The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-27
Vulgarisnls.
Phrases that are Polite or Coarse Accord
ing to Circumstances.



[Fom the London Queen.l
Certain words and certain expressions inno-
cent aud inoifensive in themselves, have de-
generated into so-caled vulgarisms through
constant use and misuse; while others have
become vulgarized, suffering from an oxag-
gerated mode of pronunciation; and words
which have a stamp of vulgarity, if used in
one sense, are restored to their original posi-
ton when used in another. The misapplica-
ton OF words is doubtless one of the main rea-
SONS Of their becoming vulgarized, so to speak;
added to which, word or expression that is
constantly in the mouth of all, like style or
make of a garment adopted by all, speedily be-
comes denominated vulgar or common.
Thus words and expressions are tabooed by
general consent which had they been allowed
to retainstheir original place, would never for
feited their reputation or fallen into dsfavor.
There are many words and expressions which
are still on the borderland of vulgarity from
the same cause, and which only require little
further pressure to cause them to join the
ranks of the discarded ones, perhaps to be re-
habiiitated at some future day, and to resume
their proper place all the fresher for their en-
forced rest.
The terms "ladies'' and gentlemen" be-
become in themselves vulgarisms when mis-
applied, and the improper application of the
wrong term at the wrong time makes all the
difference in the world to ears polite: thus. call
ing a man gentleman" when ha should be
called imam" or the speaking OF il man as a
man when he should be spoken of as a gentle
rI,a luli tn laIx
when she should be alluded to a lady; or the
speaking of woman as lady when she
should be properly termed woman.
Tact and sense of the fitness of things de-
eide. these points, there beingi no fixed
rule to go upon to determine when man is
man or when he is a gentleman, and although
he is far oftener termed the one than the other
he does not thereby lose his attribute OF gen
tleman. In common parlance, man is always
a man 10 man, and never gentleman; to
woman he is occasionally man and occa-
sionaly gentleman; but man would far
ofteDer term woman woman than he
would term her lady. When a man makes
use Of an adjective in speaking of lady he
almost invariably calls woman. Thus he
would say, 81 met rather agreeable woman
at dinner last night but he would not say,
81 met an agreeable lady, but he might say,
"a lady, friend of mine, told me,' etc.;
of mine. told me-" etc. Again, a man would
say, (Which of the ladies did you take in to
dinner?" he certainly would not say, (which of
the women,'' etc.
Speaking of people en- nodSSe, it would be to
belong to very advanced school to refer to
them in conversation as men and women"
while it would be all but vulgarto style them
ladies and gentlemen" the compromise be-
tween the two being to speak of them as ia
dies andli men," Thus a lady would
say, Il have asked two or three ladies and
several men," she would not say" have
asked several men and women;'' neither
would she say 81 have asked several ladies
and gent gentlemen" And speaking Of numbers,
great many ladies and but very few men
present" or, "The ladies were in the majority,
SO few men being. present." Again, lady
would not say. Il expect two Or three men to
three gentlemen" When people are on cere-
mony with each other, they might perhaps,
in speaking of a man call him "a gentleman"
but otherwise it would be more usual to speak
OF him as "a man." Ladies, when speaking
OF each other, usually employ the term woman
in preference to that of lady. Thus they
would say, "She is a very good-natured WON.
an" What sort of woman is she?" the
tefln lady being entirely out of place under
such circumstances Again, the term young
lady gives place as far as possible to the term
girl, although it greatly depends upon the
amount of intimacy existing as to which term
is employed. Now, to turn to the really Ia
booed words stylish" and "genteel" are rel
much used at home in each others company,
although considered decidedly vulgar when
met with elsewhere stylish being bred in
the show room is the right word in the right
place; but it is hard upon unfortunate "gen-
teel," that conveying in itself so much, it
should have met with such fate. "Nice''
bids fair to follow in the footsteps of discarded
words; standing alone as an adjective, though
pdSSe, it still has its admirers, but when to
nice is added either, lawfully or "too," then
nice is altogether out of favor
jolly is well enough on the lips of a
school boy, to whom now it of right belongs
Alright which no one disputes; but slang prop
er is and never can be anything else than vul-
gar, and those who delight in Its use for the
establishment of their speech to all intents
and purposes intend to be vulgar "If we ac-
commodate ourselves to the vulgar in our
speech, why not also in our Department.
The verb 'to take" is open to the being con-
considered a vulgar verb when used in refer
ence to dinner, tea, or general refreshments:
IN fact, any request which has for its object
the fortifying of the inner man if prefaced by
"Will you take it," is not considered to be
CONNIE il faut, the verb in favor for the offer
ing OF the civilities being the verb "to have''
Why the one verb should be in fashion and
the otLer out of favor is not difficult of COM
prehension, and society may be congratulated
upon Its insistance on having the right verb in
the right place, providing that the verb "to
take" be taken to mean "to seize what is not
gwen" to catch by surprise or artitice," to
lay nold ON, TO snatch, to SeiZe,s or to get
hold OF thing in almost any way, leaving out
OF the question any other application of this
verb; while the verb "to have" when used in
this sense, must be taken to mean ''to obtain,
to enjoy, to possess Thus all enjoyment
would appear to be derived through the verb
ITO have" and not through the verb 'to
take. Don't you know" .You know"
Don't you see," 81 say" are blemishes of
speech whatsoever they are used but some
few people contract the ugly habit of making
use of these expressions unconsciousy and con-
tinuously, perpetually interlarding their con-
versation with them
The word "fellow," however much in use it
may be between men, sounds very objection
able from the lips of women; and some women
are given to the foolish conceit of speaking of
every man they may happen to know as a
dear fellow" charming fellow" "hand-
some fellow" a clever fellow"
Beau" and belle" are terms now no long
er in use; and for beau no equivalent has as
yet been discovered, although the "beauty''
has replaced the belle"
Out OF the nursery it is not customary for
children to style their parents other than by
the good old-fashioned reverential names of
father and mother" "Papa" and mamma"
are now nursery names only, but "pa" and
ma" those unpleasant Authorizations, are
now quite happily out of date.
The courteous thank you has in measure
replaced the uncourteous thanks" and it is
no longer considered very fine to make this
curt curtaimeut.
METEOEQI,O