The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-08
at their house, staying to a later hour than

al lleH Houses Sloy ilS " latel nouL ludlI'
usual. .....-l-.., .z.-.-..z.,. -.
"You'd better believe it, rejoined the
young lady, playfully. -. - -:
"You may bet high on that!'' added
| Napoleon, who was in the act of lighting
real Havana.
elbow do you like the ''cut of his jib,n
Timothy?'' resumed Mrs. Stout, turning to
her husband. >. 5'''.
81 don't greatly like his "rig." but
Josephine. thinks he's "some,'" was The
reply. - - - ','.Sa
"Whether you like him or not, it's my
opinion he'Il make 'tip,top' husband
continued the mother.
"'Put her through MOTHER said
Josephine, blushing. t..-..
.s'Go in,. lemons!' suggested Napo-
leon, smoking through his nose-a remark,
by the way, so ambiguous that II certainly
must have puzzled other parties to guess
at his meaning; but in the present case,
| it seemed to be invested with perfect lu-
cidity. .l--..s ...-...-.- -.
r"Napoleon, | advise you 10 shut your
hopper!''' elegantly relorted the young
lady.
Mr.. Stout proceeded TO inquire if Mr..
Rustic was a man Of property; and was
assured by his better half that he had a
f"pocket full OF rocks'' The husband and
father then remarked 10 the effect that he
had been more favorably impressed with
| Mr.. Goodwin, a young farmer in the neigh
borhood, than with the gentleman under
consideration; whereupon Miss Stout man :
|ifested a different opinion on the subject.
emphatically declaring that he t'couldn't
come in" |Nl f'+f
He's over that way" said his brother,
making a gesture over his shoulder, with
| his thumb. $" -
We will not extend this conversation
| farther, for fear that we may weary the
readers patience by the repetition oI
phrases so common. Suffice il TO say that
such expressions were dragged INTO almost
every conversation in the Stout family
Their cant vocabulary appeared to be so
extensive, that il comprised all the Jolly
and stupidity of the past ndpresen.; and j,
indeed, they seemedto entertain the idea.
that TO use such phrases skilfully and lib
orally. was an accomplishment. = But this
| bliss of ignorance, or thoughtlessness,w was
finally interrupted by the visit OF an old
| friend OF Mr.. Stout, whom he had not
|seen for many years. = astss '94A't' I
MIR. Thompson was a man Of strong
good sense, and had the rare faculty oil
expressing himself in an appropriate and
elegant manner. A gentleman SO accom-
plished could notremain long in the family
without being shocked; and he was per-
fectly astounded at hearing, every hodr,
such an avalanche of coarse and unre-
fined forms Of expressions. which obvious
ly originated among the lowest classes Of
people. - - 80 '.lt1a s1 /"
T Taking the liberty ofsan old acquiant-
ance, lie ventured to demonstrate with MFR.
and Mrs. Stout in regard to The impro-
priety Of such language. a'f aSa
"You wrong both yourselves and your
Children" he remarked; ''the latter are
already imbued with ideas that associate
them with the profigate and the vile, and
which will forever prevent them from ex-
pressing themselves correctly.' 's.las''lsss' /
"Mercy on me, if T don't believe the
gentleman is right'' exclaimed Mrs. Stout. !.
..but never thought of the subject in that
light''4 ,sfZ ai.t @ s4 '.3,sf4 l'ss@ sffs ]
* The habit has been of such long stand /
ing, that it VIII be a terrible "muss''to get
out off, observed Mr. Stout, thoughtfnlly !,
unconscious that he had employed a@cant
word, even when he meant to have spoken
sincerely and to the point. Iaaa''4'Ie .
''But do your children use no such
words9" asked Mrs. Stout, earnestly -.
-. Never" resumed Mr.. Thompson.
..Ilaying been properly taugh,'the English
language they do not feel the need Of such
phrases; they regard. them with as much
repugnance as do" 81, ~ rs,N sssss
..lt beats the dickens!" added the lady.
sentimentally. How strong the force Of
habit is. Now, could easily leave off
such things, but it would be different with
husband and the children. ''As true as
I'm alive" I don't think they ever could
mend in that respect!'' s''S
My eye! you're cutting ii fat, moth
err' exclaimed Napoleon .You've used
Two Of 'em since you began 10 speak -
Mr., Thompson smiled, and said: ~
.Yes,, yes, the force Of habit is strong,
Mrs. Stout - -. :. sss'iS'
There's, nc, Ceiling round that, sug-
gested the senior Stout. s
Ny conscience, Mr.. Thompson9 cried
Miss Josephine, 4 hope you don't think
Tn addicted to language that l cannot
leave off just as easy as nothing,
That's hight vociferated Napoleon, ex-
ultingly. The. more you try the worse
you make it! Jerusalem pancakesF your
hgh faiutia stuff common among the snobs,
aint worth q copper!'5 sezs, i & ,s.-se
Bless me. Napoleon, how you do run
on. never heard the beat of you.'' ,,,s,3
Il thank heaven!' exclaimed. Mr.: Thomp
son, emphatically, shat my children are
not infected with this moral leprosy which
disfgures human language. and detracts
from, the dignity of the human character.
My friend, hope you willmake a strong
and long g-continued effort to repair the
mischief which your example has wrought.
Be never weary in this work of reform.
and ever bear il constantly in mind, that
your children never can appear TO good
advantage in elegant and refined society,
| until they can speak correctly; or. at least
| in manner not to offend ordinary good
TASTE There are CIRCLES to which the
slaves to such habits cannot by any means
ra;, od,n;eS;op. hacause their in f1liences