The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-04
Use OF Slang by Young Women.

Young women are very apt to imbibe a bad
habit, namely the use Of slang. was walk
ing along the street the other day when I
met an elegantly dressed lady and gentleman
upon the sidewalk. Ny attention was the
more attracted to them because they were
evidently strangers. At any rate they i'm.
pressed me as being very thoroughly refined
and genteel people. As I came within hear.
Ing Of their voiccs-they were quietly chat
ting along the way-I heard these words
from the woman's lips: You may bet your
life OH that. I could almost have boxed her
ears. remember once being in tho company
Of belle-one who had had q winter s
reign in Washington. Some kind Of game
was in progress, when, in moment OF sur
prise she exclaimed, "My Gracious!" Now
you may regard this as fnical notion. but
| tell you that woman fell as fatty in my
esteem as II she had uttered an oath. A lady
fresh from Paris, once informed me that it
would do the residents Of certain quiet
village great deal Of good to be "stirred up
with long pole" Let US sec how you like
this kind Of talk.
II you wish to be an "a No. I" woman.
you have 60. to "toe the mark" and be less
"hifalutin. You may bet your head on
that" You may sing "slightually"" "like u
martinsalc." you may "spin s,rcct-yarn" a,
the rate Of ten knots an hour, you may stalk
like a book" you may dance as IL you were
on Irregular breakdown" you may "turn
up your nose at common folks, "::and play on
the piano ''mighty inc," but "Eteiyou."
you 'can't como to tea" "You may be
handsome, but you can't come in" You
might just as well "cavc in" first as last and
"absquatulate," for you can't"put it through
no how you can fix it," lfyou imagine you
may "go II while you are young, for when
you are old ycu can't" you won't "come it"
"by long chalk" "Own up" now, and
edo the straight thing" and I'll "set you
down" US "one OF the women VIC read Of. I"
II you can't "come up to the scratch," why
I must "let you slide" But if you have u
"sncaking notion" for being a "rcgular
brick" there is no other way-"not Us you
knows on''-.'nosirree hess ?" lfa young
man should "kind O. shine up to you," and
you should "cottou to him." and he should
hear you say "by the Jumping Moses" or
"by the living jingo,' or "my goodness" or
81 vow," or "go il Bctsey, I'll hold your
bonnet" or .mind your eye," or "hit him
agin," or"takc mcaway," or "dry up,now,"
or "draw your slcd," or "cut stick" or
"givo him particular fits," he would pretty
certainly "evaporate."
would by no means insinuate that all
young women usc slang as coarse Us this.
but acknowledge to have heard some Of
these phrases from friends whom l really
esteem. Is not the use of these phrases and
like them, whose number is legion, very
vulgar habit? Itseems 50 to me, and can
hear it from the lips OF no pretty woman eS-
ccpt with pain, aud certain diminution OF
my respect for her. The habit certainly de-
tracts from womanly dignity. II can be
dropped without the slightest danger Of
going into that extreme Of precision in the
use Of language which takes out all the life
and freedom from social intercourse. Slang
is bad enough in young men, and they In
dulgc far too much in il; but in young
woman it is disgusting. II Is not the out
growth Of fine natures; it is not accordant
with refined taste. Any young woman who
indulgcs In It does It at very sad expense
to her mind, and manners. and reputation.
Therefore, beware Of it; discard Il; guard
the door Of your lips, and leave It to those
coarse specimens ofyour sex Of whose natures
and habits Of thought II Is tho natural and
fitting expression.