Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-10-30
FAsHIONABLE SLANG.
The Enelish Article Seems to be Yer,
Much Like the American.
Charles Mackay in "Social Notes." "a


Much Like the American.
Charles Mackay in " Social Notes."
That the dirty cesspools of slang should
empty themselves into the clear river of
classical English is Q result Of our modern
manner which is much to be deplored,
and against which the leaders of society
should set themselves ~ resolutely a.
they do against other branches of de-
corum and good manners. The vulgar
among the middle and upper classes
affect exaggeration IN their expletives.
"Very good" and very bad phrases
that are seldom heard, having been su-
perseded by such words as " awful" and
dreadful" A very pretty girl is an
auful pretty girl, or dreadful fine wom-
an. Our golden youth, male and female,
as we'll as the lower grade of people who
ape their manners and language, are at
some times "avtally jolly" at other
times dreadfully bored" was at an
aWfuliy nice dinner-party last night, !"
says one +" You should see the new farce" :"
says another, ait is scroamingiy funny"
/" i am going down to Brighton next
week." says third; =" It is jolly to be by
the briny." While a young lady accept
ing bouquet from an admirer gracious
ly acknowledges the gift with the words.
"Oh, thank you 30 much! Ia! awfu1y
tai" 1t is another characteristic of the
present time that young people--at least
in company or in the ordinary current of
con versation-neve talk of " friendship"
or love-" These honest old words are
antiquated, and it is almost as contrary
to good manners to mention them as it
would be to speak Of the commonest
functions of nature. Fashion often dis
guises what it has to say in this respect
under synonyms derived from the gutter.
"I am awfully bored in general society"
said lady Of title, "but l enjoy myself
immeasely among my pals" 8" He is q
great ally of mine" said one member of
parliament to another, as if he were
afraid of believing in friendship and
10th to utter its name. Love fares worse
than friendship in 1873. "Smith is
awfully spoony upon Miss JONES'" says
one. "Well," replies his companion,
she is an insmenseiy fine girl, but she
has NO tin." 81 can't understand"
says Snob the first to Snob the
second chow fellow can 60 spooning
about girl that hasn't got a penny to
bless herself with" and Snob the sec
ond replies, "Nor either. Neither can
/ understand how that a"ful ass Jones
or Robinson, as the case may be) can
spoon about his own wife as he he does
after being married two years." =
Two words derived from the stable are
constantly heard from the mouths Of
men who may have studied at Oxford OF
Cambridge, who may hold commissions
in the army or the navy, or be high in
the civil service of the crown, or who
otherwise might rank honorably in the
estimation of the world and society.
These words are "groom" and form"
A fashionable newspaper, noted for its
excellent caricatures Of the notables of
the day, writes of lady whose name
shall not be repeated: "She is fair and
splendid, and has a profusion of hair,
which she groonss in the plainest way,
without fringe" "Look at that little
fiiy," says q vulgar man in ballroom,
chow nicely she is groomed." Form F"
in the stable signifies state of health
and general condition of horse. The
word is of such modern acceptance as ia
De uuKuOWu uOt only W ShptoA NAUoc
in the last century, but to the compilert
of Hotten's slang dictionary, published
80 lately as 1864. 1t is no longer confined
to the race course, to Tattersall's or t6
the stables where it originated, but Il
constantly employed to convey the ides
of fashion, manners, customs, and polite
observance. 1t is not good "form" t
arrive too late to dinner, to dance with
animation, or to applaud heartily at thu
opera, etc. It isgood " FORM" however
to call hat tile, a child q kid, money
dds, a father relieving officer, a mother
or wife an old .Coman, cigar q ,cced
clothes togs, pocket-handkerchief !,
soipe, cravat chcker, chilling . bob
425 . pony, ETC., etc. That men of su
perior culture, by ..frequenting low society
should pick up the words OF their asso
ciates is Ineligible; but that when on
of such society they should repeat ant
be proud of the vulgarity which the.
have caught as they would catch fever
is no more to be understood than that
gentleman should like to be considered
costermonger or chimney-sweep.