Chatterbox?

Every morning we try to read from Harvey Newcomb's excellent book, How to be a Lady. Recently we came upon this passage, which was so relevant that it was comical. We decided to paste an excerpt here:

Talkativeness itself is a very bad habit for a little girl or a young lady. It is a good thing
to be sociable, and to converse freely and affably at the proper time, and in the proper place.

But there is as much difference between this and talkativeness, as there is between the quiet, purling stream, and the noisy, babbling brook.

" The tongue of the wise,” says Solomon, "useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

In the margin it reads, belcheth, or bubbleth. The thoughts of the heart come belching out like water from a bottle, without regard to sense, order, or arrangement, as though the chief object of the tongue were to make a noise. And one that is always babbling must needs talk nonsense, for want of something sensible to say.

A talkative girl will tell all she knows, and all she can remember that she has ever heard any body say, to every one she meets. She will take up the time and occupy the attention of others, in relating long, humdrum stories about matters and things which nobody cares to hear.

You wait with impatience to hear the end of her story, that you may have a little quiet; but her tongue never stops, but like the clapper of a mill, keeps up its incessant clack. Such a habit is very disagreeable to others, and makes one appear to great disadvantage. It leads to the constant violation of the principles of good breeding.

No one, especially a young lady, who understands what belongs to good manners, will presume on her own importance enough to suppose that others will be pleased to hear her talk and noise all the time. And no well-bred person will think of obliging others to listen to her against their will.

In listening to the talkative girl, I have often felt an involuntary apprehension for the little member, which is obliged to perform so much labor. It must be made of stern stuff, or it would wear out, or, at least, grow weary. It is a wonder that it does not take fire from mere friction. It is necessary, occasionally, to stop a mill, to let it cool; but the tongues of some people run incessantly, and yet seem to suffer no injury.

He goes on of course to advise us as to the proper use of the tongue.

Posted by Mama