The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-12-17


of the applications of Square and Cube
Root. He began by advocating the teach
ing Of cube and square root in connection
with cubic and square measure.
The Institute then took recess, after
which we had some more singing.
Mr.. Shafer then resumed the subject of
square and cube root
Mr.. Shedler then took up the subject
of propositions, where he had left it at the
close of his previous discussion He treated
OF the philology of certain propositions
These remarks were interesting, though of
little practical benefit
The committee on questions then called
for answers after which, came music and
adjournment.
Met per adjournment at 7:3O P. NJ.
Music, Singing, Safe within the Vail "
Prof A. NJ. Raub then addressed the In
stitute on the subject of Talk" He be-
gan by speaking of the composite character
of our language. All languages, ancient
and modern, have contributed something
towards making our language what it is.
Our ships touch at no port, meet no class
OF foreigners but what some new words are
brOtght back and mingled with our speech.
The language, like the nation, is made up
by mixing and assimilating the most op-
posit and varied elements The speaker
compared cur language to the raft drift
wood in the Red River of the North. This
raft is sowl y travelling up the river Ma
tcrlals at the lower end, at every freshet are
washed away, while at the same time. the
upper part receives new materials. So in
our language we. are dropping some old
words and are also continually adding new
ones. The speaker gave several examples
of new words, "skedaddle," )" '.tweedism,"
''epizootic, &c. All had their orizin in
some extraordinary circumstances Again,
in the use of "provinciaiisms, the speak
er gave some amusing examples and ane:-
dotes Also in the abbreviation of names,
for example, what was once called the turn
| pike road was afterwards called simply
turnpike and then pike alone Once we
said omnibus, but now a gentleman does
not think it improper to ask lady to take
bus with him.
The use of extraragant hyperbole is
something we meet with very often now.
Things are never nice but are always splen-
Trajectory terms, as mighty small, "
powerful weak, &C.
Slang terms and phrases sometimes lose
their slang significance and pass into pro-
verbs, still the habitual use of slang is to
be avoided by all who would speak correct
ly. The speaker read a poem, called
"Grandpas Soliloquy," showing the pre-
valcnt use Of slang phrases in ordinary con-
conversation. The speaker then gave
several illustrations of the wrong use of
words, for example, the word depot should
be used only for places of deposit of goods,
and not with the meaning of station. The
history Of words should occupy the atten-
tion of teachers, the variation of meaning
which the same word has undergone should
be known for example, the word idiot, Ounce
knave, hostler etc, Also in geographical
names, by once meant town, as Rugby is
rocktown; Rio; means river; wick; is vii
lage; kill is creek; belle, beautiful; Baton
Rouge; means red stick; several other names
of this class were given. The speaker at
the close Of the lecture, promised to speak
place, before he leaves us!
Rev. d. Il. Shodler, theR gave the In
stitute lecture on Surnames The lee
turer introduced his lecture by some re-
marks on the difference between man and
animals. He spoke Of the fact that man is
the only being who ever laughs and rea-
sons, there is no thought without language, |
thought is the substance and words the |
form Of language All names have some
meaning though this meaning is often lost |
so that we cannot find out what it is |
Adam means real earth; David, dear; Felix |
happy; Mary, exalted; Noah, rest; etc The |
causes which gave rise to these names arc |
Of interest to us. At first there were no |
surnames, but the increase of population |
made it necessary that there should be some |
means of Distinguishing men from one an
other, this gave rise to surnames. In this |
connection many questions arose as to the
meaning of our names, the correct spelling !
of them. In course of time men desired |
to be remembered chat their names should |
continue after they had passed away In
order to do this, they gave their own names
to their children, given part Of the name
to one child and another part to one of the
other children. There we're but few sur
names in England before the Norman Con
quest in 1906. Under William, the Nor
man surnames became very fashionable.
Men generally assumed the name of their
castle or the name of the locality in which
they lived. Some names were given on
account of the work or craft which man
followed. Others for some physical or per-
sonal peculiarity. Again, names were formed
By adding that of the fathers to the sons
In German, are found the greatest variety
of names. The German government at one
time compelled all Jews to assume sur
name. Those who complied with the re-
quirement took very beautiful names, but
others who refused were given all sorts of
offensive names by court officers and others
in authority. The speaker then gave some
amusing information gathered from New