The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-08-07
Slang.
ITS CoNvENIENCES AND UNlyEIsAl1TY
HIGH AND LOW SLANG.

ITS CoNVENIENCES AND UNlyEIsAl.1TY
HIGH AND LOW SLANG.
There is probably a good deal more
slang used in this world than many
people are aware of. In fact, there arc
very few persons who do not make use
ofsomc of its varieties, at least occa-
slonally. Slang per Sc may be appar-
ent In force, manner, voice, dress, or
language, but it is in the latter that it
is most noticeable, if not most fire.
quent. The slang of language in its
turn is susceptible of still further sub
division 1t discloses itself either in
peculiar phraseology and in such form,
is especially universal else it makes
itself manifest in tile shape of scurril-
GUS abuse. The fish wives Of Billings
gate and the political editors Of small
Radical newspapers are probably the
best known opponents of the last men
toned variety. The slang, which con-
slsts IN apeculiar phraseology, is at the
very outset open to the objection that
it is not necessarily a part of a liberal
education, and that tile most accom-
plishcd ladies and gentlemen are la
Die either not to understand or to mis-
understand you if you use it. There
arc occasions. too, when it is not the
height Of good manners to talk slang ;
and yet habit is second nature, and he
who falls into the habitual use of any
thing can not always desist, unless he
watches himself even closer than the
law demands. Besides, some kinds of
slang are fashionable and some are not.
Fashion changes, and it is only he who
is very watchful, and who goes into
society good deal, who can be sure
as to what slang is in season. The
knowledge is universally regarded as a
necessity, for it is conceded very gen
orally that for man to so talk that
people can not understand his meaning,
is for him to commit an absurdity.-
Slang, at the best, is confined to eli
qucs. There is the slang of fashiona-
bles, and the slang of unfashionables
feminine slang and masculine slang
the slang of schools and the slang OF
universities; the slang of the army and
the slang Of the navy. OF course there
may be few highly-favored and in
dustrious individuals who have made
themselves acquainted with every kind
of shaving, though has rule the Shaving
of one clique is for the most part unin-
telligiblc to all others. This fact some
times serves useful end, as in the
4 case of thieves and vagabonds, who nc
doubt frequently find their Characters
tic "patter" of value, in enabling them
totalk business, and at the Same time
not add to the information of any
eavesdropping outsiders. Taken as 4
whole, thieves slang, despite it's ne.
cessary coarseness, does not equal If
scope or ingenuity that frightful ani
wonderful murder of the Queens Eng
fish known as circus or show slang
1t is chiefly devoted-outsidc its pro
fessional department-to the descrip
ton of foul and repulsivc things ant
people and situations. In this rcspec
it may be regarded as sort of sanitar,
assistant to the pure vocabulary, mas
much as it deals comprehensiyely will
subjects that q respectable Language
ought to blush to portray. With it
almost equally foul-mouthod associate
the slang of thieves, the slang of TIL
low hangcrs-on of low shows is sor
of sewer for the running off of the mas
lty things of society, and the consc
quent publication of decent language
equally icomprehensible, though by
no means as repulsive to all sense O
common decency is tho slang of the
sporting world. 1t may be fairly said
that nearly every account in the sport.
ing papers of horse race, prize fight
game of base ball, or billiard match
runs over with expressions that are
quite above the understanding of the
ordinary reader. So far as the prize
ring is concerned, slang is not only
freely introduced, but almost entirely
displaces ordinary phraseology. Per
haps there is good reason for this; il
misrepresents things; it clothes with a
sort of grim humor scenes that would
otherwise be simply horrible, and
throws coarse vail over a picture, III
itself CHASTITY. According to the pugi.
list, a man has not head but "nut'
or. "nob;" not a forehead but a
knowledge box" not face but q
''frontispicce," or "dial," Or "mug;'
not nose, but a ''proboscis," "snutf.
box, "smeller," or ''bugle;;" not eyes
but "ogles," or "peepers;" not mouth
but ''potato-trap' or "kisfer )" no,
teeth, but "ivories )" not a stomach
but a "bread basket" or "commissary
departments" not hands, but "fns :
not a fist, but 'mauley," "bunch o
fves," or ''duke )" not legs, but "pins,
or: understandings" not feet, bu
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