Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-09
The Language of Sweet Sixteen.
 From the Detroit Free Press

l "A word ftly spoken, D says the proverb 1 'is like apples of gold in pictures of silver' | There is euphony of language that is the I rhythm of speech, and it transforms ordinary words into flashing gems of thought. At | present the happy medium of expression is l lost sight of in two extremes which mark the 1 age. One is known the Higher Cult. It's votaries carry lotus-lilies in their pale. thin hands, have a sad, far-away look in their hol- | low eyes and are intense. What is that? | We don't know, neither do they, unless it is l to have craze adout spelling all words beginning with with a cap- i ital K, learning the delirium of old China, and analyzing Tyrian dies. They articulate | respond and affirm, but never talk. The com monest thing any member of that aesthetic band ever says is when, posed before some graven image set up on black velvet back | ground, the worshiper of Japan teapots mur- | murs, ''This is too utterly sweet" | The next extreme is that of the fair femi- nine youth of America, in this and other cities, who have originated language of l their own, or as a true exponent of their sys- 1 tenn would call it, a "s'language" which is | used in their clique circles but not in the | bosoms of their families or within earshot of 1 parent or teacher My daughter never uses slang" says some 1 staid paterfamilias, who is denouncing the idea that the American young lady speaks any other than the purest college taught English, and he is sincere in his belief But should some curious senior, with eye to the truth, finger near this young lady and her school friends, ten to one this is an exact and not overdrawn description of what he would hear:
 Meet me on the ave- this aft, and we will go to the mat" 'ENol not this aft on the ave'.' ''Well good aft'''
 1T had perfectly mag time and don't you forget it."
 Don't give me away, Kate"
 'Well, I should softly exclaim. y ''I should blush to murmur.' II should remark" /" 'T should mutter." 1T should smile.' "Are you going to the musicale?n ''You just bet am." ''Have you got your lesson in physical geog- raphy?" 'sI told the Guv' I wanted new handker- chief dress" ssDid he tumble to the racket?" | Ibid he trail?'' "Did he catch on?'' '.He forked over, girls and it's my treat" These are the sweet girl graduates who stand up in the month of roses and read charming essays on ''The Real and the Ideal" sLife as it Should Be-" Reform and other practical subjects, and who turn from admir- | ing teachers to whom they have listened with tears in their mock-serious eyes, to say in a LOW aS1Qe, h6S S1V1nS us GaHy, RlT1S, duu who christen everything that does not please them as 'ssnide." This period of slang among school girls Is infectious. They catch it just as they did the | measles and whooping cough at an earlier age, and 1t runs it's course and leaves them about harmlessly. Their good, proper mothers and grandmothers said all their lives, ''Will you take a walk?" The "Dare- to be- a-Daniel' of this age says to her chum, s"Take crawl on the ave'?' After all, it is not mstter for prayers or legislation but rather cheapening of the Punch caricatures.
 s.So glad to see you, Mr. Brown" 'tSo glad you're glad, Mrs. Smith"
 s'So glad you re glad Pm glad, Mir. Brown, n," etc., etc.
 There is more slang than sense in our uni versal salutation, which takes the form of an inquiry
 'tHow do you do?'
 The literal answer to which would be:
 ssDo what?'
 The irrelevant response to which is, usu- ally, nicely" or T am very we'll, thank you.
 The very latest effort of the graduate of the near future is this:
 "Are you going far?"
 ''No, not far.''
 stHow far?''
 ssOnly to the car.'
 ''Ta-ta"
 And still later effort is:
 "Are you going far?"
 'fOnly to the bar"
 ''Take cigar?"
 ''Tra la Ia.