Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-27
Vulgarisms.


From the Lun'i1n Queen
Certain words and certain expressions,
innocent AMI inoifenslve i'll themselves,
have degcne~ated into so-called vulgar
isms through constant use and misuse;
while others have become vulgarlzed, suf-
fering from M exaggerated mode of pro-
nrnciatiun and works which have .
stamp of vrlgarity, if used in one sense,
are restored to their original position
when used in another. The misapplica-
ton of words is doubtless one of tho main
reasons of their becoming vulgarized, 50
to speak added to which, word or ex-
preston that is constantly in the mouth
of ALL like style or make Of II garment
adopted by all, speedily becomes denom-
mated vulgar or common.
Thus words and expressions are ta-
boocI by general consent which, had they
been allowed to retain their original
place, would never have forfeited their
reputation or have fallen into disfavor.
There are many words and expressions
which are still on the bordcrland Of vul-
garity from the same cause, and which
only require Il little further pressure to
cause them to join the ranks of the dis
carded ones, perhaps to be rehabilitatcd
at some future day, and to resume their
proper place nll the fresher for their en-
forced rest.
1t not unfrequently happens that the
same objection does duty mt least five
times i'll as many minutes, whilst often
or than not the unfortunate adjective
selected is the one least suitable for the
purpose, the fecbleness of the Idea ex-
pressed causing the strength OF the al
| ieciive used To be more apparent and to
appear the more absurd.
The terms '.ladics' and gentlemen
become il themselves vulgarisms whom
misapplied. and the improper applica-
| ton OF the wrong term at the wrong time
makes all the difference in the world to
| ears polite thus calling ''man, or
speaking of IL man as n man when ho
should he spoleh Of as II gentleman or
the aludrg to lady rs IL woman, when
| should be alluded to as II lady or the
| speal irg of II woman as lady, when she
should he properly termed n woman.
! Tact and II srnsc %. the fitness OF things
decide these points, there he lg no fixed
rule to go upon TO determine when man
is Il man or when he is II gentleman, mud
although he is far oftencr termed the one
than the other, he does not thereby lose
bis attributes of II gentleman. In com
mon lmranc0 Il man Is always II man u II
man, md never IL gentleman ; To IL WOMAN
he is occasionally II man and occasionally
a gentleman but man would far oftoner
term II woman n woman than he would term
her II lady, When n man makes use OF
an adjective in speaking of a lady he al
most invariably calls her II woman. Thus
hs would say, Il met Il rather agreeable
woman at dinner last night; but he
would not say, Il met an agreeable lndy
but he might say, "a lady, Il friend OF
niue, told me, etc, when he would not
say, "A woman, II friend of mine, told
me, " etc. Again. IL man would say,
Which of the ladies' did You take Ill to
dinner" he would certarly not say,
Which Of the women, e.c.
Speaking of people en- nidssc, it would
he tu belong Ia Il very advanced school tn
refer to them IN conversation ~ men
and womeu," while it would be all but
vulgar to stylo them ladies' anil gen
tlemen," the compromise between the two
being To speak Of them as ladies and
mem" Thus lady would say, Il have
asked two or three lulirs and several
men :" she would not say, Il have asked
she say, IL have asked several ldies and
gentlemen" And speaking Of numbers,
il would he very usual Ia say. There
were II great many Indies and but very
few men present" or, "rnc ladies' were
in IL majority, 81 few men being present.
Again. IL lady woulI not say, Il expect
two or three men to dinner, but sht
would sav, Il expect two or three gentle
l.. m q
with each other, they might, perhaps III
speaking of II man. call hlm "a gentle
men. but otherwise it would be more
usual To speak "f linn ns n man.
Ladies'. when speaking of each other, lsu'
ally employ the term women inprcierenc,
tu that nf lady Thus they would say
She - II very good nntured woman,
What sort of II woman is shc?' the tern
lady being entirely out of place under
such circumstances. Again. the term
, vnung lady gives place M far as possible
/ Ia the term girl, although 1t greatly de
| ponds upon the amount of intimacy exist
/, ing ia To which term ~ employed. Now
tn turn to the really tuhoncd words, 'styi
| ish" and "gcuiccl nro rrlcEhted to th'
| show room, where they are very much n
/ nome IN each others company, although
considered decidedly vulgar when me
/ with elsewhere. "sitylIsh" being bred IL
the show room il the right word III TN
right place hut 1t il hard upon unfortu
= nnto ''grntcrl." that conveying IN iisel
, so much it should have met with such
A fate. Nice" bids fair t" follow IN th'
, footsteps uf discarded words standing
/ alone us an adjective, though pass. |
y still has its admirers, hut when I" ni'r /
..a-.