New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-18
bridge, VIC know not how justly, claim to DO the
purest standards of good English in the United States

bridge. VIC know not how justly. claim TO DO the
unrest standards of good English in the United States
The wealth and population Of our railroad centers
is as yet only in the early stages Of development"
TO- 1881 This sentence is precisely similar IN its
construction to that quoted from Macauay, and may
be defended on the same grounds; although the
writer makes slip in the of few lines, foT
which nothing can be said. with wealth comes
taste and luxury"
Mr.. Gould attacks the use of uRdThGnded for uRde-
hand, with considerable vehemence but we think
fails to make out complete case; at least, admit
ting that uhdhdRd is the better word of the two, we
do not admit the force of his reasonngs in its favor
He alleges that have verb TO underkand, and no
noun, an VRdGhaRG, from which such n compound
could be made and Therefore the addition Of ed rem
derS the word mere vulgarism, much so as the
same addition wOuld make Of beforehand and behinG
hand But lie appears TO forget that we have fore
handed sustained by the best authority, and several
other similar compounds, which if not frequent In
elegant composition, certainly pass without chal-
Ienge in the conversation Of the best speakers
Would he exclude hghhdnded, backhdndod, strong
handed and the like because there is no verb nor
noun, which corresponds to themi The truth if, we
believe. they of independent formation, and no
more liable to objection than such words as high
minded loC tOughted and the like which form an i'm
pOTtant element IN the materials OF our ldusudSe'
We have space to mention but one more point on
which we differ from Mr. Gould, namely, his rigid
construction of the Specification of tho words either
and neither He contends that their trne use is re-
strcted in all to to objects, and no more mean
ing one or the OTHER negatively not one or the other;
and hence it is marvellous how palpablc an error
as the wider application of the terms could have
gained currency. lie admits, however, that tins
misuse" as he calls it, has the sanction of all
writers and all photographers, the authorities being
nearly unanimous in its favor. In this instance.
therefore he sets up his favOrte theory IN hos
tity to the prevalent usage of best writers, and
the decision of our most learned and accurate phiioo-
gists Without more forcible arguments than he pre-
sents for leaving the whole current of verbal tradl-
ton he will probably remain in his present minority
tits little amusing to find so many writer's devoted
to the criticism of words, whose own dictlon exhibits
errors no less conspicuous than those which they
assail Mr. Gould is not free from this inconsistency.
Thus he speaks of Improving an opportunity" use
Of the word which has been zealOusly challenged,
and not admitted by strict pursts; in that connection,
a phrase not to be found in any classical English
author of early date and first started in Boston less
than fifty years ago. probably by Mr.. Edward
Everett, with WHOM i Vas g fayogtei asd finally
and worst of ALL he has the abominable term iRno'
in the sense of sanction, corruption which has crept
into literature from Wall-street and which is almost
vile 10 be posted meaning TO be informed which
comes from the same unseemly source though its use
is confined chiefly to stage-drivers and bar-room
politicians, -