Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-30
TIDBITs OF GOSSIP.

QHeen's English That Doesn't Go on This
Continent-ThanksEivi Affer- Thoughts
"A Bohemian Club and a Rep0rters'
Labor Union.
Someone should get up an American glossa-
ry, to be appended to our guide books, for the
benefit Of English visitors. A few hints, ut
least. as to words having different meanings in
the New and Old World dialects might be
really useful. For instance, it would prevent
our transatlantic cousins from asking for "a
pair Of boots' when they want what we call "a
pair of shoes" heard a worthy gentleman,
all the way from Lancashire, make that mis-
take In downtown shoestore the other day.
Boots were produced indeed, but not the sort
OF boots the Brltisher had expected. 1t was
some time before the truth came out, that
patent leather shoes were the objects of his
desire.
The same gentleman roundly asserted that
England was "a great corn country but it
turned out that he meant oats wheat and bar
ley. when he spoke of corn"
Captain A., young Irishman, "doing
America, dontcherRnoW,r strolled out OF the
Union depot last July, and requested loung-
ing employe to get him scar" OF course the
gay dragon imagined himself back in the land
OF haunting cars'' again; but the employe
thought it was cruel est on Pittsburg, and
angrily inquired if the gentleman wouldn't
want an engine, too"
ksH
1t is to be hoped that everybody ate, drank
and waxed merry over Thanksgiving. Ger
tainly the very spirit of happiness seemed to be
abroad in Pittsburg streets on Thursday.
A walk down Fifth avenue meant regular
collegiate course in the study Of joviality. One
matriculated amid the giggles of bread-and-
butter girlhood; and graduated in the outlaws
of mighty-wasted city men. Yes, everybody was
happy-eVen the newspaperman, that usually
Joyless creature, managed to snatch q little
pleasure from the great pile. know Of one
cosy paper-stainers dinner, somewhere over
Allegheny way, at which half a dozen of the
craft were very merry indeed. And what
dinner it was! 1t is true there were no
Sauce ragouts, an sic like thrashtrie,
That's naething else but do ownright wastrie.
But there was a turkey, and noble one at
that; together with other eatables and drink
ables galore I am sure those newspaper men
had good time before they went back to in
terview Mrs. Jones about the Iossof her elop-
ing girl servant or to write an editorial on the
public spirit OF the Hon. John Smith.
RsE
By the way, the Committee ON Arrangements
for the Armstrong monument celebration
made one prodigious mistake. They selected
which Pittsburg middle classes regarded as
dinner hour. That accounted for a noticeable
stampede of thanksgiVers during the middle Of
the ceremony. How could the Committee on
Arrangements have forgotten that turkey
spoils by over-cooking7
So
Pittsburg, If Dame Rumor speaks Alright, is
soon to witness an addition to her already nu-
merous list of clubs. It is questionable, how
ever, whether this staid old city will welcome
the newcomer very enthusiastically. A little
bird whispers that the next candidate for the
honors of clubland citizenship Is to be appall-
ingly Bohemian-and not ''press club" either.
Real Bohemianlsm, mind you-the Bohemian
ism Of the QUARTER Latin, with just enough re-
fnement and restraint to keep the club above
water. There are two such institutions in
New York, and others in various Eastern cities. |
The patron saints of the club will, no doubt, be
Victor Hugo, Thackeray and Tom Moore, |
three dead lions of Bohemianism. 1t is said |
that all species Of the genus dude are to be left
sternly outside the portals.
There is nothing radically wrong with this |
idea Of a really free-and-easy club, unterror-
lied by House Committees.
Speaking of embryo clubs reminds me of an
other local scheme, also in embryo, which, 1 |
presume, must be public property by this time. |
allude to the "Pittsburg Journalists Brother
hood" as suggested by two well-known men,
bers of the reportorial force. The idea appears
to be that journalists need immediate organiza-
ton; and these gentlemen want to have a try
at organizing them. They suggest that q
Journalists Brotherhoodn be formed and
affiliated with the International typographical
Union. The idea is not new one, locally.
A primary meeting of newspaper men was
held few days ago to discuss the Brother
hood" Opinion was very much divided on the
subject, and until general meeting. appointed
for next Sunday comes of, nothing can be
said about the future of this suggestion.
brennan.