The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-30
TUESDAY. AUGUST 90. 1864.


Nobody doubts the fact that half the DIS
putes In life originate In the mistaken appli-
cation Of terms, and It may be wholesome to
Investigate and try to remedy few of these
eylls, To call things by their true names,
whea this may be done without ofTense 10
persons, seems 10 be the first step towards cor
recfiDg vice that creeps imperceptibly upon
soclety, and which, by becoming chronic, is
much more difficult TO cure. Humbug" Is a
term for the very general and modern use Of
which we are irdebted, we think, to Barnum.
The dictionaries tell us that 1t means impO-
sftion," and Is a rcry ioi0 vord." Neverthe-
les, we bear this term applied with wonder
fGl degree Of universally. 1t is employed to
cover and disguise acts Of all sorts, which have
other and very plain terms TO designate them,
such as then, cheating, and falsehood.
We think this grave abuse. We go for
calling things by their right names. The
'sDlrectory," for example, terms all men who
have no occupation, trade, or profession, 'gen-
temen." We call them idle and, for the most
part, unfortunate people. And some, whose
lanes sre not even In the DIRECTORY" are
termod gentlemen, or men of leisure. Idle
ness with these Is prolific source of vice and
mischief, as Is daily demonstrated at the cor
ners of our principal streets. In reference to
this class, 1t Is time to ask IL there are no pub
l,c work-houses unOccuped.
a dO-nOfhing Is worse than a know
nothing; for ignorance Is misfortune,
while irdolence and uselessness are onenses
against the community in which man lives.
In the immediate vicinity of Third street,
end even more abundantly in Wall street,
/, New York, the term Operation" Is constantly
FUSED TO distinguish transactions that need a
palmer name. A man sells that which he has
mot land that which he could not possibly
3 pFocure) at credit OF Eve, ten or twenty
days, and at a certain price. Ii at the end o
the time the object sold is worth more in the
market than the price agreed upon, the pur
chaser pays the difference, and the "operd
tom Is completed.
But II, on the contrary, the object has fallen
In value, and the buyer asks in vain for his
security or for the difference, the operator
coolly tells HIM he has nothing; is very sorry
and, perchance, is even abusive, If plainly told
he Is rogue. For, strange to say, even such
operators" do not like to hear such plain
truths. Agenuine "Operaton" is needed upon
score of such fellows; we mean the surgical
one OF applying the knife to the ears. In this
simple way We should be able to recognise
the miserable tricksters who, under the pro-
tection OF false terms, daily commit dishonest
acts that deserve the penltentiary.
Among the minor misapplicatioDs Of terms
Is flat OF Hotel" for rowdy drinking shops
where unprincipled men sell poisonous stuff
they call brandy. The drugged drinks with
which these tempters slowly ruin their weak
minded visitors should long since have given
them IN equal title to the name bestowed upon
the great gaming houses; for if there is a hell
on eartb, 1t is low rum-hole in one of our large
cities, where the young are gradually aud
systematically tempted TO part, not only with
their money, but wi h all they possess that is
precious in health and character; where the
mot dreadful su6erings In after life are rem
dered inevitable, and where whole families are
madt victims.