The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-19
THE OTHER ADJECTIVE.
or the Indianapolis journal.

Written for the indianapolis Journal,
Many magazine and newspaper articles, indeed
even volumes, have been written concerning the
origin and structure, the history and significance
of words, but among these have as yet seen no
allusion to our very expressive correlatiye ad-
jective other.
To me it seems almost marvellous that word
neither positive nor definite can yet convey, as
it does, the exact idea of something added to, it
may be something the very reverse of that
which has been specified, and still be compre-
hensive, complete, in its meaning.
We need but note how often it occurs in our
daily conversation to realize its full importance
The other day, the other week, the other church,
the other party, the other place or the other
sex, to say nothing of the all embracing this,
that, and the other" Why what word it is, to be
sure! And yet believe the great Shakespeare
wrote all his plays without using it as primary,
though compounded with gate, where, whites,
and wise, he gives us, othergates, otherwhere,
otherwhes, and otherwise.
There is country neighborhood in one of our
Middle States, among the mountains, where
upon great hill a settlement was first begun by
Germans. The patriarch of the little colony
rejoiced in the name of Amos Yoder, and the
locality was designated as Yoder Hill. A second
settlement on a second height was after the man
ner of the first named for its principal man, and
known as Miller Hill A third cluster of cabins
on third hill, perhaps wanting
dignity of sufficient importance
to give to it title, was from the first, and is
doubtless still known as the other hill, and the
jewellers of all that region so speak of it. They
will say to YOU, '"They are harvesting on Yoders
Hill, next week they will begin on Miller's Hill,
and on the other hill too" Or 1.-THE other hill
makes fine show for hay, but Yoder's Hill is
too dry and Millers no better" Remember, too,
that in this broken country there is not mere
trinity of hills, but they may be counted by doz-
ems as they rise and rise linking into the mighty
chain of the Alleghenies.
And l have in my minds eye now old
homestead where there was from time i'm
memorial cupboard, known in its days Of
shall I say single blessedness!-simply as
1.-The cupboard" Another cupboard being pur-
chased to hold the fine ware for gala days was
denominated 1.-THE china cupboard and when in
crease of family and a corresponding increase of
table furniture made third necessary, it was
dubbed by an accidentally unanimous acclama-
ton ''the other cupboard. The absurdity of
this remained unnoticed for years, when at last
a merry maiden of the family being asked to
bring pitcher from the other cupboard went off
into peas of laughter on explaining which the
entire family joined, and in their surprise one
and all declared for a reform-said they would
name it a new name, but alas it was too late:
the old name fitted it best. 1t had grown re-
spectacle with age and could not be rubbed out
of the family vocabulary; it was fated, predes
tined to be while 1T would hang together the
other cupboard
A Young man may go to church and find him
self, when alone, falling into little spasms of
laughter all the following week because as he
tells his friend, the most sincere and earnest
words he heard in the sanctuary were, "Oh,
there is the elegant Mr.. L.; how 1 wish had
worn my other bonnet AS he is the Mr. L.
and the speaker famous beauty, his laugh is
the perfection of joyous merriment
The next week he escorts the beauty-and she
has on the other bonnet, now-to the theater
and she in her turn laughs every hour in the day
all the next week, not at the remembrance of
the comedy, though it was most amusing, but at
the funny expression ON the face of the ele-
CANT Mr. L., who, on attempting to present his
tickets had gasped out the announcement,
They're in my other coat"
Just people, while listening to some neighbours
highly -coored recital of private wrong, feeling
sympathy for the aggrieved will yet reserve
their verdict till they hear the other side.
In the holy Scriptures the word is of frequent
occurrence. The Saviors perfect lessons to his
simple minded and single hearted disciples show
the wonderful adaptability of this word to ex-
press the meaning of many words. "Other
sheep / have which not of this fold: them
also must bring verify, verify, 1 say unto
you, he that entereth not Oy the door into the
sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way the
same Is thief and a robber.', And after Civ
ing the great commandments, Thou
shalt love the Lord with all thy
heart, soul, mind and strength, and
your neighbor as yourself" he emphasizes it
with the declaration, "There is none other
greater commandment than these" In the rec
ord of Mary bearing the glad tidings of the res
direction, ''She runneth and cometh to Simon
Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus
loved"
When we speak of the thief on the cross no
explanation is needed, the thief is the repentant
one, but when we say the other thief, it is quite
as explicit as words make it; he is the UNI
repenting and to be to all mankind forever and
ever the other.
Paul tells us other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid in Jesus Christ All, what
tide of restful holy rapture floods the soul seek
ing refuge in the words, "Other refuge have 1
none.r
Who does not speak of the other Shore the
other land, the other world meaning some state
of existence beyond, and better than this. To
the weary pilgrim entering the other life the
words will be sweet coming to him, as once to
John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, II will put
upon you none other burden"
Urn N Ind IOITICE