The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-07-15
ExcLAMATI0NS.


An exclamation point is one Of the most
comprehensive symbols in the printers case.
It seems simple enough, but like slender
electrical rod, it often has tremendous charge
Of lightning in it To be sure, it may be
employed to signify only mild surprise. 1t
is only another way of saying, "Lo!'' Be
hold /" Look /" This is its literary func-
ton.
Bat there are living exclamation points.
The very full man is tempted to express him.
self explosiyely. What are the "by-words, y
the g By gracious - g By George +" "Thun-
der - POUNDS - !" Heavens 70 but excla-
nation points? If in writing, he would ex-
press himself thus! and if quite stirred up,
thus! and il furious l But when not
writing, he swears--which is a vocalized ex-
clamation point. OF course l refer to mild
swearing white swearing, or towards oaths
-" BY jimminy !" "Gracious /" "By thun-
derl', and such like. consider them to be
of equal length and breadth with the milder
forms of cursing. These are to downright
swearing what shinplasters are to gold and
silver. Most men who say "Thunder !"
would prefer to say "The Devil" but fear
that may draw too deep. They say "By
Jove! !" simply because they are afraid to say
what they really mean.
There is, among persons of refinement and
honor, no difference of opinion as to the
practice of profane swearing. It degrades
our ideas of God; it corrupts our simplicity
Of mind in regard to holy things; it
mixes the most sacred truths with our moods
of anger, and employs the channels which
only our highest sentiment should ever use,
as sewers for our most violent passions.
1t is not the question whether men mean to
insult sacred themes. 1t is simply question
of the effect upon themselves of reducing the
highest themes to the vulgarity and ribaldry
of their most careless and corrupt hours.
Could a man be true to friendship who habitu-
ally employed his friends name as a by-word
of contempt? Could he be true to the house,
hold, and to all the delicacy of modest love,
who used his wife's and daughters names in
connection with the most ribald themesp
As little can one maintain an honorable
reverence for sacred things who is accustomed
to employ their names and titles as the sport
of his ungracious moods. Men excuse them
selves by the plea that their bark is worse than
their bite-that they mean no harm but il
one should practice lying on the same plea
would it not harm hima Men say that they
are only in fun, and not in earnest but on,
would hardly lampoon his mothers name, 0
dance on her grave, on the plea that he wa
in sport.
If genuine, outright swearing is not to b
allowed, surely it is not worth ones while
take on the small counterfeit trash whic
abounds to such degree in mems converse
| ton.
"Let your communication be yea, yea nay
nay for whatsoever is more than thes
cometh of evil" Experience justifes tn
truth of these simple words. The pet oaths
'sby-words,' the innumerable- and swarmin
explosives with which men garnsh their con
versation, are in violation of good taste, GOO
feeling, and good sense. They spring fron
the same source that profane swearing does
and likeit, they take away delicacy, and mar tn
sense of truth and justice in expression. N
gentleman, and no young person who intends
to be a gentleman, should have anything to d.
with swearing-either the old dame or he
cubs. Out with the whole litter!