Q Dear Miss Abigail: I’ve noticed lately that I have a problem talking about things when I get introduced. I never know the proper response, and end up saying something dumb that doesn’t make any sense. Could you give me some advice on making conversation? Signed, Michelle A Dear Michelle: You are not alone, my […]
Tag: conversation
When and How to Tell Jokes
That Estelle Hunter. She sure is a crack-up in her Personality Development, Unit Three: Voice and Expression. I mean, that salesman joke ~ hilarious! 1939: When and How to Tell Jokes It is not unusual for a group to spend an hour or more in exchanging jokes or stories, but such conversation soon becomes wearisome and […]
How To Cultivate an Agreeable Speech
In 1945, Emily Post’s etiquette book offers pages of advice on words, phrases, and pronunciation. Read this selection carefully, and make sure you enunciate! 1945: How To Cultivate an Agreeable Speech The often-heard expression, “You know she is a lady as soon as she opens her mouth,” is not an exaggeration. The first requirement for […]
Is it Forward for a Girl to Call a Boy?
Q Dear Miss Abigail: Is it forward for a girl to call a boy on the telephone just for the sake of conversation? Signed, Jon A Dear Jon: The results are in, and it appears that us girls should call you boys only if there is a dire emergency. Well, maybe it isn’t that severe, […]
Boys, in 500 Words or Less
Q Dear Miss Abigail: What is the best way or sentence to sum up boys between the ages of thirteen and fifteen? Signed, Meg A Dear Meg: Golly gee whiz, Miss Meg. You’re assignment is hard! I couldn’t find just one sentence to answer your question, so I’m going to ramble on a bit. Here […]
What Do Those Boys Talk About?
The premise in For Boys Only is that Dr. Frank Howard Richardson has been tasked with explaining “what happens to you, now that you are changing from a boy to a man. It explains how and why girls and women are different from boys and men. It helps you to understand why it is that you […]
Be Courteous
Hey kids, trying to figure out how to ask that cute girl out on a date? Follow this script and you’re sure to have success. 1967: Be Courteous As you ask a girl for a date, you should indicate that you really want to go out with her. Courtesy is very important when asking, for […]
Conversation Etiquette from 1848
“Be sparing of anecdote, and only resort to it when you have a good illustration of some subject, or a piece of information of general interest. Do not attempt to relate every particular; but seize upon the grand points. Never relate the same anecdote the second time to the same company.” This tip comes from […]
1880: Advice for the Senate Judiciary Committee
My hope is to occasionally use this space to share some short excerpts from the advice books, taking clues from the news or personal experiences, or if I just happen to find some fun things to share. To kick it all off, I’ve located some tips that I think the Senate Judiciary Committee may have […]