Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-12-08

the frlgate nOat out ana NTOO 0eIeuQ
the right! [Applausel. ].
From the Galaxy, for December.
WRECKS OF WORDS.
One of the wayside amusements Of q
study of the mutations of language
consists in tracing the curious curtail-
ments and transformations which
words undergo, purely as the result of
indistinet and Incorrect prOnuncia-
ton or as it is more scientifically
called, ofphonetic corruption. Sounds
that are difficult to articulate are
changed for those that run more easi-
ly into the combination, and trouble
some letters are left out big words,
that seem to those who utter them a
mere fortuitous cOncourse of syllables
are twisted into queer and often ludi-
crous senses.
Written language cannot control
spoken language. If it could, the
proper pronunciation of Worcester
would not be Wooster, or of Glouces-
ter, Gloster. Mr.. Cozzens, in "The
Sayings Of DR.. Bushwhacker," tells
how, hiring post-chaise and pair to
go down TO "Stratford-upon-Ayon,"
he asked the position ''tO drive him
by way of Charleeote Hall" as he
wished to see the place where Shakes
peare was tried for Devastating. The
position was puzzled, and made many
inquiries but nobody had ever heard
of Charlecote Hall. By and by, the
underhostler spoke up in fOggy
voice, ''P'raps the gemman means
Chawcut." And Chawcut it was
So he adds that Warwick is called
Waric, ,Beauchamp Chapel, Beecham /;
Charlesbury, Chawbree; ChOlmOnd-
eley, Chumlee; Berwick of old renown
-''royal Berwick's beach of sand''
-Berric; Candlewick street, in Lon
don, Cannick; Smithfield, Smifi'd !;
and High HolbOrn, I-Oburn.
In the same way the word Magda-
len became contracted TO Mandolin,
thus forming a word which Trench
thinks obtains its meaning from the
derisiOn in which the tears of the
heart-brOken Magdalen are held
Prof. Henry COppee gives the more
genial theory that il comes from the
fact that the boys at Magdalen Col
lege, at Oxford, were called Maudlin
boys; and being somewhat notorious
for their bad habits, were frequently in
that pseudo-pathetic condition which
was finally described by the word
maudlin.
A great many words, passing be-
tween the Scylla and Chary bdis of the
organs of articulation, have been sad
ly wrecked, and have left only por-
tions of their hull-sOmetimes bow,
sometimes stern. Thus cabriOlet,
omnibus, caravan, gentleman, navi-
gator, customer, physiOgnomy, have
become cab, bus, van, gent, NAVY,
euss, and phiZ. Madame first became
ma'am, and finally m, as in Yes'm."
The { in the word phantasy was
slurred over, and fancy was left as a
wreck. Housewife became hussif, and
that lost its better senseand was stran-
ded on the shores OF language as hus-
sy. Jeremy Taylor, in "Holy Liv-
ing" says: "Without revelation We
cannot tell whether we shall eat to-
morrow, or whether squinaney shall
choke u.s." The wreck Of that queer
old word, "squinancy," is quinsy.-
1t was originally the same word as
synagogue, from oUU and aylO, to draw !
together, and become squanchy, and |
from that fast lost its outlines and |
bounds. So the raehitis of the doc |
tors has become popularity ricketts,"
and what was once hydropsy is now |
drOpsy. Our word O'Clock is the |
wreck of ION the clock" on tick was
once ION ticket and topsy-turvy is /
said to be the remains of "top side /
{ other way" "As sure as eggs is l
- - =, s,fI
the logician's formula-"as sure as X
is x "-just as in the phrase 'he would
not know a hawk from handsaw,"
the last word was at first hernshaw, a
kind of bird. ..-.-.
Palsy is the wreck of paralysis, sur
yeOn of ehirurgeOn, pansy of panacea,
and furlong of furrOw long. Daisy is
to be days eye, shortened,
and jewsharp, .jdI0S harp, transformed.
The old AnglO-SaxOn phrase, "Hit is
10 witanne"(it is 10 know, has dwind-
ed into tOit. Drawing-roOm used to
be withdrawing room :" as itmay be
'ound in Seott's "Kenilworth" and
elsewhere.
Boyer speaks of Nourel Eudngeliste,
Ir a preacher of new opinions, and
New -Evangeled doctrines finally be-
.ame new-fangled ones. The bladder
)f q fish called hysen (the same as our
;turgeon), is in Holland bysem6lds,
whence comes our isinglass. There
lsed to be held fair called st. Aud
-ey's Fair, and poor and snowy lace
became proyerbially known as st.
Audrey's lace, and then as tawdry
ace. The style of glassware called
iemijohn was first manufactured in
/ Persian city named Damaghan,
whence it was brought by the Crusa-
iers and the small grapes of Corinth
IRE still called cuTrznts. The pro-
lhetic WeiesdQer of the Germans has
ost its lofty character and become q
viseacre. The jagged points of
= 'DamaghRn, "COrinth, and 'Weis-
ager," were simply worn off by fire.
Iuent passage through the organs of
peech. (,
There are corruptions of words de-
-eloped by the study of scientific
that would appear incredi-
lie were they not so well authentica-
ed. The appearance of a word on pa
,erfurnishes often but little indica-
ion OF its sound. The story has late
y been going the rounds, Of an order
ent to a publisher for copy OF In q
iarden,n which was said to be by
'ennyson. An ingenious clerk, after
surmising, finally per-
eived that the man wanted "EnOeh
Arden" A story is told of an Irish
nan who went into q French restaur-
mt after oysters. 1t is probable that
he had consulted dictionary and I
ried to pronounce thewOrd htfitre, he {
le wOnld have been very unlikely to &
make himself understood, but he s
alled out to the waiter, with the !
,ork accent, "WeeterI weeterI" and |
he man, supposing that he said {
huitre," forthwith brought him the
ish he desired. --r.o -rl. fl
So Iesemblances Of words traced on ]
he printed page are worthless. An