It leads to conversation of some sort among people, and perhaps to a kind of sympathy.

Mrs.Jones will look at Mrs.White's linen chest, hoping that Mrs.White may be induced to look at hers.

One can only pour out of a jug that which is in it.

For the most of us, if we do not talk of ourselves, or at any rate of the individual circles of which we are the centres, we can talk of nothing.

I cannot hold with those who wish to put down the insignificant chatter of the world.
As for myself, I am always happy to look at Mrs.Jones's linen, and never omit an opportunity of giving her the details of my own dinners.