III
VARIATIONS——ONAPLEASANTPHRASEFROMMONTAIGNE
Montaignehasgivenasourtext，\"Goodness，freedom，gayety，andfriendship，\"——thesearetheconditionswhichproducetalkability.
Andonthisfourfoldthemewemayembroiderafewvariations，bywayofexpositionandenlargement.
GOODNESSisthefirstthingandthemostneedful.Anugly，envious，irritabledispositionisnotfittedfortalk.Theoccasionsforoffencearetoonumerous，andthewayintostrifeistooshortandeasy.Atouchofgood—naturedcombativeness，afondnessforbriskargument，areadinesstotryafriendlyboutwithanycomer，onanyground，isadecidedadvantageinatalker.Itbreaksuptheoffensivemonotonyofpoliteconcurrence，andmakesthingslively.