The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-16
Judge PRESLEY and the Kings Eng
liSh.
TCblunabiu Rc1ifcr.]

lCUtNHlDIu (tcyLNci.J
We clip from the Press and Banner q very
interesting discussion which has arisen upo
an obiier d'ctum of Judge Presley us TO The
good English Of the word "lcnSthy:' The
Judge holds :"Thut 1t is not good English.
You had us well say breadthy for broad as
lengthy for long" So reports the NeD6er1y
Herald. To which the Beaufort Crescest takes
execution, and II Is in turn criticised by the
Prexs and Banner. We do not pretend to be a
bcUeS-icttres exquisite, yet without desiring to
be Il 'lengthy'' advocate, we contend that
there is very good authority for the use OF
the word. Whilst Webster Is far from being
considered good authority In Sonth Carolina,
he. however, accrcdits George Washington
says; For more icmgth!y and original disser-
tations," &c. Lord Byron says Murray
will send n double copy of the Bride and Gi.
aour; in the last one some lengthy additions"
&c. Jefferson says. ''1hcSe would be details
too lcm0thy.' Pope is accredited with the use
Of the word "lengthful." now obsolete. When
Judge Presley observes that we might MS well
say ''breadthy" nc loses sig9t OF the ,met tnIt
trolling forccin the English language. The
Press and Hammer falls into the same error
whilst very properly stating that the English
is q language depending on AUTHORITY;
meaning as ''lOng.' Lengthy means tmmodc-
rueiy long-nOt merely long. The.English use
the word "longish," which is another modif-
cation of the word long. From mere analogy
IlpTc ~ lO lNUN'' WY Wv CANoit '"N 80
lengthy as well as "handy." We are In
clincd to think our .'long' is derived from the
Latin "iongus." whilst our word length Is
from the .AnElo-SaXnn: length ana hence
%"lengthy." despite Judge Presley and the
rest of the scholars.
Our contemporary, the Press and Bdnnc1, we
think, errs in the nice use OF the word diner.
differ uith Is used with reference TO .opln-
IONS" "In all other cases expressing simple
unlikeness differ from Is used" las these
two persons or things differ from each Diner
Webster tells us that this distinction Is fully
established IN England and America. on,
fer rih tho honorable gentleman on that
point" says Lord Brougham. II dif1er ms
heartily 7rih him." says Canning. The Press
and Banner differs from the Crescent in size
and appearance, but acith the Crescent In opin-
ion. Yet we are mindful that 'one star diff
fcrcth from another Starin glory and IN thls
sense the stars Of Long GANG may differ from
the stars of Port Royal. SO bless our stars we
press @nd banner. We simply desire to ask
the Ncw6crry Herald II Judge Presley used
the expression, lyon had as we'll say" II
If so as to It's elegance. Not that we mean
anything at all. but just by way of inforlna-
ton. Just merely
We beg to remind tho Press and Banner
that the word "strcngthy," though now obs,e
lete, was once In use rs q recognized 'word; ~
was found not to be as strenIgthy as ienetns;
As to the precedent of Il Judge teaching good
English, ii is as old as the hills. The ,quaint
little colored engravings in the old Equity
Chamber in Charleston will not be forgotten
They represent an English Juasc III niS
that q case should LAY over" with the re-
mark "Hcns lay. Mr.. Attorney: cases nc
over His LOrdship then informed the Dal
that the court would "set" at such an hour IN
the morning. and was interrupted by the re-
mark from Mr.. Attorney: ~ had thought
and courts St"