Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-11
FASHIONABLE SLING.
How (ieMtcel People Allow Their
DiSUPRcsA. >>

Disgraced.
That the dirty cesspoolS of slang should
empty themselves into the clear river OF claSSi-
cal English is result of our modern manner
which Is much to be depiored, and against
which the leaders of society should set them
selves as reSolutely as they do against other
breaches OF decorum and good manners. The
vulgar among the middle and upper classes af-
feet eXaggeration in their eXpletiveS Every
good and Every bad" are phrases that are sell
oom hearu, having been superseded by such
pretty girl is an a,cfuity pretty girl. or dreai-
fully fine woman. our golden youth, male and
female, as well as the lower grade OF people who
ape their manners and language. are at some
times drcfuifg jolly at other times Systematically
bored II was ut an arfrliy nice dinner party
last night" says one. You should see the new
farce says another: ait is &crea.aisqlv funny
II am going down to Brighton next week, SAYS
third: sit is so jolly TO be by the briny."
While young lady accepting a boquet from an
admirer graciouSly acknowledges the gift with
the words, ''Oh. thank you so much, Ia, GgrfpI-
~ ta,' 1t is another Characteristic Of the pres
ent tlme that young people-at least in COM
l@ny or IN the ordinary current OF conversation
never talk OF Friendship" or love" Those
honest old words are antiquated. and il is almost
as contrary to good manners to mention them
as II would be to speak OF the cOmlnOneSt func-
tiohS of nature. Fashion often DISCUSSES what
II has to say in this respect under SYNONYMS
derived from the gutter. Il am awfully boref
IN general society" said lady of title, .but
ENJOY myself immensely among my pals lie
IS a great oHy of mine" said one member of
Parliament to another, as il he were afraid OF
believing In friendship and 10th 10 utter its
name Love fares still worse than friendship
IN the year ISIS. "Smith is awfully spooay
upon Miss Jones'" says one. We'll" replies
ms companion. she is an immensely tine girl,
but she has no TIM II can't understand.
says Snob the first to Snob the second
now fellow can so spooaing about a girl
that naSnt got penny to bless herself with
Neither can understand how that olrf,T ass
JOnes Or Robinson, as the case may be) can
slooh about his own wife as he does after be-
ing married two yearS,r Two words
derived from the stable are constantly heard
from the mouths OF men Who may have studied
AT oxford or Cambridge, who may hold com
MISSIONS IN 'ile army or navy, or be high in the
ciEll service OF the crown, or who may other
wise rank hOn0rably in the estimation OF the
world and society. These words are groom
and FORM; A fashionable newspaper. noted
LOT It's excellent carfcatlreS OF the notableS OF
the Gay, writes OF a lady, whose name Shall not
De repeated: 'She is fair and splendid and
mas profllSlon OF hair. which She groo8s in the
plallleSt way, without a fringe" look at
that little HNy," says a vulgar man i'm a ball
room, chow nicely she is q,ooiaed" ..Form
Ia the stable signifies state OF health and
general condition OF a horse. The word is
OF such modern acceptance as to be unknown
not only to Captain Grose in the last century
put 10 the complleTS OF HOtten'S slang diction-
AIRY. puonShed so lately as 1864 1t is no longer
confined to the race course to TattersaIl,s or To
the stables where il originated, but is constant
" employed TO convey the idea OF fashion, man.
s Iuo.oio anu poiite observance. III Is not
good form TO arrive too late TO dinner to
dance with animation. or TO applaud heartily at
the opera, etc. Ii is good FORM however, to
eau hat a tie, child a Rad, money diJs, a
1ather a re5eyfng officer, a mother or wife an cd
r0nGa, cigar freed, clothes togs. pocket
handkerchief ,cipe, a cravat choker. a shiI-
ing BOO. f25 pong, etc, etc. That men of
superior culture, 10y frequenting low society,"
should pick up the words OF their associates is
lntellIgible, but that when out OF such society
they should repeat and be proud OF the vulgar
lty which they have caught as they would catch
lever, is no more TO be understood than that a
gentleman should like to be considered a coSter
mohger or a chimney -sweep.- Charles Mackey
az 'NSOcidt Notes.