The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-01
VULGAR AND INDECENT HABITS


The Louisville Commercial has the temer-
ity to come out unequivocally in favor of in
cooperating the exclamation ''d-nit' among
the words used in polite society, or that it be
not used at all. Whatever may be said of
the morality of such an innovation, we can
but admire the brave spirit manifested in
thus fearlessly facing a popular prejudice
In some of the larger towns and cities the
exclamation has already come into general
use, and the practice will, in all probability,
yet reach Louisville, especially since
one of the papers there testifes
to its advantages and harmless
nature. There has been an effort in some
places to discourage its use, but with indif-
ferent success. So long as bananas are sold
and telephones are resorted to; so long as
men have corns that other men insist on try
ing to mash through the floor, will this
phrase be repeated with greater or less en-
phasis according to the user and the occasion.
If the word derived from the Latin word
"damnare." meaning only to condemn,
could be ASSOCIATED from the idea of
Deity, its use would in no wise
be profane. But it must be con-
fessed that those who use it
most, and even gentlemen of good breeding
who occasionally employ it, nearly always
do so with feeling of shame or the idea of
the name of Deity being connected there
with The urea tast cbapa osida from itS
effect upon youth who hear this all-too-com-
mon objurgation, is the fact that the power
of the great Creator is invoked on matters
that ought to be beneath the notice of even
selfrespecting gentleman. The man who is
profane every time he stumbles or slips, or
meets with any trivial accident or surprise, has
no idea how he belittles himself, and in many
instances he would doubtless abjure the
habit did he but reflect. For him who swears
unconsciously, through habit there is no
apology. He is not only offensive to those
with whom he comes in contact, but harms
himself by weakening his language. 1t must
be admitted however, that he who swears,
and that in fearless manner is more to be
respected than he who hopes to escape the
penalty imposed by slurrins it over. The
command is to swear not at all, and it
is as offensive to Him who uttered
this command to hear cowardly as de-
fiant profanity. Human nature despises the
moral as fully as the physical coward, and is
prone to honor courage wherever found 1t
is but natural to attribute the same qualities
to God. If He be animated by the same
feelings that move mankind, He must feel the
profoundest contempt for the man who EN-
ploys kindergarten swear words in the hope
OF avoiding divine displeasure.
1t is useless to sermonize against the
habit of profane swearing. The Deca-
logue condemns it and the church
has Illuminated against it in vain. By
strange paradox it seems that the nations of
greatest enlightenment and Christian civil
zation produce the wickedest swearers. The
barbarians and heather take their first les
sons in profanity from the pioneers from
civilized countries and invariably swear in
the tongue brought to them But it is mis-
take to argue that because swearing is quite
common it should be further popularized
by regularly incorporating it in polite
language. AS well might we argue
in favor of making tobacco-chewing
or cigarette-smo&ing universal because
they are quite common, and are INDUCED in
by gentlemen. All these minor vices should
be banished from polite society. The gem
tleman who swears or smokes is just that far
from being perfect gentleman. His habit
can but give offense to many with whom he
comes in contact and this is something of
which no one ought to be deliberately and
persistently guilty. 1t is common remark
in European countries that nobody chews
tobacco except sailors and Americans. 1t is
a habit so filthy that people not accustomed
to seeing it can scarcely bring themselves to
believe that a real gentleman would so
far forget his sef-respect as to indulge
it. Smoking is less impolite because less
vulgar. 10 our shame be it said the habit
Of ejectng saliva is distinctly American
The French have cuspidors at convenient in
tervals in public places, but very seldom
have occasion to use them, and the conclu-
sion is inevitable that they are provided for
the convenience of visitors from west of the
Atlantic. Chewing and swearing are vulgar
and indecent. They are habits that should
never be formed and being recognized as