The Principles and Practices of Seduction. Emily Hahn
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Emily Hahn
The Principles and Practices of Seduction
Books
OK Publishing, 2020
[email protected] Tous droits réservés.
EAN 4064066396916
Table of Contents
1. I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT CAPACITY FOR LIVING
4. YOU’RE NOT THE DOMESTIC TYPE
8. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR HUSBAND’S DOING?
18. I’D HAVE SAID YOU WERE FROM NEW YORK
19. SHE LOVED ME FOR THE DANGERS
1. I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT CAPACITY FOR LIVING
TYPE:
Well-to-do man with slightly artistic tendencies; the sort that believes first in money, then in full enjoyment of it. His philosophy is practical but not too limited to material considerations; in other words, he talks well on almost any subject.
SUBJECT:
Slightly younger, but of the same breed. The families of the two protagonists have probably been friendly for two generations.
APPARATUS:
A restaurant: one of the more leisurely ones where the dishes do not rattle but an orchestra makes conversation just as difficult.
REMARKS:
The keynote of the approach is a tacit appreciation of intelligence on the part of the subject. This sympathetic attitude is very important. Think it all over carefully, put a flower in your buttonhole and go ahead.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT CAPACITY FOR LIVING
You have reached the coffee and are putting up a brave fight against the orchestra before going out into the privacy of the street.
She: And we didn’t get home, after all, until two o’clock. I was so angry: it spoiled the evening.
You: Angry! I don’t think that you could ever be angry.
She: Oh, yes, you don’t know me at all. I have a dreadful temper.
You: Well, it doesn’t somehow fit in with my idea of you, you see. No, I must disagree with you. You haven’t a temper. It’s impossible for you to have a really earthly emotion.
She (somewhat irritated): Why, how can you say such a thing?
You: You’re a strangely aloof child, you know.
She (after a pleased little silence): That’s not nice of you.
You: Why not? It’s so nice of you, you know.
She: Oh, do you really think so? I’m sure I don’t try to be. No. … (with a charming smile)—you’re quite wrong. It’s the rest of them that are different. I’m really very normal.
You: Normal? Oh, my dear! And yet, after all, it’s not very funny. Perhaps it’s a tragedy.
She: What is?
You: Your attitude toward life.
She: Why, I have no attitude!
You: There you are; that’s just it. Someone of us mortals tries to tell you how we—how flesh-and-blood beings react to you, and you simply open those clear eyes of yours, and—well, how can I go on talking in the face of such bland ignorance?
She: Ignorance! Why I don’t. …
You: Oh, surely you know how ignorant you are? You must remain ignorant with deliberation. It’s part of your charm, of course, but … oh, how charming you could be, in another way!
She: Really. … (suddenly her voice warms and she leans a little over the table, talking eagerly) No, you’re perfectly right. I mean from your viewpoint, of course. One thing that you forget, though, is that I don’t feel the way that you and the rest of them do. I can’t really understand it myself, and yet … oh, all that sort of thing; emotion and all that; seems so … so messy.
You: Messy? My dear child, what sort of people can you have known?
She: Perfectly normal people, I assure you. No, it’s my own fault. It’s me, and I can’t help it. Emotion to me has always seemed—no thank you, just demi-tasse—seemed common. Not aristocratic. That’s rather a snide thing to say, isn’t it? I don’t mean to sound that way.
You: I know you don’t. (The music plays without competition for a moment). But how sad!
She: Sad? Oh no. I get along quite well. I’m really very happy, except once in a while. I’m as happy, that is, as you can possibly be for all your—your normality.
You: But what a strange way for an intelligent person like yourself to think! Have you no curiosity?
She: Oh, certainly. To an extent. But when curiosity conflicts with one’s disgusts. …
You: Disgusts? Now you are certainly wrong. It