The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-04-04
Words.

Words as well as persons nave each a
character and history, the latter often OBJ
scure, involved, running back into hoary
antiquity, far beyond the date of manu-
script or monument, traceable through a
maze of forms and changes, a labyrinth OF
variations and transpositiens, requiring for
unraveling the tangled threads a profound
knowledge of language, great powers OF
analysis, much skill in investigation and
unlimited patience, and when these re-
searches are properly conducted, the results
are often most astonishing, as strange as
the most wonderful pages In the histories
or nations, or the widest pages of the most
brilliant, weird and gorgeous romance that
the most gifted and imaginative intellect
has ever given to the world. 7
The history of words is no less marked
than their character. Some are SO marked
" aristocratic, SO clearly the heirs OF social
position and blue blood, have such well
established pedigree and such associations,
that no one would for moment entertain
the idea of using them in low and de-
grading connection. Others bear as clearly
the marks of low birth and plebeian origin,
of roughness and want of culture, and no
amount of effort can remove from them
the traces of their youthful debasement
and coarse breeding Still others are so
r,anifestly the offspring of vice and i'm
morality that they find no place on the lips
of the pure and refined, and are never adj
mitted into respectable company. Some
are the children of trivolty and thought
lessness, the associates of vanity and ninth,
the companions of the trifling and light
minded. Hence by his words man Is
known, by the language he uses he will
in measure be judged. If he INDUCES
in the use of such words us keep bad COM
pany, as make their home in the resorts of
coarseness and vulgarity, he must expect to
be considered as the companion of the low
and vile, and to be shut out from associa-
ton with the cultivated and pure.
We meet a good looking, we'll dressed
man. He has the appearance OF gentle
man, but he opens his mouth and the illu-
sion is dispelled Oaths, blasphemy, vile
and low words; how Sad contrast to the
fair exterior! Yet how often we see just
such combinations. But a few days since
while taking dinner at IA respectable restau-
rant one of the very ornamental walters
became excited because some one made a
loud noise to attract his attention, and swore
a little to relieve his feelings. 1t certainly
made him appear coarse and vulgar, what
ever he may be. We went in the court
room, and after adjournment very gentle
manly appearing attorney began to con
verse with an acquaintance, and coarse
oath was one of his first utterances. He
might pass as gentleman, but the rough,
irreverent spirit broke through the polished
exterior, and revealed the sham, betrayed
the brutal nature masquerading in the garb
of refinement and purity.
Does profanity make man more man
lyg Does il denote ability, genius, thought
tulness, nobility of character? Are corse-
ness, roughness, the use of slang phrases
indications of good taste, refinement and
sound judgment: Certainly not. No one
whose opinion has any insight believes
that they are. Let every one then guard
his words, and carefully exclude from his
vocabulary every word that has low, VII
gar or vicious faint, or association, and
try to be gentleman in word as well as
appearance. VI.