Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-04-12
/" Highly Genteel."
By Mrs Lucia Gilbert Runkle, in the New York
Independent

By Mrs Lucia Gilbert Runke, in the New York
Independent.
I assure you, Madam ob crvcd the
fluent salesman, deity folding and pat
ting the soft gingham-" assure YOU
that this pattern is highly gentcel. We
have almost the same Identical dcScrip-
ton of stripe i'll foulard and in summer
silk, and you could hardly distinguish
them apart There really IS not II more
superior style in this establishment"
| bought the gingham, in spite of the
citation, and that young man will so to
his grave believing that his tlattering
tongue persuaded me. | don't mind
being misunderstood. Having had
time to grow calm, | don't very much
mind the youth himself, though | con-
fess that at the moment his little CON
ceited nose and his delight in his own
voice were exasperating H. may be
embodied virtue. Perhaps he is the
comfort Of widowed mother. Per-
haps lie is the tender father of six
motheress babes. Helpless brothers
and sisters may look to him for bread
The Young Mems Christian Association,
not improbably, finds him II useful
member. And, of course, we cannot
choose our noses. lie may even be
dissatisfied with the ''identical descrip-
ton" of his. But, after giving him the
benefit Of all these doubts, | maintain
that he is one Of q vast tribe who make
war against 4 great interest of society
The grand sachems thereof sit in Con
cress, debate in conventions, fill editors
chairs, write papers for the magazines
The inconspicuous rank and file whose
multitude is as the sands of the sea,
may be found in bank-parlors and bar
rooms, in mansions and tenement
houses, in churches and prisons. They
are both male and female, both bond
and free, old or young, rich or poor,
good or bad, indiflerently.
They have no name. They have no
rallving cry They are not conscious Of
the fell instincts of destroyers. Never
theless, one and all, do they mock, de
noble mother-tongue.
Coleridge said that it was kind Of
providence which gave to the world, at
about the same time, the translation Of
the Bible and the works ofgreatest Eng
lsh Writers-Shakespe Bacon, Hook
er: so that, by double power, the lam
guage might beiixed just when it was in
its highest perfection. But the diction
OF the Bible and Of Shakespeare is not
half fine enough for popular usage. Our
gowns are not more tastelessly over
trimmed than our speech Our houses,
bristling with sham ornament, within
and without, are not more tawdry than
our phrases.
know that mine is threadbare
complaint. Good Master William Har
rison, rector of Rad-winter and liege Of
Queen Bess. was much troubled about
this matter. He says Not few do
greatly seek to stain our language by
fond atfectation Of strange words, pre-
Stunning that to be the best English
which is most corrupted with external
terms of eloquence and sound Of many
sFlaJlcs. Yet Mistress Harrison was not
forced to buy her household stuff in
4 establishments, nor was the parsons
niece soul vexed within him by the con
tents of 4 daily journal
|. moro unfortunate. open my morn
ming paper to read in the Washington
column Mr. Dash Big Endian Lilli-
put moved that the bill be referred,
and said " # ! appear dosirous to as
sumo the initiative in discussion 81
momentous, permit me 70 solicit the
indulgeni consideration, etc, eta. By
which, suppose, the great senator
meant that. as the timehad come to open
the debate lie was ready to begin. The
Ghibellinc state convention being in ses-
sionat Athens, delegate is reported
thus Advancing with energetic elias
ticity, tile reverbcrating tread of the
Ieglonaric. of the patriotic Ghibellinc
party assures their triumph I-tctorY
bazoncd on their banners, Union ajsa
Liberty inscribed upon their hearts"
cannot say that this gem was filched
from Tupper's treasury, not having the
works ofthat sage by me but i is quite
worthy ofthe bard who turned ~. Paul's
Goodness. with contentment i great
gain into "Godliness and content
ment. these hc the pillars Of felicity.
Ny morning paper goes Oh 70 speak