Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-10-13
THE RIASpHEAlY OLE THE AGE,

TIE dav in which we live may be day Of great
things but it is far from being day of good things
While Railroads, Telegraphs and the like Indicate
progress in the material world, there arc many ull-
equvocal symptoms Of decension in the moral We
propose no such thing now as excursion into the
wide field of argument upon this topic. Our only
object IS to write down thought in reference
10 single one Of the many evidences of that moral
dscen>ion Of which speaking: and this evil
dence is the ou,brcaking blasp,emy OF expression
which has become common TO all grades Of society,"
from the grog.shop to the Senatc-chamber. We
mean not to sermonize but to stale few truths and
leave each reader to draw his own nferences there
from.
"By Cod" "I'l be God damned, ""God damn
my soul" and other srseh phrases Of speech have be-
come 70 be the most common cSpeslrcs III American
con ycrsation. Is one confident Of any approaching
result His language in seven cases out OF ten Is
I'll bet by God it will be md no rs certain as
He'll" Is another determined not to submit to any
particular act Of injustice lie may possibly be
heard 10 c5caim fifty times in single day, I'll be
God damned il stand it, Does third meet with
any sudden reverse of his usual good fortune! lie
loo w i'll more than probably resort to an oath and
say, God damn my SOUL that's always my luck"
These expressions will BE- admitted by every accu-
rate observer to b. almost common, nowadays, ns
The VERY "ls" and butts" OF our mother tongue
Nor do they occur only in extreme cases of excite
ment, indignation, disappointment or anger. They
are applied with almost equal vehenence in the mos.
ordinary matters and to the most trivial circum.
stances. They seem be regarded as kind OF con.
vsrsaiional spice, necessary 10 be thrown IN on all
admissible occasions, to give force to speech and
vivitlness to ideas. We have sometimes wondered
what loafers. iokcrs, Bnmbnsc-Eurosos and iSnora-
muses. generally would do, if dcbarrcd the use oi
these elegant and finished modes Of conveying their
rxubcrant fancies or u;tering forth their burning
emotions, In their cases, however, one may find
some explanation for this prostitution OF our language
The paucity Of their ideas and their indifferent
knowledge Of the English vocabulary, together with
O. total lack Of cultivated taste, render it natural
enough in them to have recoursc these abomnable
though very convenient helps. But why it is that
educated gentlemen should fall below the level Of
their intelligence and refinement in this particular We
cannot we'll imagine. We are aware that this is an
almost universal custom among men OF the world OF
whatever position, Of whatever cultivation. But we
can but regard it as a custom far honorcd in
the breach than the observance" So would they
think could they see some specimens Of their daily
converse faithfully reported, printed and set before
them for correction. Let US imagine the meeting
together Of several Of these emphatic takers, upon
some election day for instance. We will designate
them as u. and F. And the following very gentle
interchange Of greetings and opinions takes place:
D. "a, F. approaches,) How are you, F! (Shaking
hands) God damn il all, old fcllow-acvilish glad to
see you. What's the news
F. am we'll enough, thank You, bu, the news is
God damned bad. believe J. is going to lose his
election.
%. I" The He'll you say"
F. "rH be damned if | don't. That God damned
son Of bitch B. has put parcel of damned lies
about him, and its hurting him like the Devil. That
damned scoundrel, II. will be elected"
D. (Rathcr slo,Dly and Uih an air Of fnortfcation)
"Wel, I'll be damned "a pause.) I'll srear, if
they do elect II. this timc after trying him often
in vain, wouldn't give dried apple damn for the
whole God damned district"
But we forbear. 1t is almost shocking even to
write down such language by way Of representing it
us matter Of reprobation. 1t will doubtless seem
more go to OUT readers when appears to their vision
in fair and open print. Yet arc but holding up
the mirror to nature" Who does not catch up the
old Latin ejaculation, =" o tempora o! mores!r"
Wehave said above that the habit of filling out
conversation with oaths and curses frequently
contracted because of its adaptedness to supply
elypses which would otherwise, by of the
ignorance or stupidity Of the speaker, remain void.
Let us illustrate this with an incident, related to
as having occurred at place not hundred miles
distant from our town, and we will then leave the
subject
Two individuals, twho shall of course be name
less, walked into certain establishment, the ma.
chinery of which moved by steam power One
of these two worthless expressed TO his companion hrs
utter inability comprehend the nOds operandt Of
the i" consarny" as he termed it.
"What!" SAID his neutrality-suspicious. friend,
Not understand that! Why, It's as plain as the
moon and stars You SEQ that God damned Thing
there, CYes.l Well, you see, it works into that