It does not matter how valuable the rough diamond may be, no explaining, no describing its marvels of beauty within, and its great value, would avail; nobody would appreciate it until it was ground and polished and the light let into its depths to reveal its hidden brilliancy.

Conversation is to the man what the cutting of the diamond is to the stone.

The grinding does not add anything to the diamond.

It merely reveals its wealth.
How little parents realize the harm they are doing their children by allowing them to grow up ignorant of or indifferent to the marvelous possibilities in the art of conversation! In the majority of homes, children are allowed to mangle the English language in a most painful way.
Nothing else will develop the brain and character more than the constant effort to talk well, intelligently, interestingly, upon all sorts of topics.

There is a splendid discipline in the constant effort to express one's thoughts in clear language and in an interesting manner.