Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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u THE ACORN friends. In asking questions during a conversation, one should endeavor to ask such questions as would be of interest to your friend. Everybody is familiar with the fact that if a person is skilled or familiar with certain subjects he is desirous ot telling abcut it. Therefore our questioning should tend towards that ena. The value of being qualified to enter in discourse is great. One comes into contact with educated people, who have a broader and higher view of life, ana consequently take the sane broader view of life. A person who is able to converse intelligently and entertainingly is held high in- the estimation of his friends. Also a man or woman will find when they are able to converse with people intelligently that their happiness is far greater because of this simple accomplishment. Rueben Allen—'I A DREAM FOR POPULARITY. Mr. Low came home from work later than usual. He hurriedly sprang up the stairs and closed the door behind hlmselt with a bang. After hanging up his coa: and hat he seated himself in a chair at the window and drew out from his pocket the evening paper. He seemed ill at ease and after a few moments he threw the paper aside in disgust and stared out or the window. The draperies of the door from which he recently entered were drawn aside and there stood a pleasing, motherly looking woman, who at once would he taken for Mrs. Low. She stood there motionless tor some time and seemed to he admiring the scene before her. Presently she walked over to the window greeted him and told him to come for supper. Around the table sat three children, Roy, a youth of twelve, and two girls, Lillian and Iris. Lillian was much the same nature as her mother while iris was rather proud and haughty. She was more graceful and in the eyes of many the more beautiful. The silence at the table at last was broken by the voice of Iris. “Father did you have any luck today? Did he not say he would raise your salary?” She received no answer but the expression on his face told the story. Oh, what will become of us?” she said. Mrs. Low looked reprovingly up at Iris but said nothing. When the supper was finished the children went to an entertainment while Mr. Low went to the club. When Mrs. Low was left alone she took up her work-basket and seated herself in a rocker and began to sew. She seemed very much troubled. It is certain that the behavior of iris and the husbands gloominess caused her much unhappiness. Presently Mr.' Low came home; the children being still out, he drew up a chair to her and said. Gertrude, every- thing has gone wrong for me. I have always had good plans for the future. 1 never dreamt of living such a common place life as this. I spoke to the Manager today about raiding my salary. He merely answered, When our men deserve more, they receive more.’ It was no use to argue.” Here the conversation was interrupted by the voices of the children who had returned home. Ray and Lillian were in perfect delight over the entertainment but Iris was not. She come up to her mother arid said. “Elvina Peters was dressed just beautifully tonight. I suppose that is why she is so popular. I've worn this gown until its almost ancient and t might as well stay at home hereafter ror all that I am noticed”, and without waiting for an answer she marched haughtily frem the room. Poor child”, exclaimed the father. I

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rriie Acorn VOL. V MAY 19 J 3 No. 8 % ART OF CONVERSATION. The art cf conversing correctly ancl pleasingly should he the aim of every person. What is more delightful ar.1 entertaining than an intelligent conversation carried on by people who have cultivated and developed their manner cf speech, it is true that seme have a more natural ability for speaking or carrying on a conversation than others hut nevertheless one may improve, and develope his speech to a remarkable extent. And he will also find that it will have a broadening effect upon the mind, as the result of coming into contact with more intelligent people. The truth of our statements should always be born in mind. People are often mislead, and made to believe things, or take for granted statements which they have heard other people mention and which are untrue, it would elliminate a great den! of unnecessary trouble, if one, in conversing regarding other people, on simple hearsay would investigate and find cut the truth of the matter before relating it to any one else. V.'e have possibly noticed during a con- versation people who insist on expounding all they know upon the subject whether it is desirable or not to the remainder of the party. This is one of the faults one must remedy if one desires to converse with people. One should learn to mention a thing without giving a lengthy discourse on it. unless it is desirable to your friends, or circumstances are such that you must discuss thoroughly. One can easily detect whether the interest in you is high enough to warrant your going Into any length on your subject. Also many people know very little about a subject, but nevertheless are able to converse a great deal about uninteresting matter which has no bearing upon the subject just for the sake of having something to say in the matter. These are the tendencies of a bore, ana if one is affected, it is very disagre-able to anyone in connection with them. Our conversation should consist of a variety cf subjects, so arranged that argument, tales and reason receive their due attention, but never allow them to grow uninteresting and tiresome to your

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THE ACORN 7 wish I could supply all her wishes. Surely our daughter is as beautiful as Elvina Peters.” • Bui , replied Mrs. Lo v, “Elvina is a sweet natured girl”, and then she caught herselt as if she has spoken too much. Two weeks have passed and Mr. Low has given up his position. Alter ransacking the town he receives another for which he is promised twenty dollars in a short time, but finds to his sorrow that he exchanged better for worse. Everything was darker than before. His next pay envelope was marked sixteen dollars and fifty cents. It would be impossible to describe the feelings that came to this proud man at the sight of this. He strolled listlessly toward home, bringing the sad news to bis wife. She tried to appear hopeful and said, “Well we win have to make the best of it. John.” When Iris, who had been sitting in a further corner of the room, looking over the last issue of The Ladies Home Journal , heard these words, her hope sank and she burst into bitter tears. The parents were astonished, they did not know she was there. . Presently Key came up with some letters for his father. After he had opened a few, he opened one from New York. It was from Thomas Curtis, his college friend. It said that the writer together with a few other men, were planning to buy out a certain paper and issue a paper calied The New York Star , and that he wished and hoped that he also would come to New York. One evening as Mr. Low returned home from work, his wife met him at the gate. Her eyes were swollen trom crying, she was pale and nervous and in her hand she held a letter edged in black. Mr. Low stopped short at this scene. lie could not imagine what had happened In so short a time. She pressed the letter in his hand and threw herself down upon a hammock that hung under the trees a few feet away. After Mr. Low had read the letter he leads his sorrow stricken wife into the house. They talked some ot her departed father. '1 he fam.ly mourned lor the departed. Another letter came to her a few days later. '1 he contents of this letter, were the last words her father had said while in life. He had granted her long desired pardon and to show his love for her. lie had willed her a portion of his possessions. She was happier than she had been for many months. In regard to the money, it was decided that it be invested so as to bring back the greatest profit. That evening Mr. Low wrote a letter to Mr. Curtis, confidentially saying that he would like to become a member of the New York Star and that he would be able to give a few thousand toward it. The next week the Low family was m a great stir, trunks were being packed and all was in exciting commotion. Iris could not realize all these new conditions. She now saw popularity before herself. But Roy and Lillian were not desirous of parting with their dear old home. After four days they arrived at New York. The family was greeted by Thomas Curtis and the other members of the New York Star. They were entertained royally at the home of these men. Mr. Low and Iris enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent. Within a short time, the Low family had secured a large circle or friends. Iris was steadily rising in ‘popularity Her father tried very hard to bestow upon her all the requisites of good society. Now she was engaged to the dashing son of Mr. Curtis. She had pleasant dreams of some day becoming the mistress oi the Curtis mansion. Mr. Low by the service of his handsome features and noble bearing soon won favor cf all and was destined it seemed to become a man- of influence in his commun-