Daily Republican., 1880-12-11
ImproprIeties OF h.

It Il ihs remark Of Archbishop Whate
iy thst ''the words which produce the
greatest confusion Of thought are the
commoaest worGs-tha very ones whose
meaning ia supp osed to to best under
stood"
Sit, Bat, are much abased words. It
s recorded that the brilliant lawyer,
Curran, once earelessly observed in
court, "an action lays" and the Jadgs
corrected him by remarking '7ies !"
Mr.. Curran-hens lsy;" bat subse-
qusntly the Judge ordering counsel
lor to "set down." Curran rstslisted
"sit down, yoar henor-hsne sst." The
retort was characterized by more wit
than truth. Hens do not set; they sit.
We often hear people say "tbe coat
sets WELL" Sits is the proper word.
The book does not lay on the table :.
II lies there. Some years ago an old
lady consulted an eccentric Boston phy-
siciau, and, in describing her disease,
said: "The trouble, Doctor, Is that I
can neither lay nor set." "Then
madam" was the reply, ~ would re-
specttuily suggest the propriety Of
roosting."
"Looks beautifully" is a Phrase
heard almost daily from the lips of
ednested men and women. But she is
beautifully, is no more improper than
she looks beautifully. We quality
what person does by an adverb |;
what q person is by an adjective; for
example. 1t is right to say "she
looks coldly on him; and she looks
cold."
Hardly any word in the English Ian
guage is 80 abused as the word "get."
A man says 81 have got cold;" he
means ~ have q cold" Another says
"thatlsdy has got fine head OF hair"
which may be true if the hair is false,
otherwise the "got" should be omitted.
A third says 81 have got 10 leave the
city for New York this evening, mean
ing only that he has to leave the city,
etc. Nine out Of ten who enter dry
goods store, ask "have you got" such
and suoh an article A man may say
correctly 81 have got more than my
neighbor has, because have been in
dustrious;" but he cannot with propris-
ty say, 81 have got longer noae,"
however long his nose may be, anless
it be an artificial ore.
One Of the most offensive barbarisms
now prevalent, is the use of the pet
word "nice" to express almost every
kind Of appreciation, and most every
quality. 1t is well enough to say "a
nice bit of cheese" but the expression
"a lice man, )" "a nice day." etc., is
vulgar without a shadow OF doubt.
The word splendid" is as frequently
and Unfortunately used.
Like 1 did" is = gross Southern
vulgarism for "as did," Received
Of John Smith fifty dollars" should
read received from John Smith," etc.
Don't, for does not. had ought, had
better, had rather, are vulgarismB, and
20 are his'n, t'other, faint, their'n.
We say sales at auction, when we
should say "sales by auction" The
of sale requires the proposition
by. The word only is often misplaced
in a sentence. Miss Brsddon says in
the prospectus of Belgravia, her Rng-
lish anagazine, "that it will be written
in good English. In its pages paper of
sterling merit will only appear" A
poor beginning this. She means that
only papers Of sterling merit llap-
1e2r."
Equally IS we'll is used for "equa1-
y WE'LL" Mrs. Smith and myself will
De happy to dine with you, should
cad. "Mrs. Smith, l will be happy to
line with you." He left yesterday,
houId read "hs left New Brunswick
1t was the city, not yes
erday, that he left. We might eli
'ages with these inaccuracies and vul-
ariams, bat, eui bonof-"whAt good
7ould it dor"