The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-14
THE AMERICAN ACCENT"
How 1t Is Disliked by Englishmen Who
Drop Their "H's" and Final ssG's."

Hcw 1t Is Disliked by Englishmen Who
Drop Their "H's" and Final ssG's..
Correspondence Boston Herald.
believe that English people explain the sue
cess in London of these Americans who have
gained a foothold by saving that, while their
nationality is indicated in conversation off the
stage by the use of certain expressions, and by
an occasional information of the voice, it is not
betrayed in the recital before the footlIghts Of
language which they have committed to mem
DRY. 1t is a remarkable fact that while the
English will tolerate any other accent, French,
Polish, or even German, they hold the "Ameri-
can accent in horror. They remain, moreover,
Totally unenlightened as to the fact that there
are all shades and varieties of accent in
America, and that tell what part
of the country man halls from" the moment
he opens his mouth. If an American speaks
English purely he is regarded as an exception,
and his assurance that there are many thou
sands of his country people who speak IN the
same way is received with polite distrust. Not
long ago had occasion to indulge in brief
but decisive conflict with an Individual who
declared that 'alT Americans used such express
sions as You don't know nothing about it, ;"
and invariably said You was o." Instead
of treating such consummate ignorance
with the contempt it merted / proceeded
20 apostrophize it in terms that showed impa-
thence, wherein my fine young English
gentleman jumped up. stamped his feet, lost his
temper and cried 'By Jove tell you that they
all 90, and WnatS more, They're taught TO 90 so
in schools! I'll prove it to you. by Jove!" He
then, unable to control his emotion our
national grammatical delinquencis, rushed head
long from the apartment, and did not reappear;
but to do him justice, he called day so after
to apologize for his dreadful rudeness don't you
know and did SO in such contrte spirit that
refralned from remarking, Il didn't never hear
such statement as you made the other evening.
You was wrong, you know you was!"
This is an aggravated case of verbal assault
L..k. - = kIxo faa
that Americans In London are engaged in q we'll
nigh continuous international conflict The Irish
and the negroes in one of Mr.. Edward Harring-
toms New York vaudevilles do not illustrate TO
greater degree the war OF the races. The En-
glish warm hearted, hospitable and in their
heart of hearts do not dislike us, but they can
not relinquish an innate idea of superiority. and,
with rare exceptions, are nothing If not conde-
scend1ng. Having spent several years, from
time to time, in England, have grown to thor
oughly understand the ways and the manners Of
the people, and have ceased, save under extreme
provocation, as in the instance cited to indulge
in retaliation. A shrug of the shoulders or
little indulgence In what Is known as ''chaH,
answers just as we'll as long argu
ment which convinces no one. What can be
thought Of man who. in his own house, with
Americans as his guests, bursts out with, ''rhe
impotence of these people to dare assert that
they speak English correctly" Words failed
him. He swelled nigh unto bursting, and. like
the baboon's sister of the ballad, set up roar.
From this trifng incident it may be gathered
that do not exaggerate when l say that ''the
American accent" is held in extreme disfavor.
Nor is the prejudice confined to English people
born and bred What is so pitiable is wanton-
ly expatrated Americana Such one it was
that / cannot stand the American accent" One
couldn't help applauding the Englishman who
cut him short with, 'Nol And yet you have
brought it with you"