture and good taste. He represented France as a diplomat in other countries and shone as a gentlemen in Parisian society.
Boniface de Castellane
The wife of a very rich bourgeois who had climbed the political ladder often accompanied her husband to evening social affairs, but she would either remain quiet the whole evening or give monosyllabic responses when she was addressed. She was enormously shy. The rule of that worldly but brilliant society of the time demanded that no one should be excluded during a reception. All should feel well received and at ease.
Boni’s close friends proposed a challenge to him: If he were able to make that reticent lady speak in a relaxed way for a long time, they would give him a reward. Boni accepted and at the next reception the shy lady attended, he seated himself close to a group of ladies where the timid bourgeois lady had retired. Several times he addressed her but without success.
A waiter serving canapés came by and Boni noticed one appetizer that was stuffed with turkey. He exclaimed: “O la, la! Turkey! Delicious!”
As if by a miracle the timid lady asked him: “Sir, do you like turkey meat?” He turned his attention fully to the lady and responded: “Milady, it is among my preferred meats.”
Then, the lady became enthused and commented that her family raised turkeys and went on to give a long explanation about the techniques her family had developed to give the birds a better flavor. With this chance remark, Boni had induced the lady to speak and all were charmed and interested in what she had to say.
Even better than winning the bet, Boni and his friends came to the conclusion that every human being has a “turkey” somewhere in their lives that they become enthused over and want to share with the whole world.
Charming conversations
Now, let us go to some witty remarks.
Churchill was the greatest statesman of World War II. Later he wrote a history of the War. While writing, his son-in-law teasingly asked him: “Sir, who was the greatest statesman of the 20th century?”
Sir Winston Churchill, noted for his wit & repartee
The young man, surprised, asked: “But why?”
Churchill: “Because he gave the order to kill his own son-in-law.” (cf. Conte Galeazzo Ciano affair)
Another example of the English statesman’s gift of repartee:
A woman who was a representative of the Labor Party became furious over one of Churchill’s speeches. Indignant, she said to him: “Sir, if I were your wife I would serve you a poisoned tea.” He responded: “Madam, if I were your husband, I would drink it.”
As we know, the symbol of Venice is the winged Lion. Once, an Austrian ambassador provoked a Venetian Doge by haughtily asking him: “But where in the world do the winged lions live?”
The Doge calmly answered: “In the same region where the two-headed eagles fly.” The symbol of the Austrian Empire was the two-headed eagle.
Receiving the heirs to the Russian Throne who were visiting the French Court at the end of the 18th century, Queen Marie Antoinette gave the Princess a lorgnon – a pair of glasses with a long handle – saying to her: “I noted that the Princess is, like me, short-sighted. Now they have invented these lenses that help us to see clearer. I think that they may help you.”
The Russian Princess responded: “Your Majesty, if they will help me to see you better, how could I not thank you?”
We cannot deny that some refinements of elevation in the treatment of others reached a plenitude and splendor in centuries past. This should give us the hope that such splendor will return and even exceed the past in the coming civilization of the Reign of Mary.
Posted October 11, 2024
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