I was working, when someone used the phrase, speak in elegant conversation, making me take pause.
What a lovely concept, I thought, to speak elegantly. Made me think of rubies and pearls, Paris and Grace Kelly 
…the Chrysler Building 
and crystal chandeliers at an old hotel.
I pictured Noel Coward holding court, Fred Astaire tapping in a tux while Duke Ellington graced the bandstand, 
single bud boutonnieres, winking from their custom-made dinner jackets, watching Ava Gardner swoon down a staircase.
You don’t hear snippets of elegant conversation as a rule, since most people speak in slang, mumble, and more or less butcher the English language.
How wonderful it would be if we all started to speak in Austenese, using words like, felicity and discourse, loveliest and amiable…and the added phrase…I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.
Elegant…appealingly graceful and stylish in appearance and manner…
and apparently, in conversation.
Who knew.
SB
