Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-17
miscellaneous Etrms.


NUMBER or WORDS UsEp.-From a report
of one of Hon. George p. Marsh's lectures on
the English language, we take the following
interesting extract:
The number of good English words found
in use by good writer's could hardly fall short
of 100000. But we knew this mainly as we
knew Greek, as book words and not as the
language of speech. Even if man was able
on extraordinary occasions to bring into use
in wordy battle half of that number, he gem
orally contentcd himself with far fewer Each
individual used in his daily life a repertory of
words to some extent peculiar to himself
one which would furnish key to his private
history. Few scholars used as many as TO-
900 English words ordinary people not more
than 5000. In all Shakespeare there was not
more than 5000 words in all Milton, 5000.
Of the Egyptian hieroglyphics there were but
500, and it was said that the vocabulary of
the Italian opera was scarcely greater. We
each found very limited vocabulary enough
for our purposes One man would say
houghtfM heart another greaifH heart one
fancy, another imagination one described his
friend of a saRguine temperament, another as
of a hopeful disposition one man began 10
build, another commenced building each had
his own words and stuck to them. man of
controlled passions used plain words, while
passionate man used many ntensives
Loose thinkers contented themselves with
general applications for large classes of ideas,
while logical thinkers used more and more
specific words. The arts demanded more new
words than anything else"
A GOVERNOR NoN-P LUssED Tho other
night, as the ministers were returning from
Conference, ON the Il. r. Ga Railroad, an
amusing occurrence took place between Gov.
Brown and Parson Brownlow. Just before
the cars arrived at Knoxville, Gov. Brown
came up, and taking the Parson by the hand.
remarked:
'How do you do. brother Brownlowi |
am happy to see you"
The courtesy was returned, when the Gov
srnor continued:
IL hope you will moderate all your notions
Of propriety in regard to your iellew citizens
living good christian-and last, though
not least, become good Democrat"
The Parson, with the eccentric look peeu-
liar to himself, stretched himself up, and re-
marked:
Governor, an old gentleman of your poll
tics, many hundred years ago, took our Saw
Tor upon mountain, and preached just such
sermon"
ILL VoTE FOR THE OTHER MAN.-Thc
following story is told of Revolutionary sol
dier, who was running for Congress:
1t appears that he was opposed by much
younger man, who had never "been to the
wars" and il was the wont of revolution.
airy to tell the people of the hardshps he en-.
dured
Says he:
Fellow citizens, have fought and bed fo
my country-l helped whip the British an,
Indians. have slept ON the field of battl
with no other covering than the canopy o
heaven. have walked over frozen groun,
till every footstep was marked with blood
just about this time ,one of the "sovereigns'
who had become very much affected by thi
tale of woe, walks up in front of the speaker
wiping the tears from his eyes with the ex
tremity of his coat-tail, and inteuupting him
says:
did you say that you had fought the Br
fish and the lnjinesi"
EYES," responded Revolutionary.
did you say that you had slept on Ii
ground while serving your country witbo,
any kiver."
''Yes, sir, / did"
did you say you had followed the enem
OF your country over frozen ground till ever
footstcp was covered with blood :"
Yes exultingly replied the speaker
"Well, then" says the fearful ''sovereign
as be gave a sigh Of painful emotion, ''I'l |
blamed if don't think you've done enouq
fm your country, and III vote for the 9TH
man y
MARRIAGE OF KISDBED.--A bill has pas
ed the House Of Representatives of Georg
by vote Of So to 5s, prohibiting the int
marriage Of first cousins, under severe pei
atty. and cutting off the inheritance of issu
The preamble to the bill asserts that mar
dslormations Of mind and body are Of cong
nial origin from the practice of near kindr,
intermsnying with each other.