Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-11-09
A Slangy Word and It's Consequences.

| decreases. IL changes It's form DUt
never its spirit II has its fashions, its
lavorite words and phrases, which live
their day Of popularity, drop from
eyerybody's mouth, and then fall into
disusa only TO be re, laced by some hing
c,se. It's curious study To watch the
progrcss OF these words OF disrespectable
origin and atmosphere iLto better So
ciety. They have persistence and
vitality that is next TO immortal and
they succeed after n time, in edging
their way into the uppermost circles OF
cultivation. They are the parvenues OF
phi o,ogy; baseborn creations which
rCfuse 20 stay in the locality where they
are native TO- One OF the coarsest and
most popular lugitivcS from slangdCm
is the word mash" II am mashed
oh that girl;T Sic is mashed on me-"
"a new mash" "a mashed man." and
So on are some of tie elegant contriOu-
ions 10 the Conv rSatipnal vocabulary
the word is responsible Tor. That it
has done IT. shane toward making con-
vorsa,ion coarse is no, lis only sin.
Words have indiyiduality, al d in some
occult way they manage TO raise or
lua tY the Standard Cf refinement in the
mud, .! those who grow familiar with
them. Since mesh has come into
popular usage the word has suggested
its iulii,n.cnt. and "mashcs" OF the
vulgar, 81 dcscrirticr are ~ common rs
tie term itself. We are not sure but
the Washable" man is n result of the
general use OF the WORD, and he is a
creature to be Stunned whereve. he is
In his admiration for women he IL ON
nivcruus, and responds 10 the slightest
invitation thrown out by any woman
who is not positively repulsive in form
OF feature There is no complim cnt in
nla,lins" n man who mashes" at the
fair,c>t inumation of i challenge. His
pursuit ia not the homage which = man
whose eot d opinion is worth having
pajs to intellect, kindliness Of heart, or
even be uty.
Men who are capable OF the higher
form OF love are not mashed" in the
ordinary way. The attentions OF n
"mashab,c' man are no compliment 10
z woman's self-.ovc. This, however.
many good but foolish women t /. to
see. Like any other vicious thing.
IN lsbiug" is intoxicating. The word
ani the deed are alike demoia.izing.
MASKING" has worked itsei into
notice aud Use slowly 1t required
ccrain condition OF society FOR it 10
flourish in, and its presence among US
proves that we are favored with that re-
quircment. II Is said to have originated
in the classic and cultured halls OF
NasSar When ono fair womsn was
pleased with anohc she was " mashe-
on her Then it was taken UP ny
cu9rser tongues and pul 10 baser use.
For awhile il lived almost entirely in an
atmosphere OF its kind; but being OF
rushing turn of mind it was ambitious
10 ge ou, of ;hc dep;..s. and il has sue.
ce,ded. Mins,re.s and variety actors
donated il to the public. Ii fell upon
the ears of the gallery gods in n captiva-
ting way. and thenits fortune was made,
for on whatsoever the god of the cock
loft sets the seal of his approval finds its
way clear to glory. The galleries sway
the world Then the newspapers took
il up, and it blazed in headlines and
bristled over paragraphs until it was rs
familiar rs dayligh 1t fell from the
reporters pencil ike rain from an April
cloud. The better class OF writers
found it creeping into their literary
work in spite OF al their efforts 10 keep
il out: ard so they inclosed il in quota
ton marks, those overworked apologists
for every sin against pure English and
let it 20. 1t is now upon Us with
all its demoralizing power. This IS a
ma,hin." and washable era, and
until it is supplanted By something less
coarse AM ruinous philologica.iy and
socially we must expect = low degree OF
refinement Chica0o EIOress