Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-27
FASHIONABLE SLANG.
The English Article Seems To Be Very Much
Like Tho American.

rCharles Mackay In ssocial Notes."l
That the city cesspools of slang
should empty themselves into the
clear river of classical English is q
result of our modern manner is
much to be deplored, and against
which the leader of society should
set themselves as resolutely as they
do against other breaches of deeoram
and good manners. The vulgar
among the middle and upper classes
affect exsggeration in their expls-
tives. "Very good" and "Very bad"
are the phrases that are seldom
heard. having been snperceded by
such words as "awful" and "dread-
full" A very pretty girl is an a,oful
~ pretty girl, or dreadfully fine
woman. Her golden youth, male
and female, as we'll as the lower
grade of people who ape their man.
ners and language, are at some times
"awfully jolly" at other times
"dreadfully bored" 81 was at an
apfully nice dinner party last night"
says one. you should see the new
farce" says another, sit is screaming
~ funny" 81 am going down to;
Brighton next week, says third
"it is so jolly to be by the briny."
While a young lady accepting
bouquet from an admirer graciously
acknowledges the gift with the
words, "Oh. thank you so much'l
Ia u a,ofully ia - 1t is another
characteristic of the present time
that young people-at least in com.
pany or in ordinary oonversation-
never to talk of "friendship" or
'love.' These honest old words are
antiquated, and it is ALMOST as con>
trary to good manners to mention
them as it " ould be TO speak of the
commonest functions of nature,
Fashion often disguizes what it has
to say IN this respect under synO.
nyms derived from the gutter. 81
am ewfully bored in general society,""
said lady of title, "but enjoy my.
self Immensely among my pats" s'He
is a great ally of mine,, said one
member of parliament to another, as
if he were afraid of believing in
and 10th to utter its name
Love fares still worse than friend.
ship in the year 1873, "Smith 10 aw.
fully spoooney upon Miss JONES'" says
one. "Well," replies his companion,
"she is an Immensely fine girl but she
has no tin. 81 can't understand"
says Snob the first to Snob tho Sec
ond, show q fellow can 60 spoontng
about girl that hasn't got penny
to bless herself witb;" and Snob the
second replies, "Nor / either. Meth
or can understand how that dpful
ass Jones or Robinson as the case
may be) can spoon about bis wife as
he does after being married two
years, Two words
derived from the stable are constant.
ly heard in the mouths of men who
may have studied at Oxford or Cam
bridge, who may hold commissions
in the army or navy or be high 10
the civil service of the crown, or
who may otherwise rank honorabiy
in the estimation of the world and of
society. These words are "groom"
and form" A fashionable newspa-
der, noted for its fne carscatures
of the notables of the day, writes of
q lady whose name shall not be re-
peated "She is fair and splendid
and has profusion of hair which she
grooms ID the plsinest manner with.
ont fringe" "Look ct that little
lily" says s.vulgar man in q bell,
room. show nicely she is groomed."
Form" in the stable signifies q state
OF health ano general conditicn Of a
horse. The word is of such modern
acceptance to be ankpeva pot Only
to Captain 9rnse in the last century
blt also to the compllers of Hotlsn's
slang dictionary, Published 80 lately
as 1864. Il is no longer confined to
the race-pourse, to Tattessall's or to
the stables where 1t originated, bu. is
cons.sntiy employed TO convey the
idea of fashion, nanneYs, customs
end polite observance. II is not
good ''form'' to arrive too lste to