Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-04-07
.'CHEEK.,

"A" SCuSihi tuiu-s WOW piSN"'oShN u'o vi
slang phrases; but-there are some OF them
that seem so exactly expressive OF habit
or characteristic that the most fas'idlous
Psychologist might be pardoned in the oc-
casional use of them.
There is kind ofglerrNd English hav-
ing its origin on the streets, along the
wharves, among the newsboys and every
where beyond the precincts OF toe schools.
1t annexes itself to the language in spite of
dictionary makers; it will not be frowned
away by the disapproval of any LII d., it
has its birth sor. ewh ere somehow. because
there is need OF il; and presently itascends
from the servants hall to the parlor and
gets foothold on the tapestry; the news
papers adopt it, and thus we have it en-
grated upon the language. The erudite
graduate will tell US that this is all wrong;
that we ought to draw every expression
from the well of English undefiled; and
that Qor instance) the word cte'k signifies
nothin else than "that part OF the face be-
low the yves. on each side" But facts are
facts after all; and people will continue to
use this word in the highly expressive sense
of "unblushing impudence, or 'braz n
effrontery." We have selectedit from the
great stream of slang running through the
speech of the people as perhaps better cal
cu!ated than any other to illustrate the
wonderful expressiveness OF this guerrilla
English
what dye think of young T--2" was
lately asked in our hearing.
"A cheeky boy ives the answer. Could
volumes have spoken more accurately OF
fast saucy young America than that?
At table lately clean and hungry
looking person, whose appearance denoted
that 'sauare meals" were with him as an
gel visits, coolly appropriated the whole
contents OF an uncommon dish, of which
the supply was known to be limited. His
opposite sat waiting for the dish to reach
him: and as he saw it replaced,
empty, upon the table, after this whole
sale appropriation of its contents, his
vexation and disappointment found vent
in the one word, uttered with an emphasis
that no amount of undsrscoring here can
reproduce:
| "Cheekw
The other diners laughed and smiled APP
provingly, and the dlnner-table private red
dened from his nose beyond his ears The
lesson will not be lost on hiro.
| We have all had some experience on the
railway trains with class ofpeople whose
conduct can only flow roma plentiful sup
ply of the quality named herein. We en-
ter car, aud the first view tells US that it
is full-or neAr,y so. No vacant seats at
tracts our eve. We walk on, and to us APP
pears the figure of spruce young man,
with a looh of hard decision about the an
giles of his lace sitting by the window,
while q great valise beside him occupies
the balance of the seat We stop, we hest
tate; we don't like to address him, for we
don't fancy that look; but we want seat
He looks straight ont OF the windows, and
pre,ends to be unaware of our presence.
sSir!" say we. "Sr---"
He turns his head and contemplates us
with stony eye.
.S.r-is The ,rhole of this seat taken?"
eyes, ST."
He hurls the words at us like charge of
shot. We murmur, Indignantly, Cheek, "
and on. No other word tina. We know OF
can describe such conduct.
| "Here is this bill for that suit you're
wearing, Mr.. b ne Jay" says the exasper-
ated tailor do You propose to pay 1T or
not, sir. If I've presented it once, l have
eleven times, sir"
"Ah, indeed?" bandly replies the Jer
emv Diddler. "Well, now, / think you'd
better present il again, and that'll just make
the even dozer don't you see? l never did
| like odd numbers,
Would anybody think of giving that any
such mild name as impudence? tbs cheek
downright cheek.
"Got any -four asked fellow who saun-
tered into country store with his hands
in his pockets.
"Oh, yes, SIR answers the merchant,
with alacrity. Extra and superfine--"
"Any sugar.
Certainly, sir, white and yellow coffee,
crushed, powdered
"Buttei?"
"Some has just ccme in-sweet and
nice
Eggs"
sPenty of EN-, SIR"
"Well, I'm gai to hear it" draws the
Joker. These things are all useful IN
family and I'm glad you've got EN-, Hope
You'll not allow your family to be without
EN-, Good morning. =,
Can this be called anything but "cheek, ="
and that of the very checklist descriptions
The careless donkey who treads on your
corns at an evening party, and then re,
marks audibly that some people have feet
as large as school districts; tNs young scamp
who proposes marriage to every pretty girl
of his acquaintance, 'just to keep his hand
in, 30 he can do II gracefully when the right
time comes" the blood-sucker who offers
to borrow I've dollars on the strength OF as
many minutes acquaintance; the adven-
turer who energetically courts handsome
widow. and winds up his visits by an elope-
ment With hen daughter; the man who asks
woman her age, politician his 'con-
scientious opinion, girl if she has ever
had an offer, and any one for the am cunt
of his income all these are memorable ex-
annie of u quality of mind that is and must
continue to be known rs "cheek.
We are not advocating the use OF slang,
We only say that some of this illegltimate
English is most pungently expressive
,Jnnes franklin Fits, in The chronological