Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-24
Tit for Tat.

In speaking of Rachel, last week. the Loun-
ger of .'Harper's Weekly" said that in this
country, however tolerably We might cOnlmong
GOO polty GOO, We could not speak French. On
the other hand. the following note from Mon
sieur Crapeau shows the difficulties that envi-
ron our dear vernacular when approached by
the Gallo genius
'.ST. LOUIS, No, January 1858,
o Monsieur tie LOungr Three years ago !
did arrive in this very admirable republic. |
came with the intention chiefly to acquire
your (pardOnHezD ID language, and thought
at last by much study Of the dictionary, that
had learned him pretty much without the
aid of teacher. SO, after practising with my
own cOuntrymen for much period, | naturally
cogitate that he well posted | then take
board in the American hotel, and, on the Wig
or of my knowledge, enter literally into con-
versatiOn with my fellow boarders. All |
soon detect that they make jolly about me.
And yet l always speak like Noah Webster's
Dictionary says PdrJteu! My pronunciation
is akin to. perfection, all people say, and yet
they make a large quantity of dcrisiOn when
| shall speak in the English language-.Sacre!
| know not what to do to help myself your
tongue is so intricate!
81 have frequently observed. 10y example,
that the mother of pretty little girl is pleas
ed when her daughter is called "a charming
little puss,' or "a kitten One day. desiring
to compliment an American lady, who is ac
quaintcd with me. and who possesses two fine
children, applied the term to her daughter;
she appeared gratified. Thinking TO get still
more into her good graces, pltted her small
boy on the head, and called him "A promising
Young puppv.' To my much amazcment the
lady became indignant, and sailed out of the
room, muttering something that had the sound
of brute She has not spoken to me SINCE
and cannot conceive how injure her sensi-
blity.
ION another occasion, new-married gen
tleman introduced me to his wife-a very de-
liciOus woman. After the interview he want
ed to be cOgniZant of my opinion OF her.
Isn't she duck of grl!' he asked, with
raptures. Wishing to make him feel good,
and also to surpass him i'll his comparison, |
bethought me of IA prefer bird than the duck
and with gailantry, replied, Yes, my friend,
she is Il regular goose OF a girl Would you
believe it, Mister the Loungcr, this compli-
ment procured for me Il broken head?
Without doubt. did it!
in fact whenever project to be peculiar
ly correct or elegant, /, without variation,
place my feet into him.
And then hear every day so odd express
sions which my dictionary do not explain to
me. The BOYS so much say, Go il. bOotsl
sometimes adding, for wooden legs are
cheap | cannot for my life understand in
what particular manner boots are thereupon
expected to perambuate (eh! is that last word
correctly applied?), nor how their going could
possibly be affected by the price of wooden
legs. Go in, lcmous! they cry, too. very
much. DO the Juvenile Americans thereby
mean to advise that the person addressed
shall actually enter this fruit, or is Lemons
merely a familiar nickname for anybody that
~ IN fitrut il
totally incomprehensible to me!
by coniound IT, your drOll English tongue
is SO lull OF incongruity l ncuer shall be allie
To talk him with agility. What sail l do?
BY pshAwl l entertain much notion To
manufacture tracks back TO la belle France.
Il remain, Mister the Lounger. all days
yours, JEAN CRAPEAU.n