Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
ssVery.s'
VCys
From the Cincinnati Commercial


This very small word is very often used in the
English language when a sentence would be
very much stronger and the meaning very
much more fOrcible without it. If DR.. Die
Lewis, now that he has finished counting up
the cost of a years sneezing, would set him
self to computing how much time, tongue
and combustion of cell are wasted out
of mans lifetime by needleSSly speaking the
word "very,'' the apostle of Oat meal would be
again the benefactOr of his race.
Ii man has not much hair on the top of his
head, it is not enough for people to say simply
that he is bald, but he is very bald. A man is
not stlngy, but he is very stingy, when the one
good strong word "Stingy' would put the whole
point fOrcibly. doctor of divinity is not
is not erOtchety, he is very crotchety, while a
lawyer is not cunning, but very cunning. In
me same way, Young lady Is not hand'om
put very handsome: The qualifer has becom1
SO common that II Is weakening to the word il
is joined to: In nine cases out of ten where
very is used tOintensfy human Speech,a single
bold word without the very" would hit the
meaning like hammer, and drive it hon
hampered expression. BrutuS does not say.
AS Cesar was very valiant | honor him; buv
as .! ne was very ambitious, slew him;',
ldence for young ladies to express their feel
ings with. This portion of the community
probably could not get on without their adverb.
be strengthened if the little quallfier we're rel
egated almost wholly to the fair class 10 who II
IL belongs. 1t creepS into our literature as in
sldiously as the measles into family of fifteen,
1t breaks out everywhere, even in the most
heightened and cultivated" writing A news.
paper, which is authority on the art of literary
scrip,iCn OF brilliant party. Every lady pres
ent was very much this or that. Mrs. Bank.
who was very intimate friend of Mrs. Gene
raj Dash, wore q very handsome green satin
dress, and had a very handsome silver
comb in her back hair. Mrs. General Dash
wore an exceedingly becoming dress, which
was very deliberately made: Two young ladies,
whose dresses were exceedingly becoming and
man who had very light moustache Every
body was either very" or exceedingly" or
extremely" or most highly something. The
air brlStled with SuperlativeS.
1t combines instruction with amusement to
count the ''veries" in column of a newspaper
advertisements A general housework" ap-
Rllca I Is Sd not oS content with respectable
able woman and a very good cook. 1t is enough
in all conscience, to De said of a woman that
sh e,I Is superior waitress; Superior itself
means better than good, but this common
waitress tackS on the word very" too and
thus becomes very better than good. Next, a
very honest and extraordinarily Clean
work." wants a place. What a treasure to
have in the house in these degenerated times.
"a very honest and very extraordinarily
sare Ssut her
Scotch woman, who has the very best city ref.
erences,'' wants a place. Of course, she is
far superior to the girl who is only capable
young woman, with the best city references,
The climax Of veriness is reached, however,
by girl She is "a very competent cook, un
derstands waiting at table in a very efficient
I'm all respects, very first-class qualifications"
is good. 1t is only equalled by the young man
who was very perfect horseman and rode a
very black horse. A fine example, too, of the
redundant very is the reply of the old tar
who was blown overheard at Trafalgar and
rescued with much difficulty, and who, long at
forwards, being asked by a sympathetic lady
ma am, very wet"