"You can become know for your sparkle and cleverness in Small-Talk by following these suggestions:

1. Every day, before you leave the house, be sure that you tuck into your handbag either a magazine or pages cut from one.  Pages in your pocket will do you more good than will the whole magazine at home, unread.

2. Every day check to be sure that you have a book to read.  (See end of Conversation Lesson.)  If not, stop by the library.

3. Every time that you find ever so few minutes, take out the pages or open your book.  This means while you wait on the street corner for car or bus; while riding; under the hair dryer; awaiting the dinner announcement at home.

4) Follow the list at the end of the next lesson in selecting reading matter.  Read every headline and ever title; also the author's name and the opening paragraph.

5) If you haven't time for reading most of the reviews in one of the Sunday book review sections of the newspaper, read all of the book advertisements!  Then whenever anyone mentions a new book you can say, 'I've heard of that!'"

From 'How to be the Smart Woman,' by Rebecca.  How I do wish that I had to worry how to occupy myself whilst awaiting the dinner announcement at home!