a brilliant talker will seek to bring out “the coincidence which strengthens conviction, or the dissent which sharpens sagacity, rather than individual experiences, which ever seem to be egotistical.  In agreeable society all egotism is to be crushed and crucified.  Even a man who is an oracle, if wise, will suggest, rather than seem to instruct.  In a congenial party all differences in rank are for the time ignored.  It is in bad taste to remind or impress people with a sense of their inferiority, as in chivalry all degrees were forgotten in an assemblage of gentlemen.”  Animated conversation amuses without seeming to teach, and transfers ideas so skilfully into the minds of others that they are ignorant of the debt, and mistake them for their own.  It kindles a healthy enthusiasm, promotes good-nature, repels pretension, and rebukes vanity.  It even sets off beauty, and intensifies its radiance.  Said Madame de la Fayette to Madame de Sevigne:  “Your varying expression so brightens and adorns your beauty, that there is nothing so brilliant as yourself:  every word you utter adds to the brightness of your eyes; and while it is said that language impresses only the ear, it is quite certain that yours enchants the vision.”  “Like style in writing,” says Lamartine, “conversation must flow with ease, or it will oppress.  It must be clear, or depth of thought cannot be penetrated; simple, or the understanding will be overtasked; restrained, or redundancy will satiate; warm, or it will lack soul; witty, or the brain will not be excited; generous, or sympathy cannot be roused; gentle, or there will be no toleration; persuasive, or the passions cannot be subdued.”  When it unites these excellences, it has an irresistible power, “musical as was Apollo’s lyre;” a perpetual feast of nectared sweets, such as, I fancy, Socrates poured out to Athenian youth, or Augustine in the gardens of Como; an electrical glow, such as united the members of the Turk’s Head Club into a band of brothers, or annihilated all distinctions of rank at the supper-table of the poet Scarron.

We cannot easily overrate the influence of those who inspire the social circle.  They give not only the greatest pleasure which is known to cultivated minds, but kindle lofty sentiments.  They draw men from the whirlpools of folly, break up degrading habits, dissipate the charms of money-making, and raise the value of the soul.  How charming, how delightful, how inspiring is the eloquence which is kindled by the attrition of gifted minds!  What privilege is greater than to be with those who reveal the experiences of great careers, especially if there be the absence of vanity and ostentation, and encouragement by those whose presence is safety and whose smiles are an inspiration!  It is the blending of the beatitudes of Bethany with the artistic enjoyments of Weimar, causing the favored circle to forget all cares, and giving them strength for those duties which make up the main business of human life.