Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-07-09
The Use of Adverbs.
BlackwoOd's Magazine.

Blackwoods Magazine.
How much does our estimate of
education, intellect and character de-
pend on the use and abuse of two
parts Of speech-the adjectives and
adverbs! Plain nouns and verbs
serve the purposes of dullness and
strict common sense, but, with these
exceptions, to all beneath or above
these levels they are the tests. In
the first place, no man can show him
self completely fool without the
lavish use or one or both of them
Stupidity can impart a sense Of its
quality at a less expense: but it is
they that give the assurance Of actu-
al folly. They give the artist touch
and stamp the man on the memory;
with a difference, however. People
may convey 4 keen sense Of imbccill-
ty to their hearers by the use of GER
tain epithets, either through the per-
petual application Of one to every
subject and every object, calling ev-
erything "peculiar," for example-or
by misapplication of many; but
nothing that an adjective can do
no senseless repetition, no absurdity
Of application-imprcsses us so con-
vincingly with the presence of vacu-
ity, as does the adverb, single and
unassisted. We are speaking Of
habits of speech; it need not, in any
particular instance, be permanent
vacuity, only such to US at the mo-
ment, but there is no thought at work
when adverbs are the instructive re-
source. The respective value as a
measure of capacity, Of these two
parts of speech is shown in the dia-
logue between male and female eX
quisite recorded in Punch-"Quitc a
nice ball at Mrs. Mlllehcur's wasn't
it," she remarks; to which he replies,
every quite" The lady has an idea,
but vague one-it required thought
to start it, but the gentleman's re-
sponse reminds us too forcibly of 4
class of convcrsers incapable of en-
bracing a thought in any definite
form, whom civility drives into ac-
quiesence; the more civil, the more
emphatic in acquiescence, but who
can convey the subject in no other
way because they do not take it in.
What depth of emptiness does the
word ''indeed" reveal to us in some
intonations, internationally applied
at stated intervals! What sprightly
insanity expresses through certain
infections, what calm irreceptiveness
in others, what quenching power in
every case, where, that is, it is a hab-
it of speech! For 'indeed" may
mean the liveliest interest, the most
awakened curiosity. But who can
talk with a man who answers Gin
deed to every communication alike?
And again, who can contend against
the running accompaniment Of f"yes, .
passing with the utterer for sign of
attention, but either of incapability
or recoil from forced unwelcome?
Unlike ''really," ''indeed," surely"
'never," and their cognate forms of
assent, which are tokens of simple in
difference, eyes" may mean mere ac-
tive boredom, repulsion against
what calls for exercise of thought
1t more imperiously bids You to have
done. In the same category may be
classed that comprehensive form of
assent, "quite So" which agrees with
everything rather than think about
it. If it belongs to the man so that
he is known by it, how very few
things, we may be sure, does he care
for beyond his own little personal in
terests; though we have known it
used in stronger hands with most
snubbing effects as a silencer-a con
vcnient and severely eflectual form
of repression
Often advcrbs show an eager tenn
perament in a hurry to deliver itself
while thought halts behind; $50
very," for example, does unassisted
for many strong sentiment; and all
weakness trusts to adverbs as Dol
ster. "Uut1erly" is word much in
favor with excitable ladies. ''Utter-
ly grand" for instance, does not ad-
nit of intensifying. Thus 1--WE en-
ioyed ourselves" conveys at least to
our ears far cheerfuller expression
than the feminine form, ''We thor
oughly enjoyed ourselves" and
"Thank you" is really more gracious
than the modern improvement upon
the acknowledgement of trivial SER
vices, "Thank you SO much" The
lady who advertised to her lover that
she is as unchanged as ever, does not
improve the quality Of her constancy
by thus clinching its endurance. To
tell lady that she is looking quite
handsome, diminishes rather than
adds grace to the compliment. Miss
Squeers' pretty friend was fully aware
of the force Of her reservation when,
reprovlng young Nickleby for his
deadness to that young lady's attrac-
tons, she pleads, $50 beautifully
dressed, too. really almost handsome
A bricklayer arguing against any
thing but a brick wall, modestly pro
nounced ''sleepers" ratherly beastiiy.
There are words that are strongest
when let alone, and indeed, wont en-
dure any other treatment. The last
days Of Pompeii wake a tragic senti-
ment. The very last days of Pom
peii accentuate to little serious pur-
pose. On the other hand, the whole
force, whether grave or humorous,
often lies in the intensifying. Late
suggests ideas of Inconvenience only;
but too late sounds the depths of sad
ness. In the same way, what an i'll
tensity of determination is expressed
in Augustus Noodles valediction to
his expectant Enthusiastically
never yours"
Raising Baby by Proxy.
New York Letter.
Amongst other anecdotes picked