The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-04-17
MISCELLANY.
For THE RECORD.
CHASTITY OF LANGUAGE.

Auto Scucldl tduRudRG W WHtCu L WISH W Call
especial attention. would that all could be
so impressed with correct views on these
points that they may never again be guilty of
the errors to which I refer. The first is g by.
words" Nothing is more common, especial
ly among the young, than frequent use of
"by-words." The habit is SO strong with
many young persons that they can hardly
speak single word without interlarding it
with some vulgar by-word, or some low, de-
testable, useless saying, which is altogether
destitute both of wit and sense. There are a
thousand of these common by-words in fire.
quent use, by those who really fancy they are
quite refined in their language. Almost any
lady, even thinks she has perfect right to
infiict up everybody's ears a score or two of
'lawme' y-gracious's," and "mercy
on mes" in conversation of ten minutes,
upon any subject How many of these COM
day, / know not, but one thing l do know,
their name is legion. They form conspicuous
part of their everyday language. They take
something the part that clown does at the
circus-the fool. And fool is one destitute
of sense. Surely no one will contend that
there is any sense in these thousand good-for-
nothing words and phrases to which | refer.
We ought to strike the whole family of these
lingual words from our useful words they
are ncorrigible vulgarisms, black spots on the
fair face of our beautiful English-filthy ver-
min creeping among the clean garments of
our thoughts why should we harbor them -?
what are they worth of what use are they
whom do they benefit? who likes us any the
better for using them who regards them as
an evidence of either wit, sense, or refine
ment what ear do they please to what
taste do they administer what sense do they
crafty? Young gentlemen, young ladies, do
you think they add anything to the dignity of
your character to the refinement of your
manners, the intelligence of your minds, the
virtue of youl hearts, or your general stand
ing among intelligent, worthy people? Can
you give any respectable any decent apology,
any one of which you yourselves would not be
ashamed of their use? Then why use them
Why not cut them out of your conversation,
your language at once determine to use ou-
ly chaste, pure, sensible words-wofds which
express clearly and forcibly your thoughts,
which are evidences of inward purity and
refined taste-even the beautiful words of
wisdom, which is proper far all places Re-
member our language at home is our Ian
guage from home in general.
I'd. There is still one other evil use of Ian
guage to which ! wish to refer. That is pro-
fame swearing. should be glad to speak at
length upon this point, but must not en-
croach upon your paper. OF all useless, worth
less totally good-for-nothing, and totally de-
PRAYED habits, to which men, and some wo-
men, bow in willing, voluntary bondage, the
habit of profane swearing heads the list and
crowns the whole. For nearly all evil habits
there can be some apology offered, some faint
sembance Of an excuse, some dim outline Of
the shadow of reason, but for this | have
never heard the least feeble attempt at a de-
Tense. This stands monstrous deformity in
human language, with none to plead for its
life or tell single merit due to its being. In
the use of profane language, no good is to be
expressed, no object is to be attained, no end
secured, no ear to be pleased, no taste to be
gratified, no friendship to be obtained, no APP
petite to be administered to, DO passion to be
fed, no title to be acquired, no wealth to be
earned, no possible good, either real or imag-
ined is had in view. OF all sinners, do real
ly think, profane swearers serve the devil for
less wages than any other class. Indeed, they
serve for nothing and find themselves, run
their own risks and make their own repair at
that. Mean service, indeed, it would seem,
that was not worth the poor pay of some pre-
tended good. No one will pretend that there
is any wisdom in profane swearing, for its
words are not used to express ideas or convey
thoughts, or impart instruction, or inspire
meditation. No such thing as this is thought
Of They are not designed, when spoken, for
any such Office. They are used, as are all by
words, in consequence of lack of wisdom,
want of good sense TO supply the place of
ideas. They mean nothing. Surely no one
would use them if he had ideas that he
thought worth expressing in their place. In
consequence of a scarcity of ideas, these pro-
fame words are thrown in, to keep up the
sound and give the appearance of thoughts
They are wicked cheats, playing game of
deception, attempting to palm off a buster
ing sound for a substantial thought. Profan-
| ity is surely good witness of terrible
dearth of wisdom, afrightfel scarcity Of ideas.
No one will pretend that there is any good in
profanity for besides being an arrant cheat,
/ it is an idle and wicked us Of the name of the
greatest and best being in the universe, the
best and truest friend of every human crea-
ture. In this none can believe there is any
good. 1t breeds contempt for God, for his
sacred name, for all holy things. 1t outrages
the best and hottest feelings of our moral ma
lures, our reverence for Deity, and our graft
tude to the best friend we have for unnum-
bered favors 1t blunts the moral sensibili-
ties, and confounds all our ideas of justice,
goodness and gratitude. 1t moreover offends
the ears of our best earthly friends, Gods ho-
Hest and loyeliest men and women, and sends
a thrill of anguish through their hearts. Sure
" no one can dream of there being good in
it. It is totally evil thing. Neither will any
one contend that it is courteous, or civil, OF
nolite or pentlemanly. 1t is opposed to al