The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-01-13
Sian Words 40 Phrasea.

Nowadays everybody uses slang, and
often it has a point, pungency and apprO-
priateness which ordinary language lacks. |
That this should be true is not singular, for
it is simply because Of its pith and point
that word or phrase passes current, be-
comes very popular and is finally elassed as
slang. i on can scarcely select a bit of
slang in regard to which this remark does
not hold good.
1t is quite common to denounce slang as
vulgar but those who use this sort of de-
nunciation should be careful lest they IN
Willingly condemnspersons acknowledged to
be much wiser than themselves. When
slang words and phrases are traced to their
authors, they are almost all found to have
a very respectable parentage. Even ary
and nary the slangiest of terms, are reg
ularly accepted in one of the English coun-
ties as part Of the mother tongue, and are
there held to be as good English as any that
is spoken at the present day.
But some slang words and phrases come
to US Endorsed by still higher authority.
The skin Of my teeth Is slang, but it
is also Bible. (See Job xix, 20.) "Spread
ing himself Is also Scriptural slang, and
occurs in Psalms xxxvii, IS. "Play to you
but death to us is good slang, from Roger
pEstrange, who wrote in I704 T" All cry
and no wool is slang from Hudibras.
ASK me no question and I'll tell you no
lies commonly supposed to be the rural
slang-is by Goldsmith. Not much the
worse for wear is COwpers. {" What will
Mrs. Grundy say Is polite slang, by
Thomas Morton The Almighty dollar
is genuine slang now; but is originated with
Washington Irving. Clearly, then, slang
comes from good stock
/ Instances multiply upon us, and the broad
er the slang the better the authority. " As
| good as play was uttered by King Charles.
. Fast and loose is from Loves Labor
/ Lost" Pumping aman isn't that slang7
Well it is taken from Otways Venice Pre-
served Look at go snacks pure slang
! from POpes prologue to sattires. In the
wrong box is from Fox's Book of Mar
| tyrs. Think of the worst possible slang
! phrases. Do you select " to lam a person
! in the fre-bOy senBe2 Beaumont and Fetch
er use it with precisely the same meaning.
In fact the newsbOys and boot blacks talk
that racy, Elizabeth an English which Bay
ard Taylor praises In his recent notice of
/ Heavysege, the new poet. There is moth
ing nOVel-not even slang. The dead walls
of POmpeii and Herculaneum are decorated
with just such slang words, phrases and
pictures as those which disfgure the fences
of the streets of New York.
A sailor, the other day, while explaining
the third figure of quadrille to his mess
mate, thus described 1t: You first heave
ahead, and pass your edversary's yard-arm,
regain your berth on the other tack in the
same order, take your station with your
partner in line, back and fill, and then fall
on your heel, and bring up with your part
ner she then maneuvers ahead, off along
side of you then make sail in company
with her until nearly astern of the other
line, make a stern board, cast her off to shift
for herself, regain your place the best way
you can, and let go your anchor"