The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-03-31
sEasrBLE TALK ABOUT SLANG.

sEHsrBLE rALK ABOUT SLANG.
We specially invite the attention of our
young lady readers to the following wis.
words by writer in The American about
the too prevalent use Of slang:
1T is within the limits of moderation to
say that ninety girls out of every hundred
would describe every variety ofsocia pleas.
ure or amusement by declaring that they
had good time, or lovely time or a
beautiful time 'Awfuly nice and .aw-
fully jolly ere sufficiently indefinite to
qualify almost any noun in tho dictionary,
and are conveniently vague ways of con-
veying ones impressions without requiring
that the impressions shall be too closely de-
fined or analysed; and they dispense with
the troublesome necessity of fitting the
.@onk f5;ETle thousht, which becomes un.
zv2,I! ons 3 Obliged to K0d one SER
10 9qs Slang phrases constantly
pre- aaelyes az the easiest aud most
-obS!o. rs g say about people, or places,
or R sensatious, when it would iu>
vos{& leutaf effort to describe them
moEa ely. 1Aud then such indefinite
Jude not compromise ones powers
o. s tlo1, aud cannot be cast up as
an snt> ~ lsreproach by peopl, of more
pensk faculties and iuc,uvenieut
N1h1 6kd s0f slang offers M rastr;ct;,n,
ana nd Is 8 en 10 women as to the privileged
seq; n'a ressiots the most vulgar and dis.
gastiq bshgird coming from lips 80
prest{ BE Tor ne moment to mako
on1 Thing they may choose to ut
~ eaIy, coiyentionslly uucon ),
more positive i'll resuits :
sing freshness and nai0ete of style, Il e1>
terminates alt dignity and refinement of
thought aud speech, and makes a'woman not
only commonplace, but common. 1t make
a girls mind seem place open to all comers
"a court without sanctuary. The acces.
sibility aud ail-fellow-well-met air 90
far to destroy tho distinct, definite charm of
u woman conversation. Ii is not necessary
that people VINO speak good English should
be elaborate, or stiff, or pcdantic. The very
best and most vigorous English is mad. up
of short, simple words and idiomatic, natu-
fal expressions, and as far removed from
Journalism or affectation as slang itself. The
charm of a clever, fascinating woman's cou-
'versatiSs, Elo the charm of some Of tho most
beautiful poetry, often lies more in the man
n,r than in the matter.
"A facile. graceful use of language was
one ofthe most conspicuous accomplishments
ofthose charming elegant women who moul-
ded moderu society in their salons and made
conversation fiue art. 1t is a very general
ly conceded fact that in the society of most
civilized countries there are more agreeable
women than mcn,-reckoning purely from
q social point of view; and one reason Of
this as that most educated women are di.
tettanti, aud daettanti are proverbially plea
SAINT people. They are not hard workers,
but they rove from flower to flower, aud
gather great deal of sweetness from them
all. There is not oftou much that is very
solid to show for all those sunny flights but
they get the full flavor aud sweetness of the
summer and the flowers, and are lighter and
more graceful creatures than the steady
plodders who eep close to the clover and
bIckwheat fields, with view to the excellent
yield and quality Of the honey, and the
monument of wax which is to crown their
labors.
"But woman who wishes to acquire that
permanent charm Of conversation which q
clever cultivated woman may so abundantiy
possess, should carefully avoid slang words
and phrases. Slang, it is true, may not
seem to interfere with her immediate sue
cess, but the effect is not the less deteriorat-
ing on society in general. Youth and pret-
tiness gain federation for little coarseness
and want of dignity, but when the youth
aud prettiuess 60, the coarseness and want
Of dignity remain, unmodi6ed and unjusti-
fed"
A negro house on the plantation of Mr.. james
T. Lennon, in the little River neighborhood,
was destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning
There were three negro children in the building,
one of wh, m was burnt to death. We have not
heard the particulars, but we presume the chill.
H. LxI k.~ l~~ ~lol. 81. Lz.,. H.. a.