5

G5

only converse with those very people, face to face, there would be no
such danger. For though anything but fluent on ordinary topics, yet
on this subject, my speech runs steadily in a full stream for hours
at command. As a well-known man said remarked, it is like turning
a top. Meantime, those to whom I talk, far from being bored, are
much impressed. To be sure, they know me, and know how
utterly beyond my powers would be every art of speech. Now it has
occurred to me, as a possibility that the difference between the cases
of writing and of talking might be lessened if the perusers of what I

G5

only converse with those very people, face to face, there would be no such danger. For though anything but fluent on ordinary topics, yet on this subject, my speech runs steadily in a full stream for hours at command. Meantime, those to whom I talk, far from being bored, are much impressed. To be sure, they know me, and know how utterly beyond my powers would be every art of speech. Now it has occurred to me, as a possibility that the difference between the casts of writing and of talking might be lessened if the perusers of what I